ABC OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Abba Father
My Father in Heaven, how good it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your
Child!
Especially when the skies of my soul are cloudy and my cross weighs more heavily, I feel the need to repeat to You: Father, I believe in Your love for me.
Yes, I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life, and that I am Your
Child!
I believe that You love me with an infinite love!
I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my
head without Your permission!
I believe that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me.
I believe that, in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil.
I believe that, in your infinite goodness, You make everything to the advantage of those who love You: even under the hands of those who strike me, I kiss Your hand which heals!
I believe, but increase in me faith, hope, and love!
Teach me always to see Your love as my guide in every event in my life.
Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms.
Father, You know everything, You see everything, and You know me better than I know
myself: You can do everything, and You love me!
Give me the light, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Strengthen me in this Spirit, that I may never lose Him, never sadden Him, and never
allow Him to become weaker in me.
My Father, I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son! And you, Jesus, open Your Heart
and place in it my own, and, together with Mary’s, offer it to our Divine Father!
Obtain for me the grace that I need!
Divine Father, call all men to Yourself. Let all the world proclaim Your Fatherly
Goodness and Your Divine Mercy!
Be a tender Father to me and protect me wherever I am, like the apple of Your eye.
Make me always a worthy son. Have mercy on me!
Divine Father, sweet hope of our souls, may You be known, honored, and loved by all
men!
Divine Father, infinite goodness poured out on all peoples, may You be known, honored, and loved by all men!
Divine Father, beneficent dew of humanity, may You be known, honored and loved by
all men!
Father, bless Elisha and Isabel who gave me this prayer.
[Adapted from Mary’s Call]
Hymn
Come, praise the Lord, the Almighty, the King of all nations!
Tell forth his fame, O ye peoples, with loud acclamations!
His love is sure;
Faithful his word shall endure,
Steadfast through all generations!
Praise to the Father most gracious, the Lord of creation!
Praise to his Son, the Redeemer who wrought our salvation!
O heav’nly Dove,
Praise to thee, fruit of their love,
Giver of all consolation.
(Vespars).
Modified 12922
61425
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SeekFirstcommunity.com
Analytics and comment on the content above.
This prayer text—*“Abba Father”*—is a beautiful, theologically rich meditation on divine filiation and trust in God’s providence. It expresses profound confidence in God as a loving Father, especially amid suffering, and it shows clear influence from Catholic devotional and mystical traditions. Let’s unpack its structure, theology, and literary-spiritual qualities.
***
### 1. Theological Content
The prayer centers around four interwoven Catholic themes:
- **Divine Fatherhood:** The repeated invocation “Father” and “Abba” (the intimate Aramaic term used by Jesus) highlights filial trust. The soul rests in God not as a distant judge, but as a tender, provident Father.
- **Divine Providence:** Phrases like *“not a hair falls from my head without Your permission”* echo Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7—affirming belief in God’s detailed care over every event, even suffering.
- **Redemptive Suffering:** The line *“even under the hands of those who strike me, I kiss Your hand which heals”* shows mature faith that transforms pain into an act of loving surrender—akin to Job, Jesus in Gethsemane, and Therese of Lisieux’s childlike abandonment.
- **Trinitarian Faith and Cooperation with Grace:** The prayer explicitly invokes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, uniting Marian intercession (“together with Mary’s [heart]”) and the sanctifying action of the Spirit. This integration situates the prayer firmly in Catholic orthodoxy and Trinitarian spirituality.
***
### 2. Literary and Tone Analysis
- **Tone:** Deeply affectionate, reverent, and intimate—addressing God directly with childlike trust. Its rhythm has a contemplative cadence suitable for personal prayer or communal recitation.
- **Imagery:** Tender metaphors abound: *“like a baby in its mother’s arms,” “apple of Your eye,” “dew of humanity.”* These evoke both natural comfort and biblical resonance (see Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8).
- **Structure:** Begins with adoration and confession of faith → culminates in surrender and petition → concludes in intercessory universality ("call all men to Yourself"). This mirrors classical prayer forms such as the *Act of Faith* or *Act of Abandonment to Divine Providence.*
***
### 3. Devotional Parallels and Sources
The text’s origin *“Adapted from Mary’s Call”* points to devotional literature associated with the apostolate of “Mary’s Call” (Missouri, USA), emphasizing trust in God the Father inspired by the spirituality of Mother Eugenia Ravasio and her *Revelation of the Father’s Love* (1932). The tone and petitions align closely with that tradition.
