Alphonsus Liguori

“ S. Teresa wrote, "All that he ought to try to procure, who exercises himself in prayer, is to conform his own to the Divine will, and he may be assured that in this conformation the highest perfection consists; he who most aims at such conformity, will receive from God the choicest gifts, and will make most progress in the spiritual life." The blessed in heaven, love God perfectly from their entire conformity to the Divine will. Hence it was that our Blessed Lord taught us ta pray, that by us " Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." ”

“ Yes; since the mind cannot have a greater contentment, than to see its every wish fulfilled, and if it does not will otherwise than the will of God, it has whatever it wishes for, since whatever happens does so, entirely by the will of God. Resigned souls, says Salvian, if they are humbled, have what they desire; if they suffer poverty, they wish to be poor; in short, they will all things just as they happen, and therefore they lead a blessed life. Let come what will, cold or heat, or loss, or persecution, or sickness, or death, he who is united to God's will says, "I wish for this." ”

“ The fool, that is to say, the sinner, "is changed as the moon;" he increases today, he lessens tomorrow; today he laughs, tomorrow he cries; today he is bright and altogether cheerful, tomorrow he is afflicted and morose ”

“ He who fasts, gives alms, mortifies himself for God, gives Him a part of himself - but he who gives God his will, gives Him his entire self, and this is that whole which God demands of us the heart, that is, the will. ”

“ He who so acts, will lead a happy life, will die a holy death; and he who dies, wholly resigned to the Divine will, leaves behind him a moral certainty of his salvation. He who has not in life been united to the Divine will, cannot be so in death, and will not be saved. ”

“ He who rests upon the Divine will, and who is pleased with whatsoever the Lord may do, is like one placed above the clouds, who sees the tempests roll with so great rage below: but they do not touch him, neither hurt nor disturb him. It is of this peace that the Apostle says that it "passeth all understanding," (Phil. iv. 7,) which exceeds all the joys of the world, and is moreover such firm peace, that it allows of no change. " The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom ”

“ I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest." (Ps. iv. 9.) I will ever say, in all things that may happen to me, "My God, Thou hast thus willed, and so I will. My God, I will only as Thou hast willed; in me ever let "Thy will be done in me." (S. Matt. vi. 10.) My Jesus, by Thy merits grant me grace that I may ever repeat this sweet saying of love "Thy will be done."
Third Point.
He who is united to the Divine will, enjoys even in this life, perpetual peace. " There shall no evil happen to the just." ”

“ My Beloved thinks of my good, and I desire to think of nought, but how I may please Him, and be uniting myself to His holy will. The Abbot Nilus says that we should never pray that God would do as we wish, but that we may do as He wills. ”