I feel drawn still more to the life of “interior union.” To acquire this I must practise the following:
1 . Constant and profound recollection.
2. To keep my thoughts always, if possible, centred on Jesus in my heart.
3. To avoid worry or anxiety about future things.
4. To avoid useless conversation.
5. Great guard over my eyes, not reading or looking at useless things.
COMMENT: Fr Willie’s programme for acquiring interior union seems radically counter-cultural to us today. How few of us live with recollection, keeping Jesus always in our hearts. How few avoid unnecessary worries about the future, and consequently live with chronic stress. How often we engage in useless conversations, or look greedily at all the sights around us, absorbed with curiosity.
Yet, despite the fact that Fr Willie’s resolutions might seem harsh to us at first glance, they are in reality a recipe for interior peace and freedom. This is the lesson of the saints, and as anyone who knows anything about the saints will confirm, there is no such thing as a sad saint. Counter-intuitively, by going against ourselves, we acquire an interior liberty of spirit that no amount of “things” or experiences can ever give us.
A great lesson above: Take seriously your spiritual life…we have only one life and must make sure to use the grace of God to stay securely on the right track, daily moving towards God, and life eternal. Most likely, Father Doyle’s plan is not our own personal plan, for God has a unique plan for each of us, but we can take from him, as we take from the saints, practical points of virtue to help us along our way. Father Doyle, please help us to use our time well, for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. With this balance, help us to walk with perseverance and trust.