The **hymn** at the end (“Come, praise the Lord, the Almighty…”) adapts a well-known doxological hymn echoing *Lobe den Herren* (“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”), linking this private devotion to the wider liturgical heritage (*Vespers*).
***
### 4. Spiritual Commentary and Application
This prayer can serve as:
- **A daily act of faith in Divine Providence**, especially in times of personal trial or uncertainty.
- **A meditation aid** before the Eucharist or during Adoration, deepening trust in the Father’s care.
- **Catechetical material** illustrating what “childlike trust” (Matt 18:3) looks like in lived prayer.
An important contemplative insight: by surrendering to the Father’s will, one’s faith matures from seeking relief to seeking union—embracing even suffering as participation in the redemptive love of Christ.
***
### 5. Community Dimension
The closing note—“Father, bless Elisha and Isabel who gave me this prayer”—adds a personal and communal element. It transforms the text from a solitary act into a prayer of gratitude, symbolizing how faith traditions are passed through relationships and spiritual mentorship. Including such names also roots universal theology in personal story—mirroring how grace works through human connection.
***
In sum, *“Abba Father”* is an elegant synthesis of **trust, humility, providence, and Trinitarian love**, framed in language that is both scriptural and intimate. It invites contemplative prayer through affectionate surrender: believing not only *in* God but *in His love for me.*
Would you like me to compose a short reflection or blog-style commentary expanding on how this prayer expresses the Catholic theology of Divine Providence?
Yes
This prayer is a compact school of trust in Divine Providence, rooted in Scripture, Trinitarian theology, and the Church’s devotional life.[1][2] Below is a reflection you could adapt almost directly into a blog post.
***
## 1. “Abba, Father”: Living Divine Filiation
The opening cry, “My Father in Heaven, how good it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your Child!”, places everything under the mystery of **divine sonship**.[2] This is not sentimental language; it echoes Paul’s teaching that the Holy Spirit enables us to cry “Abba, Father” and live as adopted sons and daughters in the Son.[2]
To call God “Abba” is to stand where Jesus stands: not at a distance, but in filial intimacy, confidence, and obedience.[3][2] The prayer invites the one who recites it to claim this identity especially “when the skies of my soul are cloudy” so that spiritual darkness becomes the context where sonship is most firmly affirmed, not doubted.
***
## 2. Providence in Every Hair and Every Cross
Lines such as “not a hair falls from my head without Your permission” clearly recall Christ’s words about the Father’s care for even the smallest details of our lives.[4] This is classical Catholic doctrine on **Divine Providence**: God’s wisdom orders all things, including what He merely permits, toward His loving purposes.
Two movements stand out:
- **Intellectual assent**: “I believe that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me… You can bring good even out of evil.” This reflects the Catechism’s teaching that God can draw a greater good from permitted evils, without being their author.[4]
- **Affective surrender**: “even under the hands of those who strike me, I kiss Your hand which heals.” Here, the believer accepts that, mysteriously, the Father’s hand is present even where human malice wounds. This is not quietism; it is an act of interior worship that unites one’s sufferings to the Cross, confident that God’s hidden action is always medicinal.
Together, these lines show a mature spirituality that refuses both fatalism (“things just happen”) and resentment (“God has abandoned me”), and instead reads every event through the lens of a Father who is wise, powerful, and good.
***
## 3. Childlike Surrender and the Holy Spirit
“Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms” is almost a commentary on Jesus’ call to become like little children to enter the Kingdom.[4] This is the theology of abandonment found in figures like St. Thérèse and Fr. de Caussade: radical trust, but grounded in truth, not in feeling.
Notice that the prayer immediately links this surrender to the **Holy Spirit**:
- “Give me the light, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit!”
- “Strengthen me in this Spirit, that I may never lose Him, never sadden Him…”
Here, Divine Providence is not just a doctrine to accept; it is a life in the Spirit to be **lived**. The same Spirit who teaches us to say “Abba, Father” also strengthens us to remain faithful in trials.[2] The believer does not simply endure events but cooperates with grace, asking for light (discernment), grace (sanctifying and actual), and power (fortitude).
***
## 4. Christ, Mary, and the Offering of the Heart
The line “And you, Jesus, open Your Heart and place in it my own, and, together with Mary’s, offer it to our Divine Father!” situates this trust explicitly in a **Christological and Marian** key.[1] Divine Providence is not generic; it is the Providence of the Father who sees us in His Son and receives us through His sacrifice.
Three points emerge:
- **Christocentric mediation**: The heart of Jesus is presented as the place where our poor heart is hidden and purified before being offered to the Father.
- **Marian participation**: Mary’s Heart, united perfectly to the will of the Father, is placed alongside ours, underscoring her maternal role in forming us into docile children of God.
