'As soon as the children of this world perceive that you desire to follow a devout life,
they will shoot at you a thousand arrows of mockery and detraction.
The most malicious will calumniate your change as being hypocrisy, bigotry, and artifice.
They will say that the world has frowned on you and that, being rejected by it, you turn to God.
Your friends will make a world of objections which they imagine to be very wise and charitable.
They will tell you that you will fall into a melancholy state of mind;
that you will lose credit in the world...
that your domestic affairs will suffer;
that you must live in the world like one in the world;
that salvation may be had without so many mysteries....
All this is nothing but foolish and empty babbling.'
St. Francis de Sales
Painting: William Paxton, The Sisters, 1904
Painting: William Paxton, The Sisters, 1904
This has been my week! Truly. The harder I have tried to stay on a holy path, the more I could see Satan rare his ugly head...even through those who I love. Persistence is my friend these days!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've had to deal with this kind of thing. I guess we all do according to St. Francis de Sales' quote, but it's SO TOUGH. I shall pray for your persistence and strength!
DeleteAnd how much we battle our own voice with all its foolishness and empty babbling! Prayers and persistence as well for Patty and all of us. This is a wonderful post Nancy. What a painting! Those dresses...wow. Thank you and God Bless....
ReplyDeleteOur own voice - yes! And it's so hard to make ourselves not agree with it...
Deletethanks so much!
There are some genuinely malicious characters out there, but I think sometimes our friends and loved ones just feel threatened and excluded when we take up a life of prayer. "Where do I fit in this new weird scheme?" they think! That's why they take swipes at us!
ReplyDeleteJamie, I think that's a good point. It definitely happens, doesn't it?
DeleteYes! Thanks, Colleen.
ReplyDelete