Excerpt from The Sacrament of This Present Moment
By Jean-Pierre de Caussade
Published in 1741

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
Mt 5:8

A conversation with my heart made pure, free and full of Christ:

‘Grant me a pure heart!’, O pure heart, how blessed you are! You find God in the strength of your own faith, see him in all things, at all times, in and around you. You are his subject and his instrument. He guides and brings you to your destination. Often you do not think; but he is thinking for you. Whatever happens to you is ordained by him. All he asks is your willingness.

Ah! How simple you are! Don’t you realize what a simple heart means? It is none other than a heart where God is.

He knows, too, that you don’t know what is for your good and makes it his business to provide it, little caring whether you like it or not. You are going East, he will turn you to the West. You are set fair on a course, he turns the rudder and steers you back to harbour...if pirates cross your path an unexpected gust of wind blows them off their course.

What enchantment, what delight, to rest there in his arms, playing innocently, rejoicing in divine wisdom, continuing the voyage uninterrupted over reefs, past pirates and through continual storms without anxiety about reaching a destination.

Love is that ardent desire, continually nourished by devout hope, which inspires the constant practice of goodness in the expectation of the divine presence. Its enjoyment will make the happiness of all faithful souls, today and for ever more.