Not alone must we be careful to preserve purity of intention in all our enterprises, but we must also firmly attach ourselves to our duty…to the sole will of God, and we must make ourselves virtuously indifferent to failure or success.  On the one hand, we are reasonably sure that God wills this work for us at the moment; but, on the other hand, we never know what His future intentions may be.  “Very often, in order to exercise us in holy indifference (even as to what regards His service) He inspires us with noble undertakings, the success of which, however, He does not will.”  Thus, Providence appears to be playing with us.  But the play is for us very profitable, indeed, since we always win even whilst losing.  For we derive from it, God so arranging, the merit of our pious intentions, the merit of our conscientious labour, and the merit of a trial patiently endured.  On the other hand, perhaps success would have occasioned the loss of our humility, our detachment, and of other virtues besides.  “Nevertheless, we must not allow such considerations to paralyze our efforts or to diminish our zeal.  We must neglect nothing that is required for the success of the enterprise which God has placed in our hands; but at the same time we are to be so disposed that should it issue in failure, we shall support the disappointment with meekness and calm.  –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’

We must not, however, desire temptations, despite the great advantages to be drawn from them; for they are actual incitements to evil and consequently a danger to our souls. Rather we must implore of God to preserve us from them, particularly from those to which He foresees we should succumb. Nevertheless…we should be resigned to endure temptation, if such be God’s good pleasure; but at the same time we should be resolved to overcome it. Then, without ever losing courage, we should put our trust in God, abandon ourselves to His sweet Providence, and fear nothing. Let us pray, let us struggle; and, since it is He who exposes us to the combat, He will never forsake us or permit us to fall. –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey “Holy Abandonment’

No, it is not that grace has been wanting to us, but we have been wanting to grace. Let us never throw the blame on God, in order to excuse our own negligence. There is only too much of the truth in the following reflection of St. Francis de Sales : “He comes to us, Jesus, the Well- Beloved of our souls, and He finds our hearts full of worldly desires, affections, and petty volitions. He is disappointed, because He wished to find them empty, so that He could enter and make Himself their Master and Governor. We have indeed renounced mortal sin and all attachments to evil. But the nooks and corners of our hearts are filled with a thousand things that tie His hands and prevent Him from giving us the graces He designed to bestow. Let us, therefore, do all that lies within our power, and then abandon ourselves to Divine Providence.”  –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’

“The life of man upon earth is warfare” (Job vii.i).  Day and night, within and without, the enemies of our salvation lie in wait to rob us of our treasure of virtues, even of the life of grace, and by consequence of the life of glory, too.  We must watch, pray, struggle, and ceaselessly keep repelling the assaults of the demon, defeating his strategies, holding down our vicious inclinations and our unruly passions which are in league with him.  And should he succeed in penetrating our lines of defense by sin, we must drive him out again by prompt repentance, repair the ill-consequences of our fault, provide against a renewed offensive on the part of the enemy, and prepare for the final victory by vigilance and a courage always on the alert.  –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’

To try the just, God employs the malice of demons and the perversity of sinners.  Job lost his children and his possessions.  He fell from opulence to misery.  And then he said: “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.  As it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done?  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  As St Augustine remarks on this, “Job did not say: The Lord gave and the devil hath taken away.  Everything has happened, not according to the devil’s will, but according to the will of God.  Refer, then, to Him all the evils that happen to you, for the devil himself can do you no hurt without His permission.  –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’

There were two men crucified by the side of Jesus. The same torments made a saint of the one and a reprobate of the other. Ah, if we could only carry our crosses, not merely with patience and resignation, but with love, confidence, and filial affection. –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’

It would be a very serious illusion to despise our daily crosses because they are small. Individually, they are indeed small; but occurring, as they do, almost every Instant, by their very multiplicity they provide the faithful soul with an immense sum of sacrifices and merits. –Abbot Vitalis Lehodey ‘Holy Abandonment’