Practical Devotion of the Day: Being Men of Good Will

Need for it. God and man, says Saint Augustine, had to concur in sanctifying the soul; God with his help, without whom nothing is possible, writes the Apostle. But if the man with his correspondence does not contribute, almost docile soil to the farmer's work, he will never produce the fruits of Paradise. If you don't want to save yourself, will the Lord be obliged to work miracles to drag you in spite of you? Have you been willing to save yourself so far? If you want, you can become a saint, and without delay.

Its effectiveness. In all things, goodwill is half the battle. The Saints wanted to succeed. One wanted to become, like Sales, meek; the other wanted to be humble, like the man of Assisi; the one wanted to become obedient, the other wanted to be mortified; one wanted to know how to pray without distractions; everyone wanted Heaven, and they all succeeded, And we, if we want firmly, why can't we? ”Voluists, fecisti: Would you like? You have obtained it ”(St. Augustine).

Always accompany us. In any agitation and temptation, in undertakings beyond one's strength, indeed in the same falls, in the inability to overcome a passion, a defect, after God's help, good will resolves everything. Isn't the thought of having done what depended on good will a sweet rest for the breathless soul to reach Heaven?

PRACTICE. - Never be discouraged: with an energetic will you will not only save yourself, but you will become a saint. - Recite an act of hope.