In reading MY SISTER SAINT THERESE, i came across the following which struck me as a wonderous new way to pray according to God's will in all things:
"Whenever she [St. Therese] did ask for relief or some other temporal favour, it was only to please others. Even then, she would make sure to ask through the Blessed Virgin because 'to ask through the Blessed Virgin is not the same as asking directly from the good God. She knows very well how to take care of my little desires and whether or not to mention them to God . . . I leave it to her to see that He shall not be forced, so to speak, to grant my prayers, but rather that He be left entirely free to do His Will in all that concerns me.'
"When she expressed her desire 'to do good on earth' after her death, it was only on condition that 'I shall first make sure to look well into the eyes of God so that I may not ask any favour that is contrary to His Will.'
"The Saint was encouraged to use this form of prayer by the remembrance of the simple petition of Our Lady at Cana, 'They have no wine,' and that of Martha and Mary of Bethany, 'He whom Thou lovest is sick.' In each case, the desire alone was revealed. No formal request was made, and Jesus was free to do whatever He willed in the matter."
We should, in our humility, leave all things in the capable hands of our Lord, and not presume to dictate to Him what the correct way of dealing with a need should be. "THY WILL BE DONE."
"Whenever she [St. Therese] did ask for relief or some other temporal favour, it was only to please others. Even then, she would make sure to ask through the Blessed Virgin because 'to ask through the Blessed Virgin is not the same as asking directly from the good God. She knows very well how to take care of my little desires and whether or not to mention them to God . . . I leave it to her to see that He shall not be forced, so to speak, to grant my prayers, but rather that He be left entirely free to do His Will in all that concerns me.'
"When she expressed her desire 'to do good on earth' after her death, it was only on condition that 'I shall first make sure to look well into the eyes of God so that I may not ask any favour that is contrary to His Will.'
"The Saint was encouraged to use this form of prayer by the remembrance of the simple petition of Our Lady at Cana, 'They have no wine,' and that of Martha and Mary of Bethany, 'He whom Thou lovest is sick.' In each case, the desire alone was revealed. No formal request was made, and Jesus was free to do whatever He willed in the matter."
We should, in our humility, leave all things in the capable hands of our Lord, and not presume to dictate to Him what the correct way of dealing with a need should be. "THY WILL BE DONE."
