by Jean Pierre de Caussade

When you throw on the fire a dry piece of wood for kindling, the flames catch it first of all and then burn it gently and quietly. But if the wood is still green, the flames envelop it for a moment merely, then the heat of the fire coming into contact with the moist green inner wood, makes it sweat and hiss, moves and twists it noisily this way and that, until as a result the wood is dry and in a fit state to kindle. Then the flames again envelop it, see it alight and silently and effortlessly consume it.

There you have a parable of the action and operation of the divine love upon souls which are yet full of imperfection and self-love's evil inclinations. These must be purged, purified and refined - which cannot be done without causing them vexation and suffering. Liken yourself, then, to that green wood upon which the divine love acts before it is able to kindle and consume it.

Or again, liken yourself to a statue in the hands of a sculptor who shapes and fashions it with hammer and chisel to make it fit to be set in a noble building. Had that stone  feeling, and in the course of its suffering  cried out to you: ‘Sister, what shall I do? I am in such pain!' Your answer doubtless would be: ‘Nothing, except rest and be still beneath the workman's hand, leaving the work to him. Without him you will remain for ever a senseless and unshaped block of stone.'

Let your own motto be: have patience, and let God do the work. For, when all is said, you can do no other. Yours is merely to say: ‘I adore and resign myself; may your will be done.'