,the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius ,a4 ,m4 ,d4 ,g4 ,,the ,,spiritual ,,exercises ,,of ,,st4 ,,ignatius ,,adapted ,,to ,,an ,,eight ,,days ,,retreat ,,and ,,six ,,triduums ,in ,preparation for ,the ,semi-,annual ,renovation of the ,vows ,all for the use of ,jesuits only ,by ,rev4 ,,charles ,,coppens1 ,s4,j4 ,b4 ,,herder #ag ,south ,broadway ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 #aiaf ,copyright1 #aiaf by ,joseph ,gummersbach ,a ,,recommendation ,,by ,,our ,,rev4 ,,father ,,provincial ,rev4 ,dear ,father3 ,it gives me pleasure to say a few words in praise of the new book of ,fr4 ,charles ,coppens on the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius4 ,any new power that will help us to use these spiritual arms of ,st4 ,ignatius more effectively deserves the hearty approval of every ,jesuit4 ,the volume is intended for the use of ,ours only1 and will be found of great service in conducting retreats or in giving the ,triduums that take place twice a year before the renovation of vows4 ,the customary meditations are well arranged1 are solid1 and at the same time practical4 ,the points are proposed very clearly so as to be readily remembered4 ,i bespeak for this volume the good will of all of ,ours1 and trust it may be of great help to a more effective giving of the exercises and be in the hands of all4 ,yours sincerely in ,christ1 ,a4 ,j4 ,,burrowes1 ,s4,j4 ,,preface ,the ,text of the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius1 as translated into ,english from the ,spanish ,autograph1 and edited for private circulation by ,rev4 ,john ,morris1 ,s4 ,j41 is printed in a small volume of only #abe pages4 ,that little work contains all that the ,saint composed in the ,grotto of ,manresa1 and he never afterward wrote any additions to the text4 ,but in explaining his ,exercises to his first companions1 and to others who made the retreat under his direction1 he would adapt the details to their characters and the various circumstances4 ,his followers did the same1 without writing further additions or commentaries on the original text2 they followed in their practice the traditional method as it had come to them from their saintly founder4 ,in the course of time1 as was natural1 considerable departures from the first process took place1 some of which induced the danger of gradually losing the very spirit of the original ,exercises4 ,among the learned men of our ,society who labored most successfully to check such tendency1 one of the most distinguished was the ,father ,general ,john ,roothaan1 who in #ahcd addressed a circular letter to all his subjects1 earnestly warning them against this peril4 ,at the same time he furnished them a masterly work on the original ,spanish and ,latin texts1 which he accompanied with a most valuable commentary4 ,for those preferring a ,latin guide book1 whether in making the ,exercises themselves1 or in explaining them to others1 no work is more commendable than that masterpiece of ,father ,roothaan4 ,still1 both before and since its publication1 many other editions of the ,exercises and commentaries on the same have been printed1 both in ,latin and in various modern languages1 with full approbation and warm commendations of the ,superiors of the ,society2 and excellent reasons appear to exist why successive generations of ,jesuits should continue their efforts to enrich this valuable literature4 ,in particular the eight days retreat1 which all our members perform every year1 gains additional interest and impressiveness when a wider range is presented1 affording a choice among a large number of approved guide books to direct them through this fertile region of spirituality4 ,the spirit permeating all of these must ever be the same1 so too the main outline of the truths proposed and the general plan of the ,exercises4 ,yet experience shows that there remains a wide room for variety in comments1 suggestions and practical applications4 ,therefore1 when the time for each one's annual retreat comes round1 there is shown by many ,fathers an earnest desire for some late publication on the subject1 that will lend new zest to the familiar solid doctrine4 ,to satisfy such reasonable wishes is the chief reason why the present pages are modestly presented to his brethren by ,,the ,,author4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,,the ,,retreat ,preface iii ,preparatory ,consideration #a ,,first ,,day ,first ,meditation--,end of ,man #h ,second ,meditation--,end of ,creatures #ab ,consideration--,end of the ,religious ,life #ad ,third ,meditation--,indifference to ,creatures #bj ,,second ,,day ,first ,meditation--,sin #bf ,second ,meditation--,one's ,own ,sins #cj ,consideration--,confession of the ,retreat #cc ,third ,meditation--,eternal ,loss #cg ,,third ,,day ,first ,meditation--,preparation for ,death #db ,second ,meditation--,the ,particular ,judgment #dd ,consideration--,purity of ,conscience #dh ,third ,meditation--,to ,excite ,perfect ,contrition #ec ,,fourth ,,day ,first ,meditation--,the ,kingdom of ,christ #eg ,second ,meditation--,the ,incarnation #fj ,consideration--,the ,imitation of ,christ #fd ,third ,meditation--,the ,birth of ,christ #gj ,,fifth ,,day ,first ,meditation--,the ,flight ,into ,egypt #gd ,second ,meditation--,the ,private ,life of ,christ #gg ,consideration--,the ,imitation of ,christ's ,private ,life #ha ,third ,meditation--,the ,public ,life of ,christ #hg ,,sixth ,,day ,first ,meditation--,the ,two ,standards #ia ,second ,meditation--,the ,three ,degrees of ,humility #id ,consideration--,temptations #ig ,third ,meditation--,three ,classes of ,men #ajb ,,seventh ,,day ,first ,meditation--,the ,sufferings of ,christ in the ,garden #ajf ,second ,meditation--,christ's ,sufferings ,before ,his ,judges #aji ,consideration--,generosity in the ,service of ,god #aab ,third ,meditation--,the ,death of ,christ #aah ,,eighth ,,day ,first ,meditation--,the ,resurrection of ,christ #aba ,second ,meditation--,christ's ,ascension into ,heaven #abd ,consideration--,the ,spirit of ,love #abg ,third ,meditation--,divine ,love #acc ,,index ,,to ,,triduums ,,triduum ,a4 ,meditation ,i--,on the ,desire of ,perfection #ach ,meditation ,,ii--,in ,what ,perfection ,consists #adj ,meditation ,,iii--,christ the ,model of ,perfection #adc ,meditation ,,iv--,the ,need of ,prayer to ,attain ,perfection #ade ,meditation ,v--,the ,power of ,prayer to ,obtain ,perfection #adh ,meditation ,,vi--,the ,aid of ,mary to ,attain ,perfection #aej ,,triduum ,b4 ,meditation ,i--,on the ,vows #aec ,meditation ,,ii--,on ,renovation of the ,vows #aee ,meditation ,,iii--,what ,kind of ,men ,does ,our ,vocation ,require8 #aeg ,meditation ,,iv--,christ ,is ,here to ,help ,us #afj ,meditation ,v--,the ,holy ,ghost ,sanctifies ,us #afc ,meditation ,,vi--,effects ,produced by the ,holy ,ghost #afe ,,triduum ,c4 ,meditation ,i--,the ,need of ,frequent ,renovations of ,spirit #afi ,meditation ,,ii--,sin the ,chief ,hindrance to ,our ,progress #aga ,meditation ,,iii--,fidelity in ,little ,things #agd ,meditation ,,iv--,the ,observance of ,our ,rules #agg ,meditation ,v--,zeal for ,souls #agi ,meditation ,,vi--,devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin #aha ,,triduum ,d4 ,meditation ,i--,the ,purpose of this ,triduum #ahe ,meditation ,,ii--,the ,interior ,spirit #ahg ,meditation ,,iii--,the ,interior ,spirit ,fostered by ,faith #aij ,meditation ,,iv--,the ,interior ,spirit ,fostered by ,hope #aic ,meditation ,v--,the ,interior ,spirit ,fostered by ,charity #aie ,meditation ,,vi--,the ,interior ,spirit ,fostered by the ,holy ,ghost #aih ,,triduum ,e4 ,meditation ,i--,preparation for the ,triduum #bja ,meditation ,,ii--,the ,field ,ripe for the ,harvest #bjc ,meditation ,,iii--,fraternal ,charity #bje ,meditation ,,iv--,the ,spirit of ,sacrifice #bjh ,meditation ,v--,become ,men of ,prayer #baa ,meditation ,,vi--,the ,vine and the ,branches #bad ,,triduum ,f4 ,meditation ,i--,on the ,vows #bag ,meditation ,,ii--,the ,vow of ,chastity #bai ,meditation ,,iii--,the ,vow of ,obedience #bbb ,meditation ,,iv--,strength of ,character #bbe ,meditation ,v--,co-operation with ,grace #bbg ,meditation ,,vi--,the ,perfection of ,our ,actions #bcj ,,the ,,spiritual ,,exercises ,,of ,,st4 ,,ignatius ,,preparatory ,,consideration ,i ,the days of the retreat are the most important in the year4 #a4 ,the most important for the ,exercitant2 for his principal duty and highest interest are the salvation and spiritual progress of his own soul3 8,seek ye first the ,kingdom of ,god1 and his justice1 and all these things shall be added unto you40 ,what would it profit any of us to convert even thousands1 if he loses his own soul8 ,and if any one imagines that his own salvation is already secured1 and no longer needs his principal care1 he is a very ignorant or a conceited man4 #b4 ,these days are the most important for the salvation of our neighbor2 since1 the more one becomes a man of ,god1 as a good retreat tends to make him1 the better he will do the work of ,god4 ,and the salvation of souls is pre-eminently the work of ,god1 not that of human talent or industry4 #c4 ,they are the most important for the glory of ,god2 since the glory we render to ,god is in proportion to our holiness1 the purity of our intentions1 the ardor of our love and our other virtues2 the increase of all of which is the direct purpose of the retreat4 ,,ii ,the yearly retreat is important for all religious1 whatever be the spiritual condition of their souls4 #a4 ,those who are leading fervent lives are likely to receive during it special lights and graces enabling them to draw nearer to their ,divine ,lord2 ,amice1 ascende superius1 8,friend1 come up higher40 ,the ,holy ,ghost is ever laboring at the sanctification of souls1 of such especially as show themselves deserving of peculiar love by their faithful co-operation4 ,now this fidelity is most strikingly exhibited when we abandon all earthly cares to devote our whole hearts to the loving worship of the ,lord1 as we do in a retreat4 #b4 ,such souls as are gradually allowing their fervor to cool amidst the distracting cares of an active life stand in special need of the ,spiritual ,exercises1 to arrest their downward course4 ,when one runs down a hill1 his descent is accelerated by his own weight1 and he needs special help to avoid a serious fall4 ,such is the case of those who are losing their fervor1 and a good retreat provides the remedy4 #c4 ,if any have unfortunately already lost their balance1 and are hurrying along to destruction by the commission of serious faults1 or by yielding to a no less dangerous tendency to tepidity1 a good retreat is almost the only way of saving them from ruin4 ,in connection with these thoughts it is well to reflect that some one of our annual retreats will be our last2 it may be the present one4 ,many of those who made the retreat last year are now in eternity2 and not a few of them saw no more reason then to expect so early an end than we do now4 ,,iii ,it is very consoling for those who enter on these ,spiritual ,exercises to remember that their efficacy for good is far greater than men are apt to imagine2 they are not merely human1 but in some respects ,divine2 hence their extraordinary power to sanctify us4 #a4 ,these exercises are ,divine in the truths they teach us2 for they consist chiefly of meditations on the word of ,god2 and the word of ,god is the seed of salvation3 ,semen est verbum ,dei4 ,it is not the learning of philosophers or scientists that brings us eternal life1 but the teachings of ,christ2 and these are the power working in the retreat4 #b4 ,these ,exercises are ,divine in the principal director who conducts them2 for in them the ,spirit of ,god instructs and enlightens the soul of the exercitant and sanctifies it4 ,the printed page containing these teachings1 or the ,father ,master who explains them is not the chief power at work during the retreat1 no more than the audible voice of ,christ converted and sanctified the souls of ,his hearers4 ,god speaks to our heart in the retreat1 saying1 8,hear1 ,o my people1 and ,i will speak4444 ,i am ,god1 thy ,god0 7,ps4 #di74 #c4 ,not only the several truths considered during these days are the word of ,god1 but the whole plan of these ,spiritual ,exercises is in a true sense ,divine4 ,for no one who is familiar with the facts of ,st4 ,ignatius' life can believe that he had acquired1 at the time when he produced this masterpiece of sacred wisdom1 such knowledge of the spiritual life as it exhibits on every page4 ,when he came to ,manresa1 he was a mere novice in spirituality4 ,and in fact he himself always felt convinced that he owed these ,exercises to ,divine illumination4 ,thus1 as ,bartoli relates1 8on one occasion the ,saint confessed to ,father ,laynez that one hour of prayer at ,manresa had taught him more concerning spiritual things than he could have learned from the instructions of the wisest doctors0 7,life1 ,i4 p4 #eg74 ,the object which this unique book has accomplished was to reduce the direction of soul to a science1 that bases on certain principles of faith an exact and positive method1 which1 guided by the rules prescribed1 insures almost infallible success4 ,considering the circumstances in which it was written we cannot but attribute this work to superhuman aid4 ,hence its wonderful efficiency1 testified to by countless witnesses1 and continued in the experience of three centuries till the present day4 ,,iv ,hence the high esteem in which these ,spiritual ,exercises are held by the best judges in such matters4 ,for instance1 when the learned ,pope ,leo ,,xiii wished to select the best means by which he might prepare himself and his domestic prelates to gain the plenary indulgence of the jubilee year #aijj1 he had two of our ,fathers conduct in his palace the ,exercises of the retreat2 and1 at his advanced age of over #ij years1 he attended in person nearly all the meditations4 ,his successor1 ,pope ,pius ,x1 gave similar marks of his esteem for these ,exercises4 ,there exists in our society a venerable tradition1 which seems to date back to the earliest years of the ,institute1 to the effect that ,st4 ,ignatius was specially assisted by the ,blessed ,mother of ,god in composing his unique masterpiece4 ,the inhabitants of ,manresa1 some years after his death1 embodied this tradition in a beautiful painting1 which they placed in the cave1 representing him as kneeling before the figure of the ,blessed ,mother and ,child1 with his eyes fixed upon her lips1 and his right hand extended as if ready to write what she dictated to him4 ,father ,henry ,watrigant1 ,s4 ,j41 relates that this tradition has been confirmed at various times by well authenticated revelations4 ,thus he says3 8,the venerable ,father ,louis de ,ponte narrates that1 when in the year #afjj ,ours entered on their annual retreat1 his penitent1 the venerable ,marina de ,escobar1 also began her retreat2 and the ,archangel ,gabriel appeared to her and said that the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary had been as it were the foundress of those ,exercises1 having instructed ,st4 ,ignatius to put them in that form40 ,v ,having now understood what efficiency is attached to a good retreat1 we naturally ask ourselves what we must do to secure these precious results4 ,we must3 #a4 ,enter seriously into that deep recollection which is the proper atmosphere for a retreat1 avoiding during it all unnecessary intercourse with the outside world4 8,god and ,i0 should be the only objects of my thoughts2 all else is a hindrance to perfect success4 #b4 ,we must diligently apply our mental powers to master the truths proposed to us2 for that purpose ,st4 ,ignatius bids us occupy ourselves during a full hour in each of the meditations or contemplations assigned4 ,he adds that1 8in time of desolation1 the exercitant1 in order to go against the desolation1 and to overcome the temptation1 must always remain a short time beyond the full hour1 so as to accustom himself1 not only to resist the enemy1 but even to overthrow him0 7,ann4 #ac74 #c4 ,in the #eth ,annotation the ,saint says3 8,it will much benefit him who is receiving the ,exercises to enter upon them with a large heart and with liberality towards the ,creator and ,lord1 offering all his desires and liberty to ,him1 in order that ,his ,divine ,majesty may make use of his person and of all he possesses according to ,his most holy will40 ,he says elsewhere3 8,the more liberal one shall show himself towards ,god1 the more liberal he shall find ,god towards him1 and the more fit he shall daily be to receive in greater abundance ,his graces and spiritual gifts0 7,rule #ai74 #d4 ,both during the meditations and at all other times of prayer1 great fervor should be employed to obtain from the ,lord those copious graces which ,he has in store for us1 and which ,he desires to bestow2 but it is a general law of ,his providence that they must be eagerly asked for1 and to the best of our power deserved by our efforts and co-operation4 ,if these means are diligently employed1 we can indulge a quiet confidence of great results2 for the ,lord does not invite us to a rich banquet without providing for the full satisfaction of ,his guests4 ,,the ,,first ,,day ,the first day of the retreat is mainly devoted to what ,st4 ,ignatius calls 8,the ,principle and ,foundation40 ,christ bids us act like 8a wise man that built his house upon a rock1--and it fell not because it was founded on a rock0 7,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #bd74 ,the truth now considered is the rock on which the whole structure of our spirituality is to be built4 ,bartoli1 in his life of ,st4 ,ignatius1 narrates that a learned ,doctor of the ,university of ,paris1 ,martin ,olave1 used to say that one single hour spent in meditating on this foundation had taught him more than long years of theological studies4 ,such too has been the experience of many others4 ,father ,everard ,mercurian spoke of this foundation as alone sufficient to effect the most astonishing changes in a soul1 by uprooting all its earthly affections and directing its desires to ,god alone4 ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,on the ,end of ,man ,the first part of the ,foundation is3 8,man was created to praise1 reverence and serve ,god our ,lord1 and by this means to save his soul40 ,to begin any of our meditations well1 ,st4 ,ignatius bids us stand1 for the space of a ,pater ,noster1 one or two paces from the place at which we are to meditate1 and with our mind raised on high1 consider how ,god looks down upon us1 and then adore ,him with an act of reverence and self-humiliation4 ,then follows the ,preparatory ,prayer1 which is also the same for all the meditations4 ,it is to ask our ,lord for grace that all the acts of our memory1 our understanding and our will may throughout the meditation tend directly to the service and praise of the ,divine ,majesty4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine your ,blessed ,saviour appears before you1 looking lovingly on you and saying3 8,my son1 ,i am now going to teach you the first truth in the spiritual life40 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg that you may understand this truth as the ,saints have understood it4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the words1 8,man was created40 #a4 8,man40 ,what is man8 ,compared to ,god1 man is a mere nothing1 like a little gnat flitting in the sunshine2 yet among material things man is a masterpiece1 endowed with the most wonderful powers and potentialities4 ,man is like a musical instrument1 from which the ,divine ,spirit can draw the most exquisite harmony1 as ,he has done from millions of saintly souls4 ,but if not responsive to ,his touch1 it gives out harsh and false sounds1 marring the harmony of ,god's world4 ,a man may live like an ,angel1 or like a demon or like a brute animal4 #b4 ,man was 8created10 that is1 made out of nothing1 for so was the world2 now even a savage understands that the thing made belongs to the maker4 ,therefore ,i belong to ,god2 ,he can do with me and require of me what ,he pleases4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider what ,god requires of man4 ,if ,god has made man for a purpose1 ,he certainly requires of him to work for that purpose4 ,but ,god can do nothing without a purpose1 a purpose worthy of ,himself2 ,his wisdom requires that4 ,now ,he alone is worthy of ,himself2 therefore ,he directed all things to ,himself1 as the ,book of ,proverbs says3 8,the ,lord hath made all things for ,himself0 7xvi1 #d74 ,it is not that ,god needs any creature2 for being all perfect ,he is self-sufficient2 but right order requires that ,he make all ,his creatures tend to ,him4 ,how then must all creatures tend to ,god8 ,by glorifying ,him2 that is by praising1 reverencing and serving ,god4 #a4 ,praising ,god4 ,to praise ,god is to show forth and proclaim ,his excellence4 ,the ,psalms are full of such praises2 for instance ,psalm #aaf3 8,praise the ,lord1 all ye nations1 praise ,him all ye people40 ,we must not live then to exalt ourselves1 or to get others to praise us1 but render all honor to ,god1 to whom it all belongs4 #b4 ,reverencing ,god1 worshipping ,him1 as we do when we pray4 ,thus the ,angels in ,heaven ever do1 crying out2 8,holy1 ,holy1 ,holy ,lord ,god ,almighty0 7,ap4 iv1 #h74 ,thus we put statues of ,angels on the altar to express our reverence for the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,thus we should express our reverence for ,god whenever we speak to ,him in prayer4 ,how do ,i pray habitually8 ,with what reverence of bodily posture and of mental attitude8 ,we should thus make our meditations practical4 #c4 ,serving ,god4 ,to serve another is to do his bidding2 we are then created to be ever at the disposal of ,god1 to obey ,him whenever ,he makes known ,his will3 8,if you love me1 keep my commandments10 ,he says4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider the further consequences of our praise1 reverence and service of ,god2 8,and by these means to save his soul10 that is to attain eternal happiness4 ,the good ,god has so wisely and bountifully ordained all things that by glorifying ,him we glorify ourselves and reach the fulfilment of all our desires4 ,but by refusing to glorify ,him we degrade and utterly ruin ourselves4 ,now we are made free to do the one or the other4 ,this freedom is a wonderful gift1 a glorious gift in one way1 making us like to ,god and capable of securing our own bliss forever1 with ,god's grace1 of course3 but on the other hand putting on us a terrible responsibility4 ,no other power on earth can control a man's liberty4 ,when ,st4 ,agnes1 a mere child of #ac years1 refused to do wrong1 the whole power of the ,roman ,empire could not bend her will2 on the other hand1 the influence of the holiest education cannot make a child virtuous without its free co-operation4 ,can a man then1 by refusing to serve ,god1 deprive the ,creator of the glory that he was intended to render ,him8 ,certainly not2 but he can freely choose to glorify the goodness of ,god by faithful service1 thus securing at the same time perfect happiness for himself1 or choose to glorify ,god's justice by his eternal punishment4 ,colloquy with ,god ,almighty1 my ,creator1 and with ,christ1 my ,redeemer2 that ,i may do my full duty and secure eternal bliss4 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on the ,end of ,creatures ,the second part of the foundation says3 8,and the other things upon the face of the earth were created for man1 and to help him to attain the end for which he was created4 ,whence it follows that man must make use of them in so far as they help him to attain his end2 and in the same way he ought to withdraw himself from them in so far as they hinder him from it40 ,the task of the exercitant is three-fold3 #a4 ,intellectual3 he must strive to understand the truths proposed correctly1 clearly and fully2 #b4 ,practical3 he must apply the truths to his own conduct2 #c4 ,prayerful3 so as to obtain aid from ,heaven to succeed in both these respects4 ,the ,preparatory ,prayer is the same as in the first meditation4 ,it is so too in all the following meditations4 ,it will not be necessary to remind the exercitant of this in the subsequent exercises4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold our ,dear ,lord before you1 who says3 8,my son1 ,i will now teach you the second truth of the spiritual life40 #bnd ,prelude4 ,grant1 ,o ,dear ,lord1 that ,i may understand it fully and learn from it how to improve my conduct4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider these words3 8,the other things upon the face of the earth are created for man30 and man for ,god4 ,here is a clear exhibition of ,god's wisdom2 the inanimate is for the vegetable world1 the vegetable for the animal1 and all for man2 inferior things are for the real good of superior ones4 ,i am not then created for material enjoyment3 ,ad majora natus sum1 8,i am born for greater things10 ,i must not degrade myself by the perverse gratification of my animal nature4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the words3 8,and in order to attain the end for which he was created40 ,how do the other things aid man to attain his end8 ,in various ways4 ,some things need only be considered to raise man's heart to ,god and prompt him to reverence the ,divine ,majesty4 8,the heavens show forth the glory of ,god1 and the firmament declares the work of his hands10 etc4 7,ps4 #ah74 ,other creatures are for the use of man1 as food1 drink1 clothing1 etc4 ,others are to be endured1 that he may practise submission to ,god's holy will2 such as excessive heat and cold1 sickness1 death1 etc4 ,others are to be abstained from1 as was the forbidden fruit in ,paradise4 ,everything thus becomes for man a stepping stone to ,heaven4 ,,point ,,iii4 8,whence it follows that man must make use of them in so far as they help him to attain his end2 and in the same way he ought to withdraw himself from them in as far as they hinder him from it40 ,consider how this rule may be observed or violated4 ,for instance1 7a7 ,in our use of food and drink4 ,the relish attached to the use of them is good as a means to promote our health2 but under its influence excess is often committed1 by which health may be injured1 disease contracted and life shortened4 ,am ,i always blameless in this respect8 7b7 ,sleep may be excessive and lead to the neglect of duty4 7c7 ,the study of nature1 of the sciences and the fine arts may greatly promote the glory of ,god and indirectly the good of souls1 and it may be wrong to neglect it2 but it may also be abused2 it is only a means1 and must not be made an end in itself1 to the neglect of our true end4 7d7 ,such too is the reading of literature or of the news of the day4 7e7 ,such is our intercourse with superiors1 our brethren and outsiders4 ,the bee gathers honey1 the spider poison from the same plant4 ,colloquy1 asking grace to use all things wisely4 ,,consideration ,on the ,end of the ,religious ,life ,i ,when we consider the conduct of men generally1 we see at a glance that the lives of vast numbers of them are not in conformity with the truths we have been studying2 and we are reminded of the words of ,christ3 8,wide is the gate and broad the way that leadeth to destruction1 and many there are that go in thereat4 ,how narrow is the gate and straight the way that leadeth to life1 and few there are that find it0 7,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #ac1 #ad74 ,of course the way of salvation1 owing to ,his preaching and ,his merits1 is now much wider than when ,he spoke those words2 but yet it appears to be1 through men's own fault1 much narrower than it should be4 ,what is the condition of religious in this respect8 ,it is well worth while to examine what is the effect of our religious vocation on the most important of all our interests1 the attaining of the end for which we were created4 ,now it is clear that the religious life offers many great advantages for that purpose4 #a4 ,we are created to praise1 reverence and serve ,god4 ,now the religious life is entirely directed to these objects4 #a4 ,we are constantly employed in the promotion of the praise and glory of ,god3 all our labors are directed to it2 the place we live in1 the occupations assigned us and all the circumstances of them are selected with a view of this purpose4 #b4 ,the reverence shown to ,god is continually fostered by a long succession of common and private prayers1 ,holy ,masses1 recitation of the ,divine ,office1 visits to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 etc41 from morning till night1 day after day1 year after year1 till death4 #c4 ,the service of ,god1 the accomplishment of ,his holy will1 is not confined to the observance of ,his ,commandments and those of ,his ,church2 but1 by adding the rules of the ,order1 the will of ,god is made known and accomplished in all the details of life4 ,thus the religious is constantly occupied with the praise1 reverence and service of ,god4 ,his heart is not divided between different objects of his love3 8,he that is without a wife10 says ,st4 ,paul1 8is solicitous for the things that belong to the ,lord1 how he may please ,god2 but he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world1 how he may please his wife2 and he is divided0 7,i ,cor4 vii1 #cb1 #cc74 ,the condition of mind in religious is like that of the ,blessed ,angels1 who are busy with ,god and the things of ,god4 ,it is like that of the ,holy ,family while it abode on earth2 so that a religious house is a copy of the ,holy ,house of ,nazareth4 ,and all this is not to last for a little while only1 but for a whole lifetime2 for the religious vows give stability and permanence for all years to come4 ,therefore this sacrifice is compared by theologians to a holocaust1 the most perfect of the ancient sacrifices1 in which1 namely1 the whole victim was consumed in the fire4 ,thus one religious is likely to do more than a number of seculars for the praise and reverence and service of ,god4 ,,ii ,and by these means the religious easily saves his soul1 thus attaining the second end for which he was created4 ,the good ,lord has promised this in so many words4 ,for he said3 8,every one that hath left house1 or brethren1 or sisters1 or father1 or mother1 or wife1 or children1 or lands1 for my sake1 shall receive a hundred fold and shall possess life everlasting0 7,st4 ,matth4 xix1 #bi74 ,the hundred fold mentioned in this promise is not to be passed over lightly4 ,for although it constitutes no portion of the eternal life of which we are speaking1 still it is intimately connected with it4 ,for it embraces a multitude of heavenly graces3 a ,divine protection in dangers1 a peace of soul that the world cannot give2 all of which make the attainment of eternal life far more easy than it usually is outside of the religious state4 ,with this prospect of eternal bliss for ourselves is united the special efficiency which the good ,lord deigns to bestow on religious to procure the salvation of many souls4 ,true1 the exercise of the sacred ministry1 with the sacramental power1 is the ordinary channel of sanctification established by ,christ in ,his ,church2 but there is a special efficiency in personal virtue to bring souls nearer to ,god2 and the direct purpose and effect of the religious life is to increase personal holiness4 ,the archenemy of man knows well who are the most successful in saving souls1 and those he opposes with all his power4 ,the fact that religious are more fiercely hated and opposed by the enemies of ,god1 clearly shows that they produce more fruit in souls4 ,,iii ,of course the religious life has its hardships1 it is a life of sacrifice2 but that is its honor and its recommendation to a noble soul3 8,the kingdom of ,heaven suffereth violence1 and the violent bear it away0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #ab74 ,all the ,saints have led lives of sacrifice1 like their ,divine ,master3 8,jesus said to ,his disciples3 ,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross and follow me0 7,ib4 xvi1 #bd74 ,to aid us in carrying the cross of the religious life cheerfully1 let us reflect what magnificent prizes are held out to us4 #a4 ,there is the bright crown of virginity1 with the distinguished privilege of more intimate union with ,jesus in ,heaven4 8,these are they who were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4 ,these follow the ,lamb whithersoever ,he goeth0 7,apoc4 xiv1 #d74 #b4 ,there is also the glory of being seated1 with ,christ1 on the judgment seat1 when ,he will come in ,his ,majesty on the clouds of heaven3 they are to judge the world1 rather than to be judged4 ,thus at least the ,venerable ,bede explains the promise made by ,christ to ,his ,apostles1 which for a parity of reason1 he extends to religious3 8,amen ,i say to you that you who have followed me1 in the regeneration1 when the ,son of ,man shall sit on the seat of ,his ,majesty1 you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of ,israel0 7,st4 ,matth4 xix1 #bh74 #c4 ,another most valuable advantage of the religious life lies in the protection it affords against dangerous temptations to sin4 ,true1 as long as we live upon earth we may fall from grace1 and forfeit1 through our own grievous fault1 the rich store of merit so far accumulated and our right to eternal bliss3 8,he that thinketh himself to stand1 let him take heed lest he fall10 writes the ,apostle 7,i ,cor4 x1 #ab74 ,the best a man can do is to surround himself with such securities as lessen the assaults from without and strengthen the will within him4 ,and such is undoubtedly the religious life4 ,its vows of poverty1 chastity and obedience cut off the fiercest assaults of man's triple enemy1 the world1 the ,devil and the flesh2 and its constant practices of piety and mortification provide a copious supply of ,heavenly assistance to resist temptations4 ,therefore ,st4 ,bernard draws this consoling picture of religion3 8,it is a state10 he says1 8in which man lives with more purity1 falls more rarely1 rises more promptly1 walks more securely1 is more frequently bedewed with celestial graces1 sleeps more peaceably1 dies with more assurance1 passes more quickly through ,purgatory1 and is more richly rewarded40 ,,iv ,however1 we must bear in mind that membership of a religious ,order does not necessarily secure all those advantages1 and that in the same ,order they are obtained by different persons in very different degrees4 ,the chief requisite to obtain them is to be a fervent religious4 ,the more generous one shall show himself to ,god1 says ,st4 ,ignatius1 the more generous he shall find ,god towards him1 and the more fit shall he daily be to receive in greater abundance ,his graces and spiritual gifts4 ,the rapidity of our spiritual progress is not like that of travellers in a ship on the sea1 all of whom advance at the same rate1 whether they are walking or sitting or lying down2 but our progress is like that of men travelling on a highroad1 each of whom has his own rate of advancement according to his own efforts4 ,thus ,st4 ,aloysius1 ,st4 ,stanislaus and ,st4 ,john ,berchmans advanced further in a few months than most religious do in many years4 ,while we have perhaps broken strong bonds in tearing ourselves away from home and kindred1 let us not be attached to little things2 a slender silken thread is enough to keep a bird from gaining its liberty1 and thus a little trifle may prevent us from soaring aloft to higher regions of sanctity4 ,god fully deserves the love of our whole hearts1 which are too small to be divided between ,him and the things of earth4 ,let us examine ourselves during this retreat1 and see whether we are drawing all the profit we should from the rich treasury of our religious vocation4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on ,indifference to ,creatures ,the third part of the ,foundation3 8,it is therefore necessary that we should make ourselves indifferent to all created things1 in so far as it is left to the liberty of our free will to do so1 and is not forbidden2 in such sort that we do not for our part wish for health rather than sickness1 for wealth instead of poverty1 for honor rather than dishonor1 for a long life rather than a short one1 and so in all other things1 desiring and choosing only that which most leads us to the end for which we were created40 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see bright ,angels standing before the throne of ,god1 waiting to be assigned as guardians to new-born infants2 they are perfectly indifferent to take charge of rich or poor children in any part of the world4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for a like spirit of perfect indifference to all creatures1 caring for ,god alone and ,his holy will4 ,,point ,i4 ,let me ask myself sincerely3 am ,i now fully convinced that ,i am in this world for no other end than to praise1 reverence and serve ,god1 and thereby to save my soul8 that ,i must use creatures only in as far as they conduce to this end8 ,this is right and just1 it is highly useful for me2 it is necessary1 the one thing necessary2--all else is vanity2 it passes away in a short time4 8,the world's a stage1 and men are only players1 ,they have their exits and their entrances40 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what prevents me from always living up to that conviction8 ,the reason is that ,i allow myself to be influenced by various predilections and aversions1 by my likes and dislikes for certain things4 ,if ,i were perfectly indifferent1 as the ,angels are1 whose will has perfect control over all their affections1 then ,i would choose on all occasions only what ,god wills1 as far as ,his will would be known to me4 ,can ,i acquire such an indifference8 ,i cannot help feeling an inclination to like or dislike certain things2 for it is an effect of the fall of man that our passions often rebel against the spirit4 ,but ,i can control these promptings to a great extent1 and with ,god's grace1 acquire considerable power over their movements4 ,to strengthen this habit of control over my various inclinations is the purpose of the present meditation3 that is meant by making myself indifferent to all created things4 ,and still ,st4 ,ignatius wisely adds3 8,in as far as they are allowed me and not forbidden02 lest the uninstructed might imagine that they might lawfully allow disorderly sentiments to arise within them without at once driving them away4 ,how can ,i make myself indifferent8 ,by considering the evils connected with the things to which ,i am inclined1 and the good to be derived from those disliked4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,let me consider in detail some principal objects to which a man is not naturally indifferent1 but he may with ,god's grace make himself so4 #a4 ,a long life or a short life4 ,for all ,i know1 my eternal salvation may be much better secured if ,i should die soon than if ,i live yet many years4 ,it was so with many persons1 who were holy in their youth and were afterwards perverted4 ,therefore the ,book of ,wisdom says3 8,he pleased ,god and was beloved1 and living among sinners he was translated4 ,he was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding and deceit beguile his soul0 7iv1 #aj1 #aa74 ,what a blessing it would have been for a ,luther or a ,henry ,,viii to have died young4 ,as ,i do not know what is best for me1 ,i ought in all reason to leave it all to ,god's disposal1 and make myself indifferent to a long life or a short life4 #b4 ,health or sickness4 ,in comparison with the salvation of my soul the enjoyment of health during this life is of slight importance2 and common sense would bid me readily to resign the latter to secure the former4 ,now ,god alone knows when this is necessary4 ,we read of a virtuous man in ,england1 who made a pilgrimage to the tomb of ,st4 ,thomas a' ,becket to be cured from blindness4 ,he was heard1 and returned rejoicing to his home4 ,but he found soon after that the free use of his sight led him into many new temptations4 ,so he returned to the same shrine and begged the ,saint that1 if it were for his greater spiritual good to be deprived of sight1 this might be done rather than that he should fall into mortal sin4 ,the ,lord worked this second miracle to show what was really best for him4 #c4 ,riches or poverty4 ,the young man whom the ,saviour invited to sell all and give to the poor and then follow ,him had not the courage to answer the call1 because he was very rich4 ,and ,jesus remarked it was difficult for a rich man to save his soul4 ,it is then very wise not to care for riches1 but to make one's self indifferent on this point4 #d4 ,honor rather than dishonor4 ,history is full of examples of men who were virtuous while in an humble station1 and who1 after being raised to honors1 became proud2 now a proud man is odious in the sight of ,god4 #e4 ,and so of all other things4 ,let me ask myself whether there is any point on which ,i am not indifferent1 and then consider how ,i may bend my mind in the opposite direction2 then pray earnestly to our ,lord and ,his ,holy ,mother to gain indifference to all created things4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,let me consider what will be the good effects of attaining such indifference4 ,they will be3 #a4 ,considerable increase in virtue2 for thus my will becomes conformable to the will of ,god3 ,i thus practise faith in ,his providence1 and confidence in ,his paternal care of me4 #b4 ,security from many dangers of sin1 to which ,i should have been exposed if ,i had persisted in controlling my own fortunes4 #c4 ,quiet of mind in the happy thought that ,god1 to whom ,i abandon myself entirely1 will dispose all for the best3 8,for we know that to them that love ,god all things work together unto good0 7,rom4 viii1 #bh74 8,cast thy care upon the ,lord1 and ,he shall sustain thee0 7,ps4 #ed74 8,my children1 behold the generations of men1 and know ye that no one hath hoped in the ,lord1 and hath been confounded0 7,ecclus4 ii1 #aa74 ,on the other hand those who are not indifferent to the things of earth live in constant agitation of mind1 restless in the pursuit of fancied blessings1 and disappointed when they fail to obtain them2 and1 what is still worse1 frequently exposed to the danger of sin1 sometimes of grievous sin1 in their eagerness to obtain their desires1 or in their reluctance to do their duty4 ,colloquy4 ,pray earnestly1 both during the meditation1 when proper desires are aroused in your heart1 and especially at the conclusion of the meditation1 that you may totally detach your affections from all things created1 and obtain the grace of indifference to all creatures4 ,,the ,,second ,,day ,we have now fully understood the end1 or purpose1 of our creation1 which is to praise1 reverence and serve ,god and thereby save our souls4 ,we must next consider what will be the result if we freely refuse to live for that end1 and prefer to do our own will in opposition to the will of ,god4 ,the ,lord is not going to prevent us from doing so2 ,he will not interfere with the exercise of our free will4 ,were a child1 in the fervor of its first ,communion1 most earnestly to beseech ,god to let it die young rather than live to commit a mortal sin1 ,he would no doubt give it additional graces to avoid sin1 but ,he will not control the child's freedom4 ,every one of us must carve out his own future by his own free choice4 ,we know what we have to do to make that future sovereignly happy2 and we are now to consider prayerfully what evils threaten us if we refuse to do it4 ,for this purpose we will now study certain historical facts1 and see how other persons have fared4 ,,first ,,meditation ,on ,sin ,this exercise affords a favorable opportunity to explain the ordinary process of meditation1 which consists in applying to a chosen subject our three intellectual faculties1 the memory1 the understanding and the will1 as shall now be shown in detail4 ,preparatory prayer1 as usual4 #ast ,prelude4 ,let me imagine ,i behold the scene which ,christ described saying3 8,i saw ,satan like lightning falling from heaven0 7,st4 ,luke x1 #ah74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,i ask the grace to understand how severely ,god has punished the sins of others1 so that ,i may conceive an intense dread and horror of sin1 especially of my own sins4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the first sin we know of1 that by which the angels fell4 ,apply to it3 #a4 ,the memory1 recalling the facts4 ,they were created by the same ,lord that made me1 and for the same end1 to praise1 reverence and serve ,him1 and by this means to attain eternal bliss4 ,they1 like me1 were put to a trial of their obedience2 they were free to serve or no1 as they chose4 ,a multitude of the angels refused to obey3 they sinned4 ,these were cast out of ,heaven into ,hell1 and punished with the direst woe forever4 #b4 ,the understanding takes in the striking points of analogy between their history and that of man3 ,if they were so severely punished1 what must man expect when he imitates their rebellion8 ,what a dreadful evil sin must be1 since a good and just ,god hates it so4 ,their great number did not save the angels1 nor will the number of bad men be a protection2 all men are like a little dust before the infinite ,god4 ,man's excellence is below that of the angels1 in power1 in knowledge and in all natural gifts4 ,they sinned but once2 perhaps ,i have sinned repeatedly4 ,what must ,i think of myself8 of my past8 of my future8 #c4 ,my will is gradually moved by these and similar considerations to detest sin1 to dread sin1 to detest myself if ,i have sinned1 to beg ,god to spare me4 ,i must stir up my will to hate sin more and more1 to protest to ,god my hatred of it1 my self-reproach3 8,spare me1 ,oh ,lord1 according to the multitude of thy mercies40 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the sin of our first parents4 #a4 ,my memory recalls the facts4 ,they were created by the same ,god and for the same end as ,i2 they were loved by ,him and placed in a garden of delights1 in ,paradise1 destined to enjoy the vision of ,god forever4 ,they were free4 ,god allowed ,satan to tempt them1 as ,he allows him to tempt me3 8,the serpent said to the woman3 ,no1 you shall not die the death4 ,for ,god doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof1 your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods1 knowing good and evil4 ,and the woman saw that the tree was good1 and delightful to behold3 and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat1 and gave to her husband1 who did eat0 7,gen4 iii1 #d-f74 ,they were in consequence cast out of ,paradise1 condemned to more than nine hundred years of toil and suffering1 and to death1 and all the evils that have befallen them and their posterity have been the punishment of sin4 #b4 ,my understanding must weigh these facts and reason on them1 so as to realize the boundless evil of rebelling against our sovereign ,lord and ,master4 ,it is not only the words of ,god but even more ,his deeds that show us what ,he is and how ,he acts4 ,his severity in punishing sin in creatures for which ,he had shown such generous love exhibits the utter abomination ,he has for moral evil4 #c4 ,i must stir up my will to detest that same evil1 to dread my own weakness which exposes me to sin again1 to regret my past offenses1 and to form strong resolutions for the future1 praying earnestly for ,god's help4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,st4 ,ignatius bids us consider a third sin1 namely that of some person who has gone to ,hell for one mortal offense4 ,st4 ,liguori1 in his little book 8,on the ,commandments and ,sacraments10 narrates a number of what he calls 8,melancholic ,examples10 of persons who appeared after death1 and said they were damned for some one or more mortal sins which they had not properly confessed4 ,one is the case of a woman1 who had been reputed to be very devout1 so much so that after her death her body had been treated with the greatest veneration4 ,but the day after her burial she appeared to the ,bishop of the place as if laid on a blazing fire1 and she told him that she was damned on account of a mortal sin of thought she had concealed in confession4 #a4 ,the memory must recall the facts2 it matters not whether they are well authenticated or not1 since the doctrine is certain that one mortal sin unpardoned is enough to damn the soul4 #b4 ,the understanding reasons on the case1 so as to realize vividly the sad results of dying in sin4 #c4 ,the will is thus stirred up to hate sin as the greatest of all evils1 and to avoid it at any sacrifice1 according to the warning of ,christ3 8,if thy right eye scandalize thee1 pluck it out and cast it from thee4 ,for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish1 rather than thy whole body be cast into hell0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #bi74 ,colloquy with ,jesus dying for my sins upon the ,cross1 begging for grace to repent of all past sins1 and to make strong resolutions against future offenses4 ,,second ,,meditation ,on ,one's ,own ,sins ,it is well to remark here that1 #a4 ,the fact that ,st4 ,peter was forgiven did not prevent him from mourning for his sin all the rest of his life2 #b4 ,many persons repine excessively under afflictions because they forget that they have deserved much worse by their sins2 #c4 ,the ,saints mortified themselves severely for small faults2 #d4 ,this meditation is congenial to humble souls1 like the ,publican1 but painful to the ,pharisee2 #e4 ,the least we can do is to detest our sins heartily and to atone for them4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you stand before ,god like the humble ,publican1 saying3 8,o ,god1 have mercy on me1 a sinner40 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg for an intense grief and confusion for your sins4 ,,point ,i4 ,briefly recall to memory the series of your sins1 from your early years1 through childhood1 boyhood1 youth1 through subsequent periods of your life1 noticing successive places of abode1 various occupations1 companions1 etc4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,study to understand the evil of your sins1 considering3 #a4 ,every species of sin has its own peculiar vileness2 for instance1 lying is so odious that its very name is offensive1 stealing is still worse1 so that one caught in a theft is disgraced for life1 gluttony is disgraceful1 pride is odious to ,god and man1 envy is mean1 profanity is provoking to the great and holy ,god1 deceit is despicable1 vanity is ridiculous1 impurity lowers a man beneath the brute1 etc4 #b4 ,every sin is an insult to ,god4 ,when a person insults his equal1 he incurs his displeasure and deserves punishment2 more so when he insults his superior2 and the offense is the greater in proportion as the party insulted is more distinguished and the offender lower in comparison4 ,now consider how great is ,god1 who is insulted1 compared to man1 who insults ,him3 a4 ,the meanness of man4 ,what is one man compared to a thousand men1 to a thousand thousand1 or million men8 ,like a little gnat flitting in the sunshine4 ,and what are a million men compared to the one thousand five hundred millions of men now inhabiting the earth8 ,and what are all these together compared to all the former and the future generations8 ,and what are all men compared to the ,angels of ,god8 ,and what are all creatures compared to the ,creator ,himself8 ,less than a drop of water compared to the vast ocean4 ,what then am ,i compared to ,god8 ,and yet1 if ,i have ever sinned1 ,i have put myself above ,god1 my will above ,his will4 ,if then ,i have often sinned1 what punishment have ,i not deserved8 b4 ,see the meanness of the body of man1 which corrupts all it uses1 and needs constant care to keep it from becoming insupportable1 even to itself4 ,see how death degrades it1 how even sickness degrades it4 ,and the soul of man3 see how it is ever inclined to conceive and foster evil thoughts and desires1 how it prompts to evil words and actions2 so that ,st4 ,ignatius1 who had been a proud soldier1 when he came to know himself better1 looked on himself as a running ulcer flowing with corruption4 ,and yet in sinning1 this vile being1 man1 rises up to insult ,god4 c4 ,on the other hand consider the greatness of ,god1 by comparison with the littleness of man3 compare ,his power with man's weakness1 ,his knowledge with man's ignorance1 ,his eternity with man's short span of life1 ,his bounty with man's selfishness1 etc4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,i will arouse my will to detest my sinfulness1 indignant against myself1 and wondering that ,god continues to bear with me1 to favor me1 to have ,his ,angels protect me1 the earth support me2 and ,he forbids all men to injure me1 commands them to love me4 ,colloquy with my crucified ,lord1 begging ,his mercy and ,his pardon4 ,,consideration ,on the ,confession of the ,retreat ,the direct purpose of the first days of the retreat is to purify the soul of all guilt of sin and all attachment to sin4 ,for this purpose the ,sacrament of ,penance is the most efficient means1 and the confession of sins is an integral part of the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius4 ,i ,confession may be of three kinds3 a general confession of one's whole life1 or a considerable portion of one's life2 the ordinary1 or weekly confession2 and thirdly the annual or semi-annual review1 which is of rule in many religious institutions4 #a4 ,a general confession is obligatory if the preceding confessions have been badly made2 it is useful at the age when a child has been fully instructed in its religious duties2 when a person enters on a permanent state of life1 and perhaps once more1 when one approaches the portals of eternity4 ,the anxiety entertained by some souls to repeat their general confessions over and over again is most unreasonable2 it fosters scrupulosity and is injurious to spiