"...Wisdom does not share His friendship with such faint-hearted cowards."

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  1. While travelling a few days later, he fell into the hands of robbers who beat him so unmercifully that they themselves could not help pitying him. Seeing himself in such a state, Henry Suso forgot his resolution to be brave no matter what might happen and gave way to deep depression, weeping and wondering why God had afflicted him in this way. As he pondered over his plight, he fell asleep. Early next morning he heard a voice reproaching him, "Look at this warrior of Mine. He can scale mountains, climb over rocks, break into strongholds, cut to pieces his enemies when everything is going right for him. But when he meets with adversity his courage fades and he is helpless and useless. In time of consolation he is a fierce lion, but in time of tribulation he is a timid deer. Wisdom does not share His friendship with such faint-hearted cowards." At this reprimand, Blessed Henry confessed he was wrong in giving way to excessive discouragement, and went on to ask divine Wisdom to allow him to weep and so unburden his heart weighed down by grief. “No,” replied the voice, "all the saints in heaven would lose their respect for you,. were you to cry like a baby or a woman. Wipe away your tears and show the world a cheerful face."
103 The cross, then, is the portion and reward of those who desire or already possess eternal Wisdom. But our loving Saviour numbers, weighs and measures everything and sends crosses to his friends in proportion to their strength, and tempers them with divine unction to such an extent that their hearts are filled with joy. (From - “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” by St. Louis de Montfort)
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Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Your Perfect Love casts out fear from our hearts that we may bear the fruit of Your Joy.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother…(1 John 4: 18-21)
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That’s interesting. Some of those words might seem harsh, but St. Louis writes in True Devotion to Mary about how Mary consoles us and carries us at her breast, so that we can have such facility in carrying the cross of Christ that we feel almost nothing of its weight. I like in this quotation how the Cross of Christ is actually our reward and that Jesus tempers our crosses by filling us inwardly with loving joy, which is what I take him to mean by “divine unction [which fills] their hearts with joy”. It seems to me the mistake I make is in seeking outward consolations rather than inward consolations, which are given by Jesus secretly through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and which are what give true peace.

I think we should not thoughtlessly apply St. Louis’s words here to those who are chemically very depressed or anxious, but are striving to trust and love. The depression that the Lord here chastises Henry Suso for is apparently a form of depression through lack of trust and love. Not that people with chemical depression can’t lack trust and love. But such people–like all of us–need to accept and respect all of their feelings and not blame themselves for spontaneous emotions.
 
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Dear patricius,

Thanks so much for your reply, and your insights. Certainly you are right that we ought not “thoughtlessly apply St Louis’ words to those who are chemically depressed or anxious” for they can be striving to trust and love and God knows their hearts. We need to make the distinction you made: “The depression the Lord here chastises Henry Suso for is apparently a form of depression though lack of trust and love.”

How often we have not even tried to take up our “little crosses” when Jesus suffered so much for us! Yet how good to realize again how Loving and Merciful a Father we have, who like the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son runs to meet his son as he sees him coming home. God does not refuse a truly repentant heart! It is good for us to keep getting up when we fall and keep asking for His Grace, seeking to follow Jesus, and continuing to knock on the door so that He may open it.
 
Dear Fraevo, VanitasVanitatum and Divine3,

Thank you all for your “hearts” showing that you understood and liked St. Louis de Montfort’s words. This little book continues to be a blessing for me and I’m grateful for all who have read and let me know it has blessed them as well. How good God is!
 
Right. I think that the prodigal son story is pivotal because it’s about the Father’s Love and Mercy. To the extent we believe–through Mary’s help–in God’s Love for us, and that he really wants us to have peace and joy, we will be able to bear great suffering with joy. When we sin, we will repent of it, but with knowledge that we haven’t lost any of God’s Love, and that he doesn’t want us to dwell on it, but rather to dwell on His Goodness and love for us. Jesus will give us all the mercy and grace that our Blessed Mother of Mercy wants for us, if we ask for it.
 
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This brings to mind the quote from Mother St. Teresa of Calcutta to Archbishop Perier of Calcutta:
There is so much contradiction in my soul.—Such deep longing for God—so deep that it is painful—a suffering continual—and yet not wanted by God—repulsed—empty—no faith—no love—no zeal.—Souls hold no attraction—Heaven means nothing—to me it looks like an empty place—the thought of it means nothing to me and yet this torturing longing for God.—Pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything. For I am only His—so He has ever right over me. I am perfectly happy to be nobody even to God. . . . .
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Read more at Mother Teresa: My Saint of Darkness and Hope - Beyond Blue
 
I always thought of Wisdom as feminine as in the book of Proverbs
 
Dear fide,

Thanks so much for posting the link ! I’ve read the book “Come be My Light” which includes many of the writings of Mother Teresa, and edited by one of her Missionaries of Charity priests, Fr. Brian. I’ve gone back to re-read it and always been blessed by her words in times of her great spirtiual darkness.

The woman who wrote the article from which you copied the quote of Mother Teresa and gave us the link to it, has her own incredibly poignant story to share. I encourage all to click on this link you posted:

Read more at Mother Teresa: My Saint of Darkness and Hope - Beyond Blue and read it all the way through. I believe all can be blessed, but especially those who have experienced darkness in their own lives or the lives of those whom they hold dear. Thanks again, fide.
 
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