Besides the absolute will of God, which must always be carried out, there is also His conditional will, the fulfilment of which is subject to the free- will of man. Thus God wills that all men should save their souls, but He wills it only conditionally on the co-operation of man with His grace. Man has therefore the awful power of frustrating the merciful designs of God respecting him. He can defeat the love of God, and can in some way compel God to turn away from him in anger. Every time a grace is rejected, and man does not comply with the suggestions and inspirations of God, he prevents the carrying out of the perfect will of God.

To do the will of God is the highest perfection of sanctity. It is this which gives to human action its value in God's sight. It matters not how we are employed so long as the employment is that God wishes us to be engaged in. If I can say with regard to all my daily actions, I believe that this is what God wishes me to do, I am living the most perfect life possible.

Hence to do the will of God includes every virtue. If I do what I believe is God's will, because it is His will, I cannot help being humble, charitable, modest, generous, obedient, self-denying, prudent, chaste, recollected, devout. It is this which earns the love of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. "Not every one that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Who is in Heaven, he shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (St. Matt. vii. 21).