Human Response to God’s Excess of Love
[My God] grant me the gifts of work and suffer without it ever being known … in order to cooperate fully, efficaciously, and eternally with every work for your greater glory and the salvation of souls. (OOCC, X, p. 280; STA, 566)
St. Vincent Pallotti wanted to respond to the gracious love of God in a corresponding manner He believed that his gratitude must be manifested though his life rather than through mere words. Hence, he was looking for ways and means to respond to the excess love God had manifested in his life so graciously. He thought that he could offer his gratitude to God by working for his glory and suffer for it without it ever being known to others. First, St. Vincent wanted to work for God’s glory and the sanctification of human persons. He wanted to cooperate fully and efficaciously in the work of salvation of humankind, so as to make God known, loved and glorified. This desire of St. Vincent took concrete expression in the foundation of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and the various apostolic activities he had undertaken in the city of Rome to bring God’s love to the poor and the needy. Second, St. Vincent wanted to accept every hardship and trouble that came his way in accomplishing God’s plan of salvation and suffer it without it ever being noticed by others. He often prayed for these two gifts of working for the salvation of humankind, and suffering for it without this suffering being known to others. In this manner, St. Vincent responded to the excess love God manifested towards him.
Am I able to perceive the many ways in which the love of God reaches out in my life? Am I ready to give a corresponding response to the God, who loves me excessively? How does this response find concrete expression in my everyday life?
Keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire. (Jude 1: 21 –23)