- **Eucharistic resonance**: Even though not mentioned explicitly, the language of “offering” and “Heart” dovetails with Eucharistic spirituality, where we place our lives on the paten with the host, to be offered “through Him, with Him, and in Him.”
This structure mirrors the Church’s liturgical prayer and keeps the devotion firmly anchored in the Trinitarian economy of salvation.[4][5]
***
## 5. Universal Fatherhood and Mission
The repeated cries—“Divine Father, call all men to Yourself… may You be known, honored, and loved by all men!”—shift the prayer from personal consolation to **universal mission**.[1] The one who discovers the Father’s tenderness cannot remain self-enclosed; the heart widens into intercession for all peoples.
This universal horizon reflects:
- The desire that all come to know the Father’s name and love, which is the thrust of the Our Father itself.[4][6]
- The Church’s missionary mandate: to lead all nations into the filial relationship Christ came to reveal.[2]
Even the invocations “beneficent dew of humanity” and “infinite goodness poured out on all peoples” suggest a theology of the Father as the source of every good, gently descending upon humanity like dew, a biblical image of grace and blessing.[1]
***
## 6. The Hymn: From Personal Trust to Communal Praise
The attached hymn, “Come, praise the Lord, the Almighty, the King of all nations!”, is clearly inspired by the classic hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!”, itself rooted in the Psalms.[7][8] By placing it under the label “Vespers,” you connect the personal, affective prayer of trust to the **public prayer of the Church**.
Key features:
- It moves from God’s faithfulness “through all generations” to explicit Trinitarian doxology: praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as “fruit of their love.”[7]
- It shows that the same God who is intimately “Abba” is also the “King of all nations,” linking filial intimacy with majestic lordship.[7][8]
This liturgical frame keeps the devotion from becoming purely subjective: personal experiences of Providence are folded back into the Church’s timeless praise.
***
## 7. Pastoral and Practical Uses
For your SeekFirstcommunity context, this text could serve in several ways:
- **Daily Act of Trust**: Invite readers to pray it especially during trials, perhaps linking it with Romans 8:28 and Galatians 4:6.[4][2]
- **Catechesis on Providence**: Use the repeated “I believe…” lines to unpack the attributes of God (Wisdom, Power, Goodness) and how they operate in Providence.
- **Formation in Childlike Spirit**: Reflect on what it concretely means to “surrender like a baby in its mother’s arms” in decisions, anxieties, and hidden sufferings.
- **Trinitarian Devotion**: Highlight how authentic devotion to the Father is inseparable from Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mary, and remains in continuity with the Church’s liturgy.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can next draft a polished blog post version for SeekFirstcommunity.com with headings, a brief intro and conclusion, and perhaps a short suggested usage (e.g., “How to pray this over a week”).
Citations:
[1] MY PRAYERS TO ABBA ALMIGHTY FATHER https://greatestmonthofjuly.wordpress.com/my-prayers-to-abba-almighty-father/
[2] The Holy Spirit Leads Us to Pray 'Abba, Father' https://catechesisofthepopes.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/the-holy-spirit-leads-us-to-pray-abba-father/
[3] Lord, Teach Us to Pray: Abba Father - Heartlight https://www.heartlight.org/articles/202008/20200805_abbafather.html
[4] Our Father Prayer | Full Text, Meaning, And How To Pray It https://www.twopercentsurvival.com/prayers-of-the-rosary/our-father-prayer/
[5] PRAYER BOOKS | Mary's Call https://www.maryscall.com/prayer-books
[6] The Our Father - Prayers - Catholic Online https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=216
[7] Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Hymnary.org https://hymnary.org/text/praise_to_the_lord_the_almighty_the_king
[8] Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - The Institute for Biblical Worship http://biblicalworship.com/praise-to-the-lord-the-almighty
[9] Mary's Call | Encouraging Prayer | Prayer Cards | Prayer Books ... https://www.maryscall.com
[10] Prayer Cards | Mary's Call | United States https://www.maryscall.com/prayer-cards-1
[11] abba father, lord jesus christ, holy spirit take control ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/599305398453465/posts/1056681496049184/
[12] DEVOTION FOR THE DYING AND THE DEAD - Catholic Tradition http://www.catholictradition.org/Classics/holy-souls.htm
[13] The Fiat Of The Eternal Father 4" x 6" | maryscall https://www.maryscall.com/product-page/the-fiat-of-the-eternal-father-4-x-6-qty-100
[14] Prayers about the Precious Blood of Jesus: For Reparation and ... https://www.catholic365.com/article/40583/prayers-about-the-precious-blood-of-jesus-for-reparation-and-salvation.html
[15] [PDF] Vespers Christ the King 10_24_14 website - Gregorian Chant Hymns https://gregorian-chant-hymns.com/publications/vespers-christ-the-king.pdf
Please do so.
