Vigils Reading – St Francis de Sales

A DELICATE SENSE

OF GOD’S PRESENCE

By St Francis de Sales

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The soul thus inwardly recollected in God or in God’s presence is at times

rendered so sweetly attentive to the goodness of its beloved as to think that its

attention is not actually attention, so simply and so delicately is it exercised. It

is like certain rivers which flow so calmly and smoothly that those who look at

them or sail on them seem neither to see nor to feel any motion, since they see

no waves or currents whatever. This loving repose of the soul is called the

“prayer of quiet” by the holy virgin Teresa of Jesus, and is scarcely different

from that which she calls “the sleep of the powers,” at least if I understand her

properly.

Indeed, even men in love are at times content with being near or within

sight of the one they love without actually speaking to her and without thinking

especially either of her or of her perfections. They seem to be pleased and

satisfied with enjoying this dear presence, not by any consideration they give it

but by a certain calm and repose their spirit finds in it…

Sometimes this repose goes so deep in its tranquility that the whole soul

and all its powers remain as if sunk in sleep. They make no movement or action

whatsoever, except the will alone and even it does no more than receive the joy

and contentment that it receives but enjoys it insensibly. It does not think of

itself but of him whose presence gives it such pleasure. It is like what often

happens when we drop off unaware into a light sleep. We only half hear what

our friends are saying around us, or feel their caresses almost imperceptibly

without feeling that we feel.

Nevertheless, the soul enjoying in this sweet repose such a delicate sense

of God’s presence, even though it does not have perception of such enjoyment,

still shows clearly how precious to it and how worthy of love is this happiness.

For when anyone tries to deprive the soul of it or something turns it from it, then

that poor soul complains, cries out, even weeps at times. It is like a little child

awakened before it has slept enough; by the pain it feels on being awakened

clearly shows the pleasure it had in sleep. For this reason the heavenly shepherd

adjures the daughters of Sion, “by the roes and harts of the fields,” not to cause

the beloved to awaken up until she pleases, that is, to let her awaken by herself.

A soul thus at peace in its God would not change that repose for all the world’s

greatest goods.