Part 6 (1/2)

If it is the affection of charity which is in them, all diversions will recreate it--shows, games, instrumental and vocal music, the beauties of field and garden, social intercourse generally. There remains deep in them, being gradually renewed as it rests, the love of work and service. The longing to resume this work breaks in upon the diversions and puts an end to them. For the Lord flows into the diversions from heaven, and renews the man; and He gives the man an interior sense of pleasure in them, too, of which those know nothing who are not in the affection of charity.

--_Doctrine of Charity, nn._ 127, 128, 130

THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE

”He leadeth me.”

--_Psalm_, XXIII, 2

THE DIVINE PURPOSE

The Divine Providence has for an end a heaven which shall consist of men who have become angels or who are becoming angels, to whom the Lord can impart from Himself all the blessedness and felicity of love and wisdom.

--_Divine Providence, n._ 27

THE LAWFUL ORDER OF PROVIDENCE

In all that proceeds from the Lord the Divine Providence is first.

Indeed, we may say that the Lord _is_ Providence, as we say that G.o.d is Order; for the Divine Providence is Divine Order with regard above all to the salvation of man. As order is impossible without laws, it follows that as G.o.d is order so is He the Law of His order. And as the Lord is His Providence, He is also the Law of His Providence. The Lord cannot act contrary to the laws of His Providence, for to act contrary to them would be to act contrary to Himself.

--_Divine Providence, n._ 331

A WORLD-WIDE LEADING

The Lord provides that there shall be religion everywhere, and in each religion the two essentials of salvation, which are, to acknowledge G.o.d, and not to do evil because it is contrary to G.o.d. It is provided furthermore that all who have lived well and acknowledge G.o.d should be instructed by angels after death. Then, they who, in the world, were in the two essentials of religion, accept the truths of the Church, such as they are in the Word, and acknowledge the Lord as the G.o.d of heaven and the Church. It has also been provided by the Lord that all who die infants shall be saved, wherever they may have been born.

--_Divine Providence, n._ 328

THE DIVINE PERSEVERANCE

The Divine Providence differs from all other leading and guidance in this, that it continually regards what is eternal, and continually leads to salvation, and this through various states, now glad, now sad,--states which a man cannot understand at all, and yet they all conduce to his life to eternity.

--_Arcana Coelestia, n._ 8560

IN THE STREAM OF PROVIDENCE

The Divine Providence is universal, that is, in the leasts of all things. They who are in the stream of Providence are borne along continually to happiness, whatsoever the appearance of the means may be. They are in the stream of Providence, who put their trust in the Divine, and ascribe all things to Him. They are not in the stream of Providence who trust themselves alone and ascribe all things to themselves. As far as one is in the stream of Providence, so far one is in a state of peace. Such alone know and believe that the Divine Providence of the Lord is in each and all things, yea, in the leasts of all things.

--_Arcana Coelestia, n._ 8478

CARE FOR THE MORROW