II
Health Misused, Sickness Sent
The soul confesses having squandered God-given health and asks that present sickness correct rather than harden it.
You had given me health so that I might serve you, and I put it to a wholly profane use. You are sending me sickness now to correct me; do not let me use it to provoke you by my impatience.
Just Punishment, Not Misused
Punishment is owned as deserved, and the prayer shifts to not wasting even that mercy of correction.
I misused my health, and you have justly punished me for it. Do not allow me to misuse your punishment.
Grace That Makes Affliction Holy
Because corrupt nature turns even favors to harm, only God’s grace can make chastisement truly healing.
And since my nature is so corrupt that it makes your favors harmful to me, grant, O my God,1 that your all-powerful grace may make your chastisements salutary for me.
That I May Enjoy You Alone
The chapter closes by asking God to break worldly attachment so that weakness or charity leave the soul free for God alone.
If my heart was full of affection for the world while it still had some vigor, destroy that vigor for my salvation; and make me unable to enjoy the world, whether through weakness of body or through zeal of charity, so that I may enjoy you alone.2
Read the original Latin
Vous m’aviez donné la santé pour vous servir, et j’en ai fait un usage tout profane. Vous m’envoyez maintenant la maladie pour me corriger ; ne permettez pas que j’en use pour vous irriter par mon impatience. J’ai mal usé de ma santé, et vous m’en avez justement puni. Ne souffrez pas que j’use mal de votre punition. Et puisque la corruption de ma nature est telle qu’elle me rend vos faveurs pernicieuses, faites, ô mon Dieu ! que votre grâce toute puissante me rende vos châtiments salutaires. Si j’ai eu le cœur plein de l’affection du monde pendant qu’il a eu quelque vigueur, anéantissez cette vigueur pour mon salut ; et rendez-moi incapable de jouir du monde, soit par faiblesse de corps, soit par zèle de charité, pour ne jouir que de vous seul.
Notes
Prayer to Ask God for the Good Use of Sickness companion
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