Little Watch Dog

Do you ever have one of those days where you just can't seem to help getting discouraged because everything that you mean well just doesn't turn out the way you planned??  Celine once went to St. Therese lamenting that she was further away from her goal than she ever thought she was before.  She told the Saint, "It seems that the more I desire to advance in virtue, the worse I become.  I long to become sweet and patient, humble and charitable, but I do not think I shall ever succeed."

How often do we try so hard to be patient and kind but then speak and do the very things that we promised ourselves that we would not do?  Take heart, Jesus knows our struggle!  In Matthew 26:41 Jesus told his disciples  "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."  The Lord knows our hearts and he knows the interior struggles that we have between our spirit and our flesh.

Celine found a quote from St. Gertrude that brought her much comfort in the matter.  When St. Gertrude was having the same feelings of discouragement, Our Lord told her "In all things and above all things, hold on to your good will, for this disposition alone will impart to your soul the splendor and the special merit of all the virtues....  Furthermore, it might sometimes happen that one soul would derive more profit from such a desire than some other soul might gain from the performance of good works."

How beautiful it is that God takes into consideration our hearts and our good will of our every action.  Our Lord, who lives inside of our very selves, hears all of our desires and expressions of charity and love no matter how they may end up revealing themselves in our actions and efforts to show these desires.

When Celine told St. Therese about her findings, the Saint told her a story to confirm the truth of the importance of good will.

In the words of St. Therese, "Do you know that the Life of Father Surin contains a striking passage on this subject of good will?  He had just performed an exorcism and the demons confessed;  'We are victorious on all sides, yet, when it comes to this little watch-dog whose name is good will, we must always yield.'  And so, even if you are without virtue, you at least have 'a little watch-dog' who will save you from all danger.  Be consoled, for it will eventually bring you to heaven!  Ah!  Where is the soul who does not desire with all her heart to possess the virtues?  This longing is common to us all.  On the other hand, how very few there are in the spiritual life who are willing to fail, to stumble and fall, to be happy when others find them prostrate on the ground!"

How happy we must make Our Lord every time we have good intentions- even when it looks like we have failed from everyone looking from the outside!  Take heart and keep persevering in your desire to be a saint!

~Taken from My Sister Saint Therese, pages 22-24