Question 7.126

7.126 The Latin proverb says: “Soli Deo.” Does this mean that God alone must always attract man?

Man must not be turned toward himself. Precisely the opposite orientation assures him of balance and life. Man must snatch himself away from himself. As long as he is locked into his ego, his own interior prison remains a veritable hell. “God alone” is the open road by which we can escape from ourselves.

Only the thought of God can give us at the same time freedom and purity and the balance between the two. Not by taking other men as our model, even the best of them, will we know what we should do, but rather by turning to God; he is the one who will show us what sacrifices are demanded of us, and he alone will give us the strength to make them, too.

When we are in darkness and no longer manage to see God, not even the idea of him, we must have a bit of courage while patiently remaining turned toward him. In those somber hours, we advance more rapidly toward the goal. The “tunnels” of faith are shortcuts to God; to become distracted then is to lose great graces. Many saints have experienced this. …

If we are faithful in always directing our soul toward the divine light, we will become luminous in turn, as flowers take on a resemblance to the sun.

The normal orientation will produce order, balance, tranquility, and peace. Then, we will be on the way to sainthood, which consists of being more interested in God than in oneself and in living by his eternal beauty.

This is the spiritual testament of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was able to write at the end of her life: “Make every effort to walk in the presence of God, to see God in everyone you meet. . . In the streets in particular, radiate the joy of belonging to God, of living with Him and being His.”⁵