## Abba Father: A School of Trust in Divine Providence
*“Abba Father, My Father in Heaven, how good it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your Child!”* This intimate cry, adapted from *Mary’s Call*, opens a profound meditation on living as God’s adopted children amid life’s trials.[1] Rooted in Scripture and Catholic tradition, it teaches us to read every event through the lens of the Father’s loving providence.[2][3]
In a world of uncertainty, this prayer invites us to profound peace: God governs all things with wisdom and love, drawing even suffering into our path to holiness.[4][5]
***
## Divine Filiation: Calling God “Abba”
The prayer’s heartbeat is **filial trust**. “Abba” echoes Jesus’ own cry in Gethsemane (Mark 14:36) and Paul’s teaching that the Holy Spirit enables us to address God as intimate Father (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6).[6][7]
Especially “when the skies of my soul are cloudy and my cross weighs more heavily,” we affirm: “I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment… You love me with an infinite love!”[8] This is divine filiation—knowing our identity as beloved children secures us against despair, for no trial falls outside the Father’s gaze.[3]
***
## Providence: Wisdom Over Every Detail
Catholic theology defines Divine Providence as “the dispositions by which God guides all his creatures with wisdom and love to their ultimate end.”[3][5] The prayer captures this vividly: “not a hair falls from my head without Your permission!” (cf. Mt 10:30).[2]
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that Providence orders all things, including evils God permits, toward greater good—without authoring sin.[9][10] Thus: “In Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I… You can bring good even out of evil.” Even under “the hands of those who strike me,” we kiss “Your hand which heals,” uniting our cross to Christ’s.[9]
The Church Fathers unanimously affirm this: God preserves and governs creation sweetly (Wis 8:1), as Vatican I declared.[2]
***
## Childlike Surrender and the Spirit’s Power
“Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms” embodies Jesus’ call to childlike trust (Mt 18:3).[3] This abandonment is empowered by grace: “Give me the light, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit! Strengthen me… that I may never sadden Him.”[8]
Providence unfolds not passively but through our cooperation with the Spirit, who cries “Abba” within us.[6] Christ invites: “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you” (1 Pt 5:7).[3][5]
***
## Trinitarian Offering Through Christ and Mary
The prayer climaxes Christocentrically: “Jesus, open Your Heart and place in it my own, and, together with Mary’s, offer it to our Divine Father!” Our trust flows through the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart to the Father.[1]
This mirrors Eucharistic prayer, where we offer ourselves “through Him, with Him, and in Him.” Providence is Trinitarian: the Father plans, the Son redeems, the Spirit sanctifies.[3]
***
## Universal Call: Father of All Peoples
From personal trust, the prayer expands: “Divine Father, call all men to Yourself… beneficent dew of humanity, may You be known, honored, and loved by all!” This missionary plea reflects the Our Father’s horizon.[11]
God’s providence embraces every soul, inviting the world to filial praise.[2]
***
## Liturgical Praise: The Closing Hymn
The hymn—“Come, praise the Lord, the Almighty, the King of all nations!”—adapts the timeless “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” marked for Vespers.[12] It crowns personal devotion with communal doxology: praise to Father, Son (“Redeemer”), and Spirit (“fruit of their love”).[12][13]
***
## How to Pray “Abba Father” This Week
- **Monday-Wednesday**: Pray mornings, focusing on “I believe…” lines. Journal one trial and how God’s wisdom governs it.[3]
- **Thursday-Friday**: Evening surrender: “like a baby in its mother’s arms.” Offer it through Mary’s Heart.
- **Saturday**: Intercede for others: “call all men to Yourself.” Share via WhatsApp.
