Abandonment to Divine Providence: Day 18~Ch 2 (Book 3)

Welcome to Day 18 of Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade's Abandonment to Divine Providence. Fr. de Caussade begins by illustrating how a soul fully surrendered to God's will often finds itself cloaked in mystery. He notes that as God withdraws light and clarity from our understanding, it is precisely then that He guides us most safely. The author references St. John’s assertion that true knowledge is imparted directly by the Holy Spirit, suggesting that those who are divinely abandoned have a profound intuition of God's will for their lives. This intuitive knowledge does not come from human reasoning but through a deep-seated instinct, propelling the soul toward action with a grace that surpasses mere logic. Moreover, Fr. de Caussade emphasizes how the soul, after considerable practice in the art of abandonment, can act with a grace that appears spontaneous and unburdened by the constraints of procedure. Just as a skilled musician embodies their craft with effortless precision, the soul learns to rely on divine inspiration for its actions.