Wisdom of Fénelon

I've really enjoyed reading the Dialogues of Fénelon, published by Lamplighter Publishing. Read on, it's good. (Emphasis mine)

from Francois de Fénelon, 1651-1715

I quite understand that all your troubles come from excessive self-consciousness, and from letting yourself be too much guided by feeling. As soon as you cease to find prayer a perceptible solace to you, you are tempted to be discouraged. Do you desire to be at peace? Try to be less occupied with yourself, and more with God.


One of the most dangerous delusions of self-love is when we grow sentimental about ourselves, are perpetually self-engrossed, and are absorbed in ourselves with a restless, anxious care which troubles, withers, and disables the heart, deprives us of the consciousness of God's presence, and ends by hopelessly depressing and discouraging us. Say, with St. Paul, "Yea, I judge not mine own self." You will watch all the better for the real correction of your faults, and the fulfillment of your duties because of the absence of all this self-willed restlessness.


Then it will be out of love of God that you will simply and quietly repress whatever that watchful love shows you to be faulty and unworthy of the Beloved. You will work at conquering your failings without impatience or pettiness; you will humbly bear with yourself without flattering your weaknesses; you will accept reproof, and be ready to obey.


Conduct such as this tends far more to self-renunciation than yielding to all the fancies, vexation, and impatience of a self-love, which is too eager for perfection.


I do not care to have you a wise, strong, and virtuous woman on a grand scale; I want everything on a small scale. Be a good little child.