'By uniting themselves to the divine will, the saints
have enjoyed paradise by anticipation in this life. Accustoming
themselves to receive all things from the hands of God, says St.
Dorotheus, the men of old maintained continual serenity of soul. St.
Mary Magdalene of Pazzi derived such consolation at hearing the words
"will of God," that she usually fell into an ecstasy of love. The
instances of jangling irritation that are bound to arise will not fail
to make surface impact on the senses. This however will be experienced
only in the inferior part of the soul; in the superior part will reign
peace and tranquility as long as our will remains united with God's. Our
Lord assured his apostles: "Your joy no man shall take from you . . .
Your joy shall be full." He who unites his will to God's experiences a
full and lasting joy: full, because he has what he wants, as was
explained above; lasting, because no one can take his joy from him,
since no one can prevent what God wills from happening.'
