The angelic virtue of detachment; Angels: Day 269

Why  does God let bad things happen to good people? Dionysius  the Areopagite tells us that it’s not really unfair at all. In fact, it would be unfair to weaken brave Christians by letting them get attached to earthly things. When they have to struggle on earth, they come nearer to the virtue of the angels.

But someone may say, “It is not the mark of justice to leave pious men without assistance when they are ground down by evil men.”

To this we must reply that, if those whom you call pious do indeed love things on earth, which are zealously sought after by the earthly, they have completely fallen from the divine love. And I do not know how they could be called pious, when they unjustly treat the divine things that are truly worthy of love, and instead give what is really undesirable and unlovable first place in their esteem.

But, if they love the realities, they who desire certain things ought to rejoice when they attain the things desired. Are they not then nearer the angelic virtues, when, as far as possible, by aspiring to divine things, they withdraw from the af- fection for earthly things, courageously striving through their perils on behalf of the beautiful?

It is true, then, to say that this is rather a property of the divine justice: not to pamper and destroy the bravery of the best by the gifts of earthly things, nor, if any one should attempt to do this, to leave them without assistance, but to estab- lish them in the excellent and harsh condition, and to give to them, because they are brave, such things that are appropriate for them.

–Dionysius the Areopagite, The Divine Names, 8.8

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

When I can’t have the things I love on this earth, do I let that separate me from God—the way covetousness separated Satan and his angels from Heaven? Or do I try to get closer to God, with the loyal angels, and make him the one real object of my aspira- tion?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy Guardian Angel, teach me to live with angelic detachment. Turn my eyes to the true treasures of Heaven, and away from the transitory pleasures of this life.

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