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Sunday 15 June 2014

Encouragement from Cardinal Manning in The Dark Night


I write this for S and J, especially..

The great man writes this: “…do not be afraid when the consciousness of your past sins and of your many temptations seems to come down upon you and to overwhelm you as a flood. In those darkest times, be sure that if you love God you are still united with Him. It is not when we walk in the brightness of the noonday only that we are untied with Him. The purest union with God is when we walk with Him in the darkness, without consolation and without joy; having no other guide; our hand in His hand; going on like children, not knowing whither, but obeying the inspirations of God to do or not to do as He wills: out in the bleak cold sky, with no joy in our prayers and no rest of heart, in constant inward fears, with temptations all around, but always faithful to the guide”

I share these words to those in the Dark Night, those who are seeking the Bridegroom Who has removed Himself from our presence.

Remember these words of the good Cardinal: “It is not when we walk in the brightness of the noonday only that we are united with Him. The purest union with God is when we walk with Him in the darkness, without consolation and without joy; having no other guide; our hand in His hand; going on like children, not knowing whither; but obeying the inspirations of God to do or not to do as He wills; out in the bleak cold sky, with no joy in our prayers and no rest of heart, in constant inward fears, with temptations all around, but always faithful to the guidance of the Spirit of God.”

I repeat these words from Manning to encourage you. “There are two axioms in the Kingdom of God which shall never fail: no penitent soul can perish, and no soul that loves God can be lost.”

I can assure you all that a great peace and confidence come upon one when one trusts in Divine Providence.

A few more words from the Cardinal: “…know yourselves: be conscious of your own dignity and be conscious of the dignity of others. Your are the sons of the Great King…From all eternity God foreknew you, and in due time God called you by the Holy Ghost; and when He called you He justified you, and when He justified you He put upon you the glory of His children and the heirship of His Kingdom.”

To be continued…