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← The Imitation of Christ/Book 3 · On Inward Consolation
Chapter 15Imit.3.15

Qualiter standum sit ad dicendum in omni re desiderabili.

The Prayer of Conditional Surrender

The disciple is taught to frame every desire as a prayer of surrender, asking God to grant what pleases Him and to remove what harms the soul.

Son, if you would say in every matter: Lord, if it has been pleasing to you, let this be done, just so; Lord, if it is to your honor, let this be done in your name; Lord, if you see it to be expedient and useful for me, and have approved it, then grant this to me, that I may use it for your honor. But if you recognize it would be harmful to me, and of no benefit to the salvation of my soul, take such a desire away from me.

The Peril of Self-Deceiving Desires

Not every desire that seems good truly comes from the Holy Spirit, and many who begin under a good impulse are ultimately deceived.

For not every desire comes from the Holy Spirit, even if it may seem to a person just, right, and good. It is difficult, truly, to judge whether a good spirit or an evil one impels you to desire this or that, or whether you are even being moved by your own spirit.1 Many are deceived in the end who at first seemed to be led by a good spirit.

Total Resignation into God's Hands

The soul commits every desire wholly to God, resigning its own will and placing itself entirely in God's hand as a servant ready for all things.

Therefore, whatever desirable thing comes to mind should always be desired and sought with the fear of God and humility of heart, and above all it should be wholly committed to me and spoken of with my own resignation.2 Lord, you know which is better for me, this or that. As you will, give me what you wish, as much as you wish, and when you wish. Do with me as you know is best, as pleases you most, and as brings you the greatest honor. Place me where you wish, and freely do with me whatever you will in all things. I am in your hand; turn me and turn me around in every direction.3 Here I am, your servant, prepared for all things — because I do not desire to live for myself, but for you. If only worthily and perfectly!✦4

Grace to Will Only What God Wills

The disciple prays for grace to persevere, to desire only what pleases God, and to have the human will perfectly aligned with the divine will.

Grant me, most kind Jesus, your grace, so that it may be with me and work with me, and persevere with me all the way to the end. Give me always to desire and to will what is more acceptable to you and pleases you more dearly. Let your will be mine, and let my will always follow yours, and agree with it in the best way. Let me will one thing and refuse one thing with you, and let me be unable to will or refuse anything else unless it is what you will or would refuse.

Rest in God Alone

The chapter closes with prayers for death to the world, love of contempt, interior rest in God who is true peace, and final repose in the eternal good.

Grant me to die to everything in the world, and for your sake to love being despised and to be unknown in this age. Grant me to rest in you above all desired things, and to set my heart at peace in you. You are the true peace of the heart, you the only rest; outside you all things are harsh and restless. In this peace — in the very words 'in idipsum,' that is, in you, the one and highest and eternal good — may I sleep and rest.✦5 Amen.

Read the original Latin

Fili, si dicas in omni re: Domine, si tibi placitum fuerit, fiat hoc ita; Domine, si sit honor tuus, fiat in nomine tuo hoc; Domine, si mihi videris expedire et utile esse probaveris, tunc da mihi hoc uti ad honorem tuum. Sed si mihi nocivum fore cognoveris, nec animæ meæ saluti prodesse, aufer a me tale desiderium. Non enim omne desiderium a Spiritu Sancto est, etiamsi homini videatur justum, rectum et bonum. Difficile est pro vero judicare, an spiritus bonus, aut malus te impellat ad desiderandum hoc vel illud, an etiam ex proprio movearis spiritu. Multi in fine sunt decepti, qui primo bono spiritu videbantur inducti.

Igitur semper cum timore Dei, et humilitate cordis desiderandum est et petendum, quidquid desiderabile menti occurrit, maximeque cum propria resignatione mihi totum committendum est atque dicendum. Domine, tu scis qualiter melius est mihi hoc vel illud; sicut volueris, da mihi quod vis et quantum vis et quando vis. Fac mecum sicut scis et sicut tibi magis placuerit, et major honor fuerit tuus. Pone me ubi vis, et liber age mecum in omnibus. In manu tua ego sum, gira et reversa me per circuitum. En ego servus tuus paratus ad omnia: quoniam non desidero mihi vivere, sed tibi, utinam digne et perfecte.

Concede mihi, benignissime Jesu, gratiam tuam, ut mecum sit et mecum laboret, mecumque usque in finem perseveret. Da mihi semper desiderare, et velle quod tibi magis acceptum est, et carius placet. Tua voluntas mea sit, et mea voluntas tuam sequatur semper, et optime ei concordet. Sit mihi unum velle, et unum nolle tecum: nec aliud posse velle, aut nolle nisi quod vis, aut nolis.

Da mihi omnibus mori quæ in mundo sunt, et propter te amare contemni, et nesciri in hoc sæculo. Da mihi super omnia desiderata in te quiescere, et cor meum in te pacificare. Tu vera pax cordis, tu sola requies; extra te omnia sunt dura, et inquieta. In hac pace in idipsum, hoc est in te uno et summo et æterno bono, dormiam et requiescam. Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩1Sam.3.4-1Sam.3.10 — Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he said, "Here I am." 1Sam.3.5 — and he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' But he said, 'I did not call; go back, lie down.' So he went and lay down. 1Sam.3.6 — And the LORD called again, "Samuel!" And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 1Sam.3.7 — Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 1Sam.3.8 — Then the LORD called Samuel again the third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. 1Sam.3.9 — And Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls to you, then say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1Sam.3.10 — And the LORD came and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
  2. ↩Ps.4.9 — In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you, LORD, alone make me dwell in safety.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩pro vero rendered as 'truly' to capture the emphatic/adversative force of vero; could also be read as 'in truth.'
  2. 2 ↩resignatio rendered as 'resignation' in the sense of self-surrender to God's will, not mere passivity.
  3. 3 ↩gira and reversa are imperative forms; the sense is 'turn me and turn me back/around.' per circuitum rendered as 'in every direction' to capture the circular motion.
  4. 4 ↩utinam rendered as 'if only' to capture the optative force — a wish that the servant's life for God would be worthy and complete.
  5. 5 ↩The quoted phrase 'in idipsum' and the closing 'dormiam et requiescam' echo Psalm 4:9 (Vulgate 4:10) — 'In pace in idipsum dormiam et requiescam.' Final resolution deferred to Moses stage.