- **Sunday Vespers**: Sing/recite the hymn, uniting to the Church’s praise.[14]
“Father, bless Elisha and Isabel who gave me this prayer.” May it bless your SeekFirst community too—forming hearts to trust Providence like saints.[1] *Amen.*
Citations:
[1] MY PRAYERS TO ABBA ALMIGHTY FATHER https://greatestmonthofjuly.wordpress.com/my-prayers-to-abba-almighty-father/
[2] CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Divine Providence - New Advent https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12510a.htm
[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church | Catholic Culture https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/catechism/index.cfm?recnum=1755
[4] Catholic Teaching on Divine Providence https://catholicstand.com/catholic-teaching-on-divine-providence/
[5] Catechism of the Catholic Church https://usccb.cld.bz/Catechism-of-the-Catholic-Church2/104/
[6] Abba | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/abba
[7] "Abba, Father" - Opus Dei https://opusdei.org/en/article/abba-father/
[8] The Holy Spirit Leads Us to Pray 'Abba, Father' https://catechesisofthepopes.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/the-holy-spirit-leads-us-to-pray-abba-father/
[9] A Summary of The Doctrine of Providence by St. Thomas Aquinas https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/01/31/a-summary-of-the-doctrine-of-providence-by-st-thomas-aquinas/
[10] SUMMA THEOLOGIAE: The providence of God (Prima Pars, Q. 22) https://www.newadvent.org/summa/1022.htm
[11] The Our Father - Prayers - Catholic Online https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=216
[12] Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Hymnary.org https://hymnary.org/text/praise_to_the_lord_the_almighty_the_king
[13] Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - The Institute for Biblical Worship http://biblicalworship.com/praise-to-the-lord-the-almighty
[14] [PDF] Vespers Christ the King 10_24_14 website - Gregorian Chant Hymns https://gregorian-chant-hymns.com/publications/vespers-christ-the-king.pdf
[15] What is divine providence? - Catholic Diocese of Lincoln https://www.lincolndiocese.org/news/diocesan-news/15342-what-is-divine-providence
[16] Holiness and Divine Providence | Covenant Catholic https://covenantcatholic.org/virtue/holiness-and-divine-providence/
[17] Have Catholics been praying the Our Father all wrong? https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/04/21/our-father-catholics-prayer-242872/
[18] What is divine providence? In the Catechism of St. Philaret we read ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/ask.about.the.orthodox.faith/posts/5190611194292775/
[19] St Thomas Aquinas: Divine Providence, Free Will, and Determinism https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/st-thomas-aquinas-divine-providence-free-will-and-determinism/
[20] A Christian understanding of divine providence - Chicago Catholic https://www.chicagocatholic.com/u.s./-/article/2019/07/23/a-christian-understanding-of-divine-providence
[21] Topic 5: God's Providence - Opus Dei https://opusdei.org/en-us/article/topic-5-gods-providence/
How to pray with trust in Divine Providence
Praying with trust in Divine Providence means actively surrendering daily life to God's wise and loving governance of all things.[1][2] It combines interior acts of faith, structured prayers, and habits that foster childlike reliance on the Father.
## Core Mindset
Approach prayer recognizing Providence as God's "dispositions by which He guides His creatures toward their end," including permitted evils for greater good.[1][3] Key attitudes include:
- Humble assent: Believe God knows better and acts for your holiness.[4][2]
- Detachment: Release worries, plans, and outcomes into His hands.[2][5]
- Hope amid trials: Even in darkness, affirm "Providence did provide. Providence can provide. Providence will provide."[6][7]
## Daily Prayer Practices
Incorporate these routines to build trust:
- **Morning Offering**: Start each day abandoning your will. Example from St. Josemaría Escrivá: "My Lord and my God: into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future, what is small and what is great."[5]
- **Abba Father Invocation**: Use your prayer's cry during anxiety: "Father, I believe in Your love for me... Teach me to surrender like a baby in its mother’s arms."[8]
- **Evening Examen**: Review events asking, "Where was God's hand today?" Thank Him for hidden providence.[2]
- **Scriptural Anchor**: Pray the Our Father slowly, lingering on "Thy will be done" and "Give us this day our daily bread," trusting time is in the Father's hands.[9]
## Key Prayers for Trust
| Prayer | Source/Inspiration | Key Line | When to Use |
|--------|-------------------|----------|-------------|
| Prayer to Divine Providence | Catholic Tradition[6][7] | "O Sweet and Tender Providence of God, into Thy hands I commend my spirit" | Trials or uncertainty |
