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Handout #171 |
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Quietism |
| To its opponents, Quietism was the doctrine
of abandonment to God and passivity verging on pantheism, indifference to
prayer, the sacraments, good works and even morality. The work of Fenelon
was condemned in 1699 A.D.
Madame Guyon (1648 -1717 A.D.) At the moment of which I have spoken my prayer was empty of all forms, types and images...It was a prayer of faith which excluded all distinction, for I did not have any view either of Jesus Christ or of the divine attributes: all was taken up into a fragrant faith, in which all distinctions disappeared, to give place to love of loving with a wider love, without any motive or reason for loving.. Nothing took place in my head, it was rather in the most intimate depths of my being. If anyone were to ask me why I loved God, whether it was because of his mercy, his goodness, I would not know what they were saying to me. I knew that he was good, full of mercy, that his perfections delighted me, but I did not think at all of myself in loving him. I loved him and burned with his fire, because I loved him; and I loved him in such a way that I could love only him; but in loving him I had no motive but himself All that called itself interest, recompense, was painful to my heart. 0 my God, if only I could understand the love with which you have possessed me from the beginning! Autobiography of Madame Guyon. |
