Chapter 15. That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial (Book 4. Exhortation to Holy Communion) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. The Voice of the Beloved

You ought to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly ought you to humble yourself when you feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God often gives in one short moment what He has long time denied; He sometimes gives at the end what at the beginning of prayer He has deferred to give.

2. If grace were always given immediately, and were at hand at the wish, it would be hardly bearable to weak man. Wherefore the grace of devotion is to be waited for with a good hope and with humble patience. Yet impute it to yourself and to your sins when it is not given, or when it is mysteriously taken away. It is sometimes a small thing which hinders and hides grace; (if indeed that ought to be called small and not rather great, which hinders so great a good); but if you remove this, be it small or great, and perfectly overcome it, you will have what you have asked.

3. For immediately that you have given yourself to God with all your heart, and have sought neither this nor that according to your own will and pleasure, but have altogether settled yourself in Him, you will find yourself united and at peace; because nothing shall give you so sweet relish and delight, as the good pleasure of the Divine will. Whosoever therefore shall have lifted up his will to God with singleness of heart, and shall have delivered himself from every inordinate love or dislike of any created thing, he will be the most fit for receiving grace, and worthy of the gift of devotion. For where the Lord finds empty vessels, there gives He His blessing. And the more perfectly a man forsakes things which cannot profit, and the more he dis to himself, the more quickly does grace come, the more plentifully does it enter in, and the higher does it lift up the free heart.

4. Then shall he see, and flow together, and wonder, and his heart shall be enlarged within him, because the hand of the Lord is with him, and he has put himself wholly in His hand, even for ever. Lo, so shall the man be blessed, that seeks God with all his heart, and receives not his soul in vain. This man in receiving the Holy Eucharist obtains the great grace of Divine Union; because he has not regard to his own devotion and comfort, but, above all devotion and comfort, to the glory and honour of God.

2 Kings iv. Isaiah lx. 5.