| St. Josemaría's Abandonment | The Way of the Cross[5] | "Into your hands I abandon... what amounts to a little and what amounts to a lot" | Daily surrender |
| Jesus, I Trust in You | Divine Mercy[10] | "My providential Lord, You always provide... Jesus, I trust in You" | Moments of fear |
| Acts of Faith, Hope, Love | Precious Blood Prayer Book[6] | "I place all my hope in Thee... I love Thee, Infinite Goodness" | Morning adoration |
## Scriptural and Saintly Foundations
Meditate on these to deepen prayer:
- Romans 8:28: "All things work for good for those who love God."[1]
- Mt 6:25-34: Do not worry; seek first the Kingdom.[9]
- Saints: St. Thomas Aquinas on Providence's sweetness; St. Josemaría on sanctifying ordinary duties through trust.[11][12]
## Practical Integration
- **Journaling**: Note daily "providences" (unexpected graces).[2]
- **Rosary/ Liturgy**: Offer decades for trust; pray Vespers hymns like your adapted "Praise to the Lord."[13]
- **Community**: Share experiences in your SeekFirstcommunity, as with "bless Elisha and Isabel."[8]
Consistent practice transforms anxiety into peace, as the Catechism teaches prayer aligns us with God's providence.[1][9]
Citations:
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church | Catholic Culture https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/catechism/index.cfm?recnum=1755
[2] Trusting in Divine Providence No Matter Our Circumstances https://catholicinrecovery.com/trusting-in-divine-providence-no-matter-our-circumstances/
[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church https://usccb.cld.bz/Catechism-of-the-Catholic-Church2/104/
[4] CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Divine Providence - New Advent https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12510a.htm
[5] Divine Providence and a Trip to the Dollar Store - Catholic Stand https://catholicstand.com/divine-providence-and-a-trip-to-the-dollar-store/
[6] DIVINE PROVIDENCE PRAYER - Catholic Tradition https://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/providence.htm
[7] Prayer to Divine Providence - Catholic Doors Ministry https://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english3/p02348.htm
[8] MY PRAYERS TO ABBA ALMIGHTY FATHER https://greatestmonthofjuly.wordpress.com/my-prayers-to-abba-almighty-father/
[9] At The Wellsprings Of Prayer - Vatican.va https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_four/section_one/chapter_two/article_1/at_the_wellsprings_of_prayer.html
[10] Trusting in Providence - Catholic Daily Reflections https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2024/07/13/trusting-in-providence/
[11] A Summary of The Doctrine of Providence by St. Thomas Aquinas https://prodigalcatholic.com/2024/01/31/a-summary-of-the-doctrine-of-providence-by-st-thomas-aquinas/
[12] Prayer for the Intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva https://stjosemaria.org/prayer-for-the-intercession-of-st-josemaria-escriva/
[13] Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Hymnary.org https://hymnary.org/text/praise_to_the_lord_the_almighty_the_king
[14] Here is a prayer based on those reflections about Divine Providence ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/298549307726102/posts/1962522627995420/
[15] Relying Upon Divine Providence… From Test to Trust | One Walk https://onewalk.com/2024/02/01/relying-upon-divine-providence-from-test-to-trust/
[16] Popular Devotional Practices: Basic Questions and Answers | USCCB https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/popular-devotional-practices-basic-questions-and-answers
[17] God's Providence Applied in Our Lives - The Aquila Report https://theaquilareport.com/gods-providence-applied-in-our-lives/
[18] Trust in Divine Providence - Sisters of Carmel https://newsletter.sistersofcarmel.com/2020/07/22/trust-in-divine-providence/
[19] The Truth about God's Providence from St. Josemaría Escrivá https://springsinthedesert.org/changing-the-conversation-with-ourselves-the-truth-about-gods-providence-from-st-josemaria-escriva/
[20] “Doing Our Part to Trust in Divine Providence” - Archdiocese of San ... https://sfarch.org/doing-our-part-to-trust-in-divine-providence/
[21] Letting God: The Annunciation & Freedom - St. Josemaria Institute https://stjosemaria.org/letting-god/
What does St Josemaria Escriva teach about Providence
St. Josemaría Escrivá taught that Divine Providence is God's loving, wise governance of all creation toward holiness, inviting total abandonment in ordinary life.[1][2] He emphasized trusting Providence as the path to joy, especially by sanctifying daily duties through prayer and faith.[3]
## Providence Orders All Things Well
Escrivá echoed Church teaching: Providence "reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and orders all things sweetly," guiding us to perfection even through trials like infertility or hardship.[1][4] He saw no event as random—God blesses intentionally, whether by granting or withholding, as in: "God in His providence has two ways of blessing marriages: one by giving them children; and the other, sometimes, because he loves them so much, by not giving them children."[1]
