THE PRACTICES OF A GOOD RELIGIOUS
THE life of a good religious ought to abound in every virtue so
that he is interiorly what to others he appears to be. With good
reason there ought to be much more within than appears on the outside,
for He who sees within is God, Whom we ought to reverence most highly
wherever we are and in Whose sight we ought to walk pure as the
angels.
Each day we ought to renew our resolutions and arouse ourselves
to fervor as though it were the first day of our religious life. We
ought to say: "Help me, O Lord God, in my good resolution and in Your
holy service. Grant me now, this very day, to begin perfectly, for
thus far I have done nothing."
As our intention is, so will be our progress; and he who
desires perfection must be very diligent. If the strong-willed man
fails frequently, what of the man who makes up his mind seldom or
half-heartedly? Many are the ways of failing in our resolutions; even
a slight omission of religious practice entails a loss of some kind.
Just men depend on the grace of God rather than on their own
wisdom in keeping their resolutions. In Him they confide every
undertaking, for man, indeed, proposes but God disposes, and God's way
is not man's. If a habitual exercise is sometimes omitted out of piety
or in the interests of another, it can easily be resumed later. But if
it be abandoned carelessly, through weariness or neglect, then the
fault is great and will prove hurtful. Much as we try, we still fail
too easily in many things. Yet we must always have some fixed purpose,
especially against things which beset us the most. Our outward and
inward lives alike must be closely watched and well ordered, for both
are important to perfection.
If you cannot recollect yourself continuously, do so once a day
at least, in the morning or in the evening. In the morning make a
resolution and in the evening examine yourself on what you have said
this day, what you have done and thought, for in these things perhaps
you have often offended God and those about you.
Arm yourself like a man against the devil's assaults. Curb your
appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh.
Never be completely unoccupied, but read or write or pray or meditate
or do something for the common good. Bodily discipline, however, must
be undertaken with discretion and is not to be practiced
indiscriminately by everyone.
Devotions not common to all are not to be displayed in public,
for such personal things are better performed in private. Furthermore,
beware of indifference to community prayer through love of your own
devotions. If, however, after doing completely and faithfully all you
are bound and commanded to do, you then have leisure, use it as
personal piety suggests.
Not everyone can have the same devotion. One exactly suits this
person, another that. Different exercises, likewise, are suitable for
different times, some for feast days and some again for weekdays. In
time of temptation we need certain devotions. For days of rest and
peace we need others. Some are suitable when we are sad, others when
we are joyful in the Lord.
About the time of the principal feasts good devotions ought to
be renewed and the intercession of the saints more fervently implored.
From one feast day to the next we ought to fix our purpose as though
we were then to pass from this world and come to the eternal holyday.
During holy seasons, finally, we ought to prepare ourselves
carefully, to live holier lives, and to observe each rule more
strictly, as though we were soon to receive from God the reward of our
labors. If this end be deferred, let us believe that we are not well
prepared and that we are not yet worthy of the great glory that shall
in due time be revealed to us. Let us try, meanwhile, to prepare
ourselves better for death.
"Blessed is the servant," says Christ, "whom his master, when
he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you: he shall make him
ruler over all his goods."[4] |
Of the exercises of a religious man
The life of a Christian ought to be adorned with
all virtues, that he may be inwardly what he outwardly appeareth unto
men. And verily it should be yet better within than without, for God
is a discerner of our heart, Whom we must reverence with all our
hearts wheresoever we are, and walk pure in His presence as do the
angels. We ought daily to renew our vows, and to kindle our hearts to
zeal, as if each day were the first day of our conversion, and to say,
"Help me, O God, in my good resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and
grant that this day I may make a good beginning, for hitherto I have
done nothing!"
2. According to our resolution so is the rate of
our progress, and much diligence is needful for him who would make
good progress. For if he who resolveth bravely oftentimes falleth
short, how shall it be with him who resolveth rarely or feebly? But
manifold causes bring about abandonment of our resolution, yet a
trivial omission of holy exercises can hardly be made without some
loss to us. The resolution of the righteous dependeth more upon the
grace of God than upon their own wisdom; for in Him they always put
their trust, whatsoever they take in hand. For man proposeth, but God
disposeth; and the way of a man is not in himself.(1)
3. If a holy exercise be sometimes omitted for
the sake of some act of piety, or of some brotherly kindness, it can
easily be taken up afterwards; but if it be neglected through distaste
or slothfulness, then is it sinful, and the mischief will be felt.
Strive as earnestly as we may, we shall still fall short in many
things. Always should some distinct resolution be made by us; and,
most of all, we must strive against those sins which most easily beset
us. Both our outer and inner life should be straitly examined and
ruled by us, because both have to do with our progress.
4. If thou canst not be always examining thyself,
thou canst at certain seasons, and at least twice in the day, at
evening and at morning. In the morning make thy resolves, and in the
evening inquire into thy life, how thou hast sped to-day in word,
deed, and thought; for in these ways thou hast often perchance
offended God and thy neighbour. Gird up thy lions like a man against
the assaults of the devil; bridle thine appetite, and thou wilt soon
be able to bridle every inclination of the flesh. Be thou never
without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or
meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community. Bodily
exercises, however, must be undertaken with discretion, nor are they
to be used by all alike.
5. The duties which are not common to all must
not be done openly, but are safest carried on in secret. But take
heed that thou be not careless in the common duties, and more devout
in the secret; but faithfully and honestly discharge the duties and
commands which lie upon thee, then afterwards, if thou hast still
leisure, give thyself to thyself as thy devotion leadeth thee. All
cannot have one exercise, but one suiteth better to this man and
another to that. Even for the diversity of season different exercises
are needed, some suit better for feasts, some for fasts. We need one
kind in time of temptations and others in time of peace and quietness.
Some are suitable to our times of sadness, and others when we are
joyful in the Lord.
6. When we draw near the time of the great
feasts, good exercises should be renewed, and the prayers of holy men
more fervently besought. We ought to make our resolutions from one
Feast to another, as if each were the period of our departure from
this world, and of entering into the eternal feast. So ought we to
prepare ourselves earnestly at solemn seasons, and the more solemnly
to live, and to keep straightest watch upon each holy observance, as
though we were soon to receive the reward of our labours at the hand
of God.
7. And if this be deferred, let us believe
ourselves to be as yet ill-prepared, and unworthy as yet of the glory
which shall be revealed in us at the appointed season; and let us
study to prepare ourselves the better for our end. Blessed is that
servant, as the Evangelist Luke hath it, whom, when the Lord cometh He
shall find watching. Verily I say unto you He will make him ruler
over all that He hath.(2) |