Mortification
“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” — St. Matt. 16:24.
TWENTY-SECOND DAY.
A soul in which self rules, and which is attached to its own will, can have no solid virtue. — St. Teresa.
St. Magdalene of Pazzi often made the following ejaculation: “My God, I desire but one thing; it is that Thou wilt deprive me of my own will — no, I will no longer to have a will.”
A fervent religious said one day to one of his brethren that it would give him much happiness to serve all the Masses that were said in the morning. The other replied that it was only necessary to ask permission; that he was certain he would not be refused. “No,” the first then replied, “I will say nothing; a desire, no matter how holy it be, should not be spoiled by self-will. Obedience is the director of our holiest desires.”
Prayer.
My God, destroy in me self-will. Do not permit that I perform a single action of my own will. Grant that I may speak, walk, act only according to Thy will, which is always holy, adorable, and amiable. I desire it to be the rule of my life.