CHAPTER II: CERTAIN VIRTUES IN WHICH A CHRISTIAN MUST EXERCISE HIMSELF.
CERTAIN VIRTUES IN WHICH A CHRISTIAN MUST EXERCISE HIMSELF.
§ 1. Patience.
§ 2. Resignation.
§ 3. Obedience.
§ 4. Avoiding of vain glory. __________________________________________________________________
§ 1. Patience.
AND in order to do penance in a way most pleasing to God during all the rest of thy life, thou must bear with a meek and gentle heart all the adversities and annoyances which, by His permission, come upon thee and are inflicted by creatures. The Lord is accustomed to gladden at first with many consolations one who is converted to Him, offering him, as it were, assiduously the spiritual milk and white bread of grace; but afterwards, taking away that sweet nourishment, He gives him solid food, and black bread, leads him by a very difficult and dark road, and tries him with daily tribulations and unspeakable anxieties; insomuch that he seems to himself to be utterly abandoned and rejected by God, and in a manner given up to Satan. Meanwhile, he is also grievously afflicted by evil passions rising up within him, and by the persecution of men.
If this should happen to thee. see that thou bear thyself manfully and wisely; trusting firmly in thy God, who out of true love thus chastises thee or permits thee to be chastised. Shake not off from thy shoulders the cross which He imposes on thee; for it is wholly salutary, and far more for thy good than a great abundance of spiritual sweetness. Since thy Lord is a most skilful physician, He burns, cuts, and offers thee bitter potions that He may heal thee. Knowing this, endure patiently whatever is painful to thee; suffer every affliction for the honour and love of God, for the remission of thy sins.
Never murmur against God, nor blame His works and His judgments, since although these are hidden and unknown, and even incomprehensible to thee, they are yet ever just and most righteous. Think not that anything happens in the world by chance and without the providence of God; but in all things attend wisely to the divine dispensation, without which not even one leaf falls from the tree. God, who created all things, governs also and rules all things, from the highest angelic spirit to the vilest worm of the earth. If thou dost undoubtingly believe this, thou wilt be able more easily to keep thy mind even and undisturbed amid the various circumstances of the present life. __________________________________________________________________
§ 2. Resignation.
Be, I pray thee, resigned and of good- will, and truly humble. Never esteem thyself to be of any account; but remain ever little and of no value in thy own eyes and in thy own esteem. Magnify not the good works thou doest, knowing them to be full of defects; but make great account of the good works of others, and prefer them to thine own. Take not vain complacency in any gift of God; for he who consents thereto defiles the aspect of his soul with a most foul stain. Avoid carefully all hardness and obstinacy in thy own opinion, for they greatly hinder the grace of God and spiritual progress. Flee also unbecoming disputes, choosing rather to seem overcome than to lose the holy virtue of humility. Even if thou art obliged, in defence of the faith and of truth, to assert anything strongly; yet thou must not bear thyself proudly, nor be more violent or agitated than is fitting.
In doubtful cases, seek with a submissive mind to know the will of God from one who fears God, and God will direct thee and protect thee. Learn to abandon readily thy judgment, thy will, and thy desires, for God's sake. Since it is difficult always to know for certain what desires are from God, a man ought to be ready to renounce even those things which he thinks he rightly desires, and to say to God: "O Lord, let not my will be done, but what Thou wiliest, and what is most to Thy honour." __________________________________________________________________
§ 3. Obedience.
Be ever ready to obey: because the least work done by true obedience is more pleasing to God than a great work done by thy own will. For it is better to pick up straws out of simple obedience, than of thy own will to give thy mind to the sublime contemplation of heavenly things: and he obtains more of the divine favour who, out of pure obedience, eats soberly and moderately to the praise of God, than he who, of his own will, undertakes the most rigid abstinence. Obedience is the eldest daughter of humility; it renders man fit to receive every grace, and is the safest way to heaven.
If any one will not obey in those things in which he is bound to obey, and is bold, rude, and contumacious towards his superiors, that man is most hateful to God. A certain virgin of exceeding holiness, seeing in spirit the soul of a certain monk who was sup posed to have led a good life, grievously tormented in purgatory, she enquired of God for what reason that soul was not in heaven. And the Lord answered her in this manner: "That monk would not humbly obey and consent to the will of his Abbot and Superior in all good things; whatever was done by the Abbot displeased him, for he esteemed himself to be wiser than he, and to be able to act better on all occasions."
When thou art reproved, receive the reproof with a tranquil and gentle mind, and readily acknowledge thy fault. If it be necessary to excuse thyself, do it briefly, modestly, and humbly. __________________________________________________________________
§ 4. Avoiding of Vain-Glory.
Desire not admiration, nor to be held in honour among men. And though thou mayest do some good works before men, yet thou shouldst do them not that thou mayest be seen and glorified, but that men may glorify God, and be edified to the praise of God. The moment thou perceivest a desire of vain-glory arising in thee, correct it, and rejecting and setting aside all impure motives, seek and have regard to God and His honour alone. Let it be more welcome to thee to be despised than to be praised, and to submit rather than to command.
Be not unwilling to perform the lowest and most abject services for the love of thy Heavenly King Jesus Christ, who for thee humbled Himself beyond all measure. Place thyself below all men, and dwell in the quiet valley of humility as in a most safe abode. Hold thyself to be like a vile and cast-off rag, which every one may freely tread under foot.
If thou feelest thyself inclined in thy words, gestures, and actions, to please any mortal man, so that thou seekest not purely God, or the honour of God, thou must immediately condemn and detest in thyself this inclination as a most impure source of pride, and lay aside the bad intention. Thou must instantly mortify whatever vanity, boasting, or elation thou discoverest in thyself.
Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessed angelic spirits, and all the citizens of heaven are humble and detest pride; that, on the contrary, the wicked demons are proud and pursue humility with hatred. Do thou join thyself to the former, and separate thyself from the latter. Be fully persuaded that thou canst not possibly live for God, unless thou art humble and resigned, and dost strive to die to the vices and inordinate propensities of thy nature. Inasmuch as thou lessenest the pernicious self-love, by which thou seekest thyself impurely and reflectest on thyself, insomuch will the true love of God increase in thee. __________________________________________________________________