It seems like forever since I read this but let me highlight some of the things that stood out to me, that I underlined and wanted to futher reflect on....
p. 115 Elizabeth says how she recognizes the slow, silent action of Providence in her and for her; the wonderful work of inner conversion, begun, guided, and completed by God alone, This spoke to me as I seem to want to run the process of conversion and reconstruction of myself on my timetable. Come on God, make me into the person you want me to be, right now. Yet, how to I cooperate with the work he is doing, or trying to do. Am I faithful to my daily scripture reading as Elizabeth was faithful? Do I fast and offer mortifications as I am often inspired to do? The Lord is guiding me but I am sure he beats his head against the wall and thinks, "Would Ruth just listen to me!" .... yet I continue to beg prayerfully, "Lord make me into the woman you want me to be. I only want to do YOUR will"
p. 117 Here Elizabeth asks, "What will this winter bring to me: sickness or health, joy or suffering? I do not know; but I know that I shall welcome all, because all will come from God for my good and the good of those souls for whom I have surrendered myself into the hands of the adored Master." Winter is coming in many ways. Physically and in our chronological age. My husband is having prostrate cancer surgery next week. Can I say, "I know that I shall welcome all?" I do have a peace and want to leave all to the Lord knowing all will come from God for good. I want to be a witness of faithfully handling what comes in the upcoming winter of life but to do so I have to keep my eyes on the Savior. I pray, "Lead us and use us Lord throughout the autumn and winter of our lives."
The world is afraid of suffering and penance but we are not to be of the world although we are in it. Do you have a model of suffering/penance in your life? Elizabeth is a beautiful model for me. She stays focused.
Elizabeth shows she is real. When her soul longed for recollectedness and prayer she realized that she must give herself to people, occupations, and even pleasures that are entirely superficial. She knew that real joy was only found in the Lord.
Prayer (p. 120) Use me, O my adored Master, according to Thy will, for souls, and for They glory.
p. 121 I thought this was worth reflecting on, " Then at the first opportunity I retire quickly into my inner "cell" and there I pray and adore and lie at the feet of my Savior. My three Communions each week and the few minutes of meditation each morning prepare me for my daily activity; and every day when I offer Him in advance all the activity and suffering that makes up my days, everything that later happens is gathering up by our God and nothing is lost..." The cell here is my soul... and I need to spend more time there throughout the day consciously in His presence and conversing with Him.
p. 123 The angels, while at our side fulfill their function of watchfulness while never ceasing to contemplate God. Can we do both... our daily responsibilities and consciously contemplating God?
I love that this chapter, like the others, offered so much to reflect on. "Hear I am, Lord, ready to do They will." (p.126)
There is so much for each section. Much is reinforcement of our basic call to pray, fast and to do all in love.
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