Lent 2010
Dom Augustin Guillerand, a French monk and spiritual author, gives us insights into the Will of Man.

“The will is a master that has, in theory, the ordering of everything, but, in fact, the full control of nothing. It becomes “will” when it seeks to claim its right, to acquire mastery over passions and feelings. It is good when this is done according to the divine plan and to the grace of the present moment, seeking neither more nor less than what God wants for it. A will that allows itself to be dethroned and puts up no fight against its rebellious servants is weak and does not merit the name of will nor of good. It is not enough not to will evil.

When we give God our will fully, little by little he takes the rest of our faculties, the whole man. The conquest no longer rests with us, but with God. It becomes his affair. As he wishes and when he wishes, he will take our memory, our senses, our passions, our imagination, intellect and heart. He does this by various states through which we have to pass and by the trials he sends us. We must cooperate with Him with our will in each of His loving assaults by letting Him take these things one by one.

Where God is at work, the devil is not idle. When you try over a period to correct yourself on a particular point, do not be surprised if you have to submit to violent temptations on that point, even admit you are beaten. Fight and never give in like a good general. The effort, which is part of the battle, even when there is nothing to show for it, plays an enormous part in the formation of the will. We always emerge from the battle stronger.
We seek forgiveness in the Lenton devotions and journey.

Rev. Mr. Joseph F. James
President
St. John’s Villa.