Obstacles to the Lord's work

"For to persons who love God wholly, all things are a help and aid for meriting more and beng more closely united by intense charity with their very Creator and Lord. Nevertheless ... the creature on its own part often places obstacles to what our Lord wishes to work in the soul. This happens not just before these graces, gifts, and delights of the Holy Spirit are received; even after the graces have come and been received - visiting and consoling the soul, ridding it of all its darkness and restless anxiety, adorning it with these spiritual goods, making it wholly happy and wholly in love with eternal things that will last forever in perpetual glory - still, it happens that we disconnect ourselves (from these graces) with thoughts of little importance, not knowing how to preserve this great heavenly good. Thus, we place obstacles to this grace and working of our Lord before it comes, and to its conservation after it comes."

--- Letter of St. Ignatius Loyola to (St.) Francis Borgia, duke of Gandía, Rome, end of 1545