Abandonment to Divine Providence

Let us consider that nothing is done in the universe without God willing or permitting it.  He alone rules everything with infinite wisdom, with a strength which nothing can resist, and with a more than paternal goodness, to such a point that not even a hair falls from our head without His permission (Luke xxi. 18).  " Thy providence, 0 Father, governeth it," says the Book of Wisdom (Wis. xiv. 3) ; and to appreciate without reference to Providence the events which take place here below, the revolutions which occur in families, in towns, and in states, in the Church, and throughout the whole universe, would be to judge of events like a pagan.  

    In addition to this general providence. God has a special providence which He exercises towards those who love Him. He watches over them with particular tenderness and attention, as over His favorite friends, His cherished children, and He shows Himself to be rich in goodness and mercy towards them (Rom. x. 12).   Whence it follows, that not to abandon ourselves with full confidence to His providence is to misunderstand His power, which can do all things ; His goodness, which wills all kinds of good on our behalf; His wisdom, whose lights are always infinite ; His ends, which are always most holy, and His means for attaining them, which are always most admirable.  Often His reasons are unknown to us, His designs escape our short-sightedness ; but what we cannot comprehend here below we shall understand in heaven (John xiii. 7); in heaven, where we shall sing that God has done all things well (Mark vii. 37).

     Meantime, let us live in a state of abandonment and confidence.  This abandonment will be a source of peace and consolation for us.  Persuaded that God watches over us, we shall be at rest;  and,  looking upon ourselves as beloved children in the arms of the best of fathers, we shall say: Why distress and trouble myself ? why afflict myself?   Even when  human  means fail, and men are opposed to me, I will rejoice as for an opportunity which enables me more perfectly to practise  holy abandonment to Providence and confidence in its goodness.   Even when I may have sinned, I will always have confidence, because God is the Father of the repentant prodigal and  has promised pardon to the  publican  who humbles  himself.   Consequently, I ought always to confide in God, without being troubled or allowing myself to be cast down.

(MEDITATIONS,  Rev. M. Hamon, S.S.; Benziger Brothers; 1894)