Abandonment is a term often used by
mystic and
ascetic
Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...
writers to signify the first stage of the union of the soul with God by conforming to God's will, for example in the work of
Jean Pierre de Caussade Jean Pierre de Caussade (7 March 1675 – 8 December 1751) was a French Jesuit priest and writer. He is especially known for the work ascribed to him known as ''Abandonment to Divine Providence'', and also his work with the Nuns of the Visitation in ...
,
Abandonment to Divine Providence':
:"You do well to give yourself up entirely and almost solely to the excellent practice of an absolute abandonment to the will of God. In this lies for you all perfection."
Several recent Popes have referred to abandonment in their teachings. In 2011,
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV (Latin: ''Benedictus XV''; it, Benedetto XV), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, name=, group= (; 21 November 185422 January 1922), was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his death in January 1922. His ...
reflected that "prayer is not a reflection on one's self, but a complete abandonment to the word and will of God", and in 2013,
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
spoke of
Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII ( la, Ioannes XXIII; it, Giovanni XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, ; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 19 ...
's "daily abandonment to God's will" as "a lesson for all of us, and also for the Church of our time".
Pope: John XXIII, the good pope's daily abandonment to God's will is a lesson for the Church of our time
6 March 2013, accessed 9 August 2016
References
Visionary literature
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