"The easiest way to keep your peace of heart is to accept everything as coming directly from the hands of the God who loves you. If you do this, any pain or persecution, anything which is difficult to accept will be transformed into a source of joy, happiness, and peace..."
Again, this can only be verified through your experience. The question is, are you too skeptical, that is, too fearful to subject this to your experience?
Veni Sancti Spiritus, veni per Mariam.
all this giussani stuff intrigued me enough to buy one of his books (sorry for the unrelated comment)
ReplyDeleteI would like to believe that there is purpose in pain, sometimes it seems so pointless and self-inflicted. I know the story of Job and though God didn't inflict upon Job, he allowed it. Far be it from me to assume knowledge of Gods, but sometimes it seems that nothing has any rhyme or reason. I don't feel that I am skeptical, I would like nothing more than to have the peace St. Paul refers to, yet it seems so elusive when one can see nothing but suffering.
ReplyDeleteJosh, that is exciting, which of his books? People always ask me about sources for my life, my view, etc. The charism given Giussani is the answer.
ReplyDeleteEric: True that, but in the suffering we can't give up. When he lay dying of cancer and experiencing a lot of pain, Bl Pope John XXIII, would motion for anyone in his room to move when they stood between him and the crucifix. I also think of the final sufferings of J.K. Huysmans, who refused pain medication. Our peace is Christ, nothing and nobody else, it is not a mental trick or an act of pretending, it is not magic, it truth and life.
the volume is called "Basic course of Christianity" and includes 3 original books. It's Spanish, so I don't know if there is an english-language equivalent.
ReplyDeleteThere are many works of Giussani not yet translated into English. I don't know where you live, but you should seek out a School of Community if there is one nearby.
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