True virtue and pure love reside in the will alone.
Is it not a great matter to keep the mind steadily turned towards Him, and to bring it back whenever it is perceived to wander?
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 🙏
Fénelon says: bring the mind back when it wanders. Le answers: the Holy Spirit brings it back. John 14:26. The mind wanders — the Spirit recalls. The will falters — Christ strengthens. The will alone — but never alone.
In the absence of all sensible enjoyment, still to remain — in the spirit of a submissive, irreclaimable burnt-offering.
Think you it is nothing to press forward without knowing whither we go, and yet without stopping?
Is not this more likely to be the death of the Old Adam than fine sentiments in which we congratulate self on our advancement?
The truest death of the Old Adam: pressing forward without knowing where — and not stopping. Not fine sentiments. Not self-congratulation. The quiet burnt-offering that feels nothing and continues anyway.
It is infidelity to simple faith to desire to know we are doing well; we shall never know.
The safest course is to renounce, forget and abandon self.
This is the whole of religion — to get out of self and of self-love in order to get into God.
Twelve words. The entire journal. The entire journey. Every author. Every entry. Out of self. Into God. That is all. And wanting to know we are doing well is infidelity — the soul watching itself instead of watching God. Let God watch. The soul just walks.
A tender parent thinks a thousand things disconnected with his child, but the paternal affection never ceases.
The moment his thoughts rest again on his child, he loves, and feels that though he ceased to think he never ceased to love.
Such should be our love: simple, trustful, confident and without anxiety.
The father who thinks a thousand disconnected things — but never ceases to love. The love does not require constant attention. It does not require perfect focus. The love is in the will. The will loves even when the mind wanders.
Simple, trustful, confident, without anxiety — four words that dismantle the sin of worry. The Father who loves the child is the God who loves the soul. And His love does not depend on our attention. His will never ceases. 🙏
"This is the whole of religion — to get out of self and of self-love in order to get into God."
François Fénelon · Le · July 19, 2026 · Twelve words — the entire journeyThe Helper
The Spirit teaches and brings to remembrance. The mind wanders — the Spirit recalls. The will alone — but never alone.
The Burnt-Offering
Pressing forward without knowing where — not stopping. The quiet sacrifice that continues anyway.
The Whole of Religion
Out of self. Into God. Twelve words. Renounce, forget, abandon self. Let God watch. The soul just walks.
The Tender Parent
A thousand disconnected thoughts — the love never ceases. Simple, trustful, confident, without anxiety.