## Abandonment as Happiness
Total surrender is key: "Abandonment to the will of God is the secret of happiness on earth."[3][5] He urged: "Put all your hope in Jesus. You yourself have nothing... He will act, if only you abandon yourself in him."[3] This trust transforms work and suffering into divine cooperation.[2]
## Practical Trust in Daily Life
Escrivá integrated Providence into Opus Dei's charism of holiness in ordinary circumstances.[2][6] Key points:
- Pray constantly: "First, prayer; then, expiation; in the third place, very much in third place, action."[6]
- Serve cheerfully: "Servite Domino in laetitia! — I will serve God cheerfully... the Lord follows me closely."[7]
- Discover the divine hidden in the ordinary: "There is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations."[2]
## Key Quotes from His Writings
| Source | Quote | Theme[3][1][7] |
|--------|-------|------------------------------|
| Friends of God | "God always wins. He is Master of history and of each soul." | Ultimate victory |
| Furrow/The Way | "Trust in God's Providence, interfering – as it always does – for our own good." | Hidden guidance |
| Morning Offering | "My Lord and my God: into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future." | Daily surrender |
| The Way | "Don't put your hope in... anything but the Lord. Abandon yourself in him." | Hope in God alone |
Escrivá's message: Providence calls laypeople to heroism in the mundane, fostering hope that "Dominus prope est! — the Lord is near."[7] For deeper reading, see *Furrow* or *The Way*.[8][9]
Citations:
[1] The Truth about God's Providence from St. Josemaría Escrivá https://springsinthedesert.org/changing-the-conversation-with-ourselves-the-truth-about-gods-providence-from-st-josemaria-escriva/
[2] Discovering Something Divine in the Ordinary - St. Josemaria Institute https://stjosemaria.org/discovering-something-divine-in-the-ordinary/
[3] 10 great quotes from St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei https://slmedia.org/blog/10-great-quotes-from-st-josemaria-escriva-founder-of-opus-dei
[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church | Catholic Culture https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/catechism/index.cfm?recnum=1755
[5] 7 Inspirational Catholic Quotes from St. Josemaría Escrivá https://scepterpublishers.org/blogs/scepter-blog-corner/7-inspirational-catholic-quotes-from-st-josemaria-escriva
[6] Library : Josemaria's Way | Catholic Culture https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6914
[7] The Furrow | PDF | Mary, Mother Of Jesus - Scribd https://www.scribd.com/document/6542414/The-Furrow
[8] Furrow - escriva.org https://escriva.org/en/surco/
[9] The Way - escriva.org https://escriva.org/en/camino/
[10] 8 Powerful Quotes from St. Josemaría Escrivá - Cora Evans https://www.coraevans.com/blog/article/8-powerful-quotes-from-st-josemaria-escriva
[11] Saint Quotes - Diocese of St. Petersburg https://www.dosp.org/our-faith/saints/saint-quotes/
[12] Some quotes on humility from St Josemaria - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/526277745167015/posts/1285848429209939/
[13] Furrow by Josemaría Escrivá - Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/904869.Furrow
[14] The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva - Scepter Publishers https://scepterpublishers.org/pages/the-way-st-josemaria-escriva
[15] Quotes from Padre Pio & St Josemaria Escriva https://emmanuel-maria.com.sg/index_files/Page7741.htm
[16] Furrow - St. Josemaria Institute https://stjosemaria.org/product/furrow/
How to practice abandonment to God's will daily
Daily abandonment to God's will means actively surrendering your plans, sufferings, and desires to His loving providence in every moment.[1][2] Drawing from St. Josemaría Escrivá and your focus on trust (e.g., Prov 3:5-6), it transforms ordinary life into holy obedience.
## Morning: Total Offering
Start with explicit surrender to frame the day.
- Pray Escrivá's aspiration: "My Lord and my God: Into your hands I abandon the past, and the present, and the future, what is small and what is great... Then, don’t worry any more."[3] Offer work, family, and trials as acts of worship.[4]
- Add biblical fiat: "Thy will be done" from the Our Father, echoing your Eph 1:9-10 reflections.[5]
## Hourly: Present-Moment Acts
Practice "spirituality of the present moment" amid routines.[6][7]
- **Triggers**: At transitions (meals, tasks), pause: "Jesus, I trust in You" or "Fiat."[8]
- **In Work/Trials**: Unite duties to Christ's Cross: "Servite Domino in laetitia!" (Serve the Lord with gladness).[4] When mistreated, accept as God's hand.[3]
- **St. Thérèse Style**: Like a child asleep in Father's arms, release control hourly.[7]
## Evening: Examen of Surrender
Reflect to grow in docility.[1][9]
1. Gratitude: Thank for providences (e.g., "hidden goods" per St. Jure).[10]
2. Review: Where did I resist? (e.g., anxiety over waiting).
3. Contrition: "Forgive my lack of trust."
4. Resolution: Specific tomorrow (e.g., "Abandon this worry").
5. Suscipe (St. Ignatius): "Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty... Give me only Your love and Your grace."[9]
## Supporting Habits Table
| Habit | Time | Purpose | Saint Tie-In |
|-------|------|---------|-------------|
| Rosary Decade | Midday | Offer intentions blindly | Thérèse's childlike way[7] |
| Adoration Visit | 10 min | Silent listening | Escrivá's Mass extension[4] |
| Journal | Bedtime | Note "God wins" moments | Your verse journaling |
| Reading | 15 min | *Furrow* or *Abandonment to Providence* | Escrivá/de Caussade[6] |
## Overcoming Hurdles
- **Impatience**: Remember Escrivá: "Don't choose your sufferings—take from God's hand."[3]
- **Dryness**: Persist blindly, as Thérèse in her "night of faith."[11]
- **Measurement**: Gauge by interior peace, not results.[1]
This rhythm, fitting your mobile prayer life (Samsung Notes, Audible), makes abandonment a joyful "secret of happiness."[12] Track weekly in SeekFirstcommunity for accountability.
Citations:
[1] How can I align my desires with God's will https://www.perplexity.ai/search/d34f8a81-27e0-4ecb-8336-5b5c9bfe0c59
[2] The will of God · The Way https://escriva.org/en/camino/the-will-of-god/
[3] Abandonment in God's Will - Faith Seeking Understanding https://fsubelmonte.weebly.com/abandonment-in-godrsquos-will.html
[4] 7 Lessons in Everyday Holiness From St. Josemaría Escrivá https://catholicexchange.com/7-lessons-in-everyday-holiness-from-st-josemaria-escriva/
[5] Any Divine Providence insight from this verse:
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/a0702696-5ac0-496e-8b2a-15e1fc302a7c
[6] [PDF] Abandonment to Divine Providence https://www.ccel.org/d/decaussade/abandonment/cache/abandonment.pdf
[7] Trust and Abandonment - FAMILY OF ST. SHARBEL USA https://www.familyofsaintsharbel.org/trust-and-abandonment.html
[8] St. Josemaria Escriva The Secret of True Happiness In a ... - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thedivinemercy/posts/abandonment-to-the-will-of-god-is-the-secret-of-happiness-on-earth-st-josemaria-/1292244276278410/
[9] PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/staycatholic/posts/prayer-of-abandonment-to-divine-providence/1210924717726815/
[10] Why does Saint Jure emphasize trustful surrender as essential for holiness https://www.perplexity.ai/search/d44d05cd-3d4a-4381-83cb-a58041e1c624
[11] Thérèse of Lisieux, Part V: Surrender to Love - CAC.org https://cac.org/daily-meditations/therese-lisieux-part-v-surrender-love-2015-08-07/
[12] St. Josemaria Escriva: Abandonment to the will of God https://www.facebook.com/thedivinemercy/posts/abandonment-to-the-will-of-god-is-the-secret-of-happiness-on-earth-st-josemaria-/1242237694612402/
[13] Worried about the future? Find peace in this short prayer - Aleteia https://aleteia.org/2020/06/26/worried-about-the-future-find-peace-in-this-short-prayer/
[14] Abandonment to Providence - Daily Rosary Meditations https://www.dailyrosarymeditations.com/p/abandonment-to-providence-october-8-2025
[15] A Spiritual Toolkit for Lent https://stjosemaria.org/spiritual-toolkit-lent/
[16] St. Therese Of Lisieux's Way of Abandonment & Peace https://catholicexchange.com/st-therese-of-lisieuxs-way-of-abandonment-peace/
[17] Resolutions of Abandonment - The Catholic Thing https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2023/01/04/resolutions-of-abandonment/
[18] Praying the Examen Step 1: My Attitude of Gratitude https://encourageandteach.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/praying-the-examen-step-1-my-attitude-of-gratitude/
St Therese of Lisieux specific practices for abandonment
St. Thérèse of Lisieux practiced abandonment through her "Little Way"—total, childlike trust in God's merciful love, embracing small sacrifices amid spiritual dryness and trials.[1][2] She taught surrender as "sleeping without fear in the Father's arms," even when feeling abandoned.[2][3]
## Childlike Confidence
Thérèse's core: Remain "too small" to climb perfection's ladder, letting Infinite Love carry you.[4] Specific acts:
- **Reject Limits on Trust**: Avoid capping desires; believe God's goodness exceeds all failings—"to put limits on our desires and hopes rejects His infinite goodness."[5]
- **Praise in Darkness**: When grace feels absent, thank God and saints anyway: "I turn to God... and thank them notwithstanding; I believe they want to see how far my trust may extend."[6]
## Daily Little Sacrifices
She
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