There is an affection in every employment, which puts the mind upon the stretch and keeps it intent upon its work or study.  If it is not relaxed, this becomes heavy, and its desire meaningless; as salt, when it loses its saltness, no longer stimulates, and as the bow on the stretch, unless it is unbent, loses the force it gets from its elasticity.  Continuously intent upon its work, the mind wants rest; and dropping to the physical life, it seeks pleasures there that answer to its activities.  As is the mind in them, such are the pleasures, pure or impure, spiritual or natural, heavenly or infernal.  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 God 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 God 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 God, and not to do evil because it is contrary to God.  It is provided furthermore that all who have lived well and acknowledge God 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 God 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.