Accepting One’s Self and Situation
If you are anxious to see the strength of your passion and the weakness of your spirit, do not get discouraged. … You must place your confidence in God … [and say]: ‘God has put me in this state [and] … in his fidelity he will readily grant me the grace to profit from it. (OOCC, XIII, pp. 201, 202)
St. Vincent Pallotti constantly faced the reality of his own personality with its perfection and limitation. He had a perspective that was practical and real when it came to accepting himself in relation to the situation in which he found himself. Whether it was in relation to his spiritual life or apostolic endeavors, he had the gracious attitude of accepting everything as it happened in his life without anxiety and worry. He believed there were elements of his personality that could not be totally altered, and he needed to struggle with these weaknesses, counting on God’s grace to help him. Similarly, he knew that there were situations in the realm of his apostolate that could not be changed, and he needed to learn patience to cope with such situations. Thus, both in his personal life as well as apostolic life, he practiced adaptability and flexibility in coping with these unalterable dimensions of his life. He often advised his followers not to worry when they were faced with difficulties of this nature. He exhorted them saying that the knowledge of their limitation should make them raise their hearts to God in prayer, and dispose themselves to divine inspiration which would help them cope with these situations. St. Vincent asked them to have courage if they found themselves in difficult situations. He suggested that instead of worrying, they should remind themselves that God knew the state they were in. He would give them all the grace they needed, and they should carry on living the situation with faith and hope in God’s power.
How do I cope with the positive and negative dimensions of my personality? What is my attitude towards difficulties that arise in my apostolate? Do I trust in God’s providence and inspiration in coping with them? Do I give my best and leave the rest to God while handling difficult situations?
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. ( I Cor. 4:3)