Flower of Devotion

Then the good spirit in the heart speaks again and says:

“I know that two things are eternal: Heaven and hell. None of those who love God above all things will go to hell; and whoever does not love God will not receive Heaven. The road to Heaven was walked by God Himself and He confirmed it with His miracles and His Death. How glorious is Heaven, how bitter is Satan’s malice, and how vain are earthly things! God Himself was imitated by His Blessed Mother and by all His saints; they suffered all kinds of sufferings, and preferred to lose everything, and even to despise themselves, in order not to lose Heaven and God. Therefore it is best to renounce honor and wealth in advance than to keep them for the rest of one’s life, so that when suffering begins to multiply, the memory of sins may not be weakened at last. Whatever I have gathered, I will be taken by those who will not inquire about the happiness of my soul.

Satan’s evil inspiration gives this answer:
Stop thinking about it, we are weak people. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, is God and Man; we cannot measure our works by the works of the saints, who possessed greater grace and lived in friendship with God. It should be enough for us to hope to receive Heaven, and to live according to our weaknesses, and to ransom our sins in alms; for it would be childish and foolish to set out on uncommon things and fail to carry them out.

To these thoughts the good spirit replies:

“I am unworthy to compare myself with the saints. It is certain that one can slowly strive for perfection. What hinders the undertaking of extraordinary things when God has the power to come to the rescue? After all, it often happens that a poor man sets out on a journey by a powerful and rich lord before him. And though such a gentleman will come to the inn sooner, eat the more delicious dishes, and rest on a more comfortable bed, yet the poor traveller will also come to the same inn, though perhaps a little later, and taste the dishes which the gentleman has eaten. But if he had not followed the same path as the gentleman, he would not have reached the inn, and would have had no share in the gentleman’s comforts at all. Therefore I say that although I am not worthy to compare myself with the saints, yet I can follow the way they walked, that I may at least share in their merits.

The evil inspirations and promptings of Satan answer:

“The search for God is a sign of inconstancy of mind, but mercy is more pleasing to God than any other sacrifice.”

The good spirit responds by inspiration:

“I have heard of a certain prisoner in the tower who now rejoiced more in his captivity and in the darkness that surrounded him than he did in his possessions and in the joys of this world. For he said to himself, “If it pleases God to visit me with sorrows, they will bring me greater merits; for the Lord God is full of love and comforts us and is ready to help quickly.

Satan’s evil inspirations and promptings answer:
“What if you are unworthy of God’s comfort and help, and cannot endure humility and poverty? Then you will regret that you have given yourself over to an austere life.

The Good Spirit says:
I have heard that St. Elizabeth, the daughter of the Hungarian king, though delicately brought up and in a noble marriage, lived in great poverty and humiliation. In her poverty she received great consolation from God, and gained a higher crown of heavenly happiness than if she had lived in all the honors of the world and enjoyed its joys.

Evil inspirations answer:

“What will you do when God gives you into human hands, or if your health is weak? Will you then be able to live without shame? Will you not complain about your stubbornness, and will your family not be offended by you and feel sorry for you? Then impatience will surely arise in you, and fear and ingratitude will arise in your heart against God. Then you will wish that the days of your life were over. And when all men speak of you, will you dare to show yourself to anyone else?

To this she replied a good thought:
St. Lucy, when she was taken to the house of fornication, resolute in her faith and trusting in the goodness of God, said, “Let my body be profaned, but nevertheless I will remain a virgin, and my crown shall be doubled.” When God came to know her faith, He made it untouched. That is why I say: The Lord God, who never permits a man to be tempted by his strength, will save my mind, my faith, and my will. I have given myself entirely to Him, so it will be done to me according to His holy will!