THE EXAMPLE SET US BY THE HOLY FATHERS
CONSIDER the lively examples set us by the saints, who
possessed the light of true perfection and religion, and you will see
how little, how nearly nothing, we do. What, alas, is our life,
compared with theirs? The saints and friends of Christ served the Lord
in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in work and fatigue, in
vigils and fasts, in prayers and holy meditations, in persecutions and
many afflictions. How many and severe were the trials they suffered --
the Apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all the rest who
willed to follow in the footsteps of Christ! They hated their lives on
earth that they might have life in eternity.
How strict and detached were the lives the holy hermits led in
the desert! What long and grave temptations they suffered! How often
were they beset by the enemy! What frequent and ardent prayers they
offered to God! What rigorous fasts they observed! How great their
zeal and their love for spiritual perfection! How brave the fight they
waged to master their evil habits! What pure and straightforward
purpose they showed toward God! By day they labored and by night they
spent themselves in long prayers. Even at work they did not cease from
mental prayer. They used all their time profitably; every hour seemed
too short for serving God, and in the great sweetness of
contemplation, they forgot even their bodily needs.
They renounced all riches, dignities, honors, friends, and
associates. They desired nothing of the world. They scarcely allowed
themselves the necessities of life, and the service of the body, even
when necessary, was irksome to them. They were poor in earthly things
but rich in grace and virtue. Outwardly destitute, inwardly they were
full of grace and divine consolation. Strangers to the world, they
were close and intimate friends of God. To themselves they seemed as
nothing, and they were despised by the world, but in the eyes of God
they were precious and beloved. They lived in true humility and simple
obedience; they walked in charity and patience, making progress daily
on the pathway of spiritual life and obtaining great favor with God.
They were given as an example for all religious, and their
power to stimulate us to perfection ought to be greater than that of
the lukewarm to tempt us to laxity.
How great was the fervor of all religious in the beginning of
their holy institution! How great their devotion in prayer and their
rivalry for virtue! What splendid discipline flourished among them!
What great reverence and obedience in all things under the rule of a
superior! The footsteps they left behind still bear witness that they
indeed were holy and perfect men who fought bravely and conquered the
world.
Today, he who is not a transgressor and who can bear patiently
the duties which he has taken upon himself is considered great. How
lukewarm and negligent we are! We lose our original fervor very
quickly and we even become weary of life from laziness! Do not you,
who have seen so many examples of the devout, fall asleep in the
pursuit of virtue! |
Of the example of the Holy Fathers
Consider now the lively examples of the holy
fathers, in whom shone forth real perfectness and religion, and thou
shalt see how little, even as nothing, is all that we do. Ah! What is
our life when compared to theirs? They, saints and friends of Christ
as they were, served the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and
nakedness, in labour and weariness, in watchings and fastings, in
prayer and holy meditations, in persecutions and much rebuke.
2. O how many and grievous tribulations did the
Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, endure; and all others who
would walk in the footsteps of Christ. For they hated their souls in
this world that they might keep them unto life eternal. O how strict
and retired a life was that of the holy fathers who dwelt in the
desert! what long and grievous temptations they did suffer! how
often were they assaulted by the enemy! what frequent and fervid
prayers did they offer unto God! what strict fasts did they endure!
what fervent zeal and desire after spiritual profit did they
manifest! how bravely did they fight that their vices might not gain
the mastery! how entirely and steadfastly did they reach after God!
By day they laboured, and at night they gave themselves ofttimes unto
prayer; yea, even when they were labouring they ceased not from mental
prayer.
3. They spent their whole time profitably; every
hour seemed short for retirement with God; and through the great
sweetness of contemplation, even the need of bodily refreshment was
forgotten. They renounced all riches, dignities, honours, friends,
kinsmen; they desired nothing from the world; they ate the bare
necessaries of life; they were unwilling to minister to the body even
in necessity. Thus were they poor in earthly things, but rich above
measure in grace and virtue. Though poor to the outer eye, within
they were filled with grace and heavenly benedictions.
4. They were strangers to the world, but unto God
they were as kinsmen and friends. They seemed unto themselves as of
no reputation, and in the world's eyes contemptible; but in the sight
of God they were precious and beloved. They stood fast in true
humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in love and
patience; and thus they waxed strong in spirit, and obtained great
favour before God. To all religious men they were given as an
example, and they ought more to provoke us unto good livings than the
number of the lukewarm tempteth to carelessness of life.
5. O how great was the love of all religious
persons at the beginning of this sacred institution! O what
devoutness of prayer! what rivalry in holiness! what strict
discipline was observed! what reverence and obedience under the rule
of the master showed they in all things! The traces of them that
remain until now testify that they were truly holy and perfect men,
who fighting so bravely trod the world underfoot. Now a man is
counted great if only he be not a transgressor, and if he can only
endure with patience what he hath undertaken.
6. O the coldness and negligence of our times,
that we so quickly decline from the former love, and it is become a
weariness to live, because of sloth and lukewarmness. May progress in
holiness not wholly fall asleep in thee, who many times hast seen so
many examples of devout men! |