Posted by Phil on June 03, 1999 at 11:52:12:
In Reply to: De Caussade posted by Anne Ward on June 03, 1999 at 07:40:52:
Hi Anne,
I don't think the author is saying that God is necessarily the cause of all things, although he surely could have used an editor. So, for example, we would not say that the Holocaust was sent by God, nor a tornado, even. This would overlook the reality of nature's laws, and human evil.
But it IS surely true that once one is saddled by something that cannot be changed, then the acceptance of this and working within the situation to love as best as possible is indeed formative unto holiness. That's the spiritual message being imparted in this passage, even if the first part limps a bit in its theodicy.
Hope this helps,
Phil