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We ought to view in the light of God’s holy will the
loss of persons who are helpful to us in a spiritual or
material way. Pious souls often fail in this respect by not
being resigned to the dispositions of God’s holy will.
Our sanctification comes fundamentally and essentially
from God, not from spiritual directors. When God sends
us a spiritual director, He wishes us to use him for our
spiritual profit; but if He takes him away, He wants us
to remain calm and unperturbed and to increase our
confidence in His goodness by saying to Him: “Lord,
You have given me this help, and now You take it away.
Blessed be Your holy will! I beg You, teach me what I
must do to serve You.”
In this manner, too, we should receive whatever other
crosses God sends us. “But,” you reply, “these sufferings
are really punishments.” The answer to that remark is:
Are not the punishments God sends us in this life also
graces and benefits? Our offenses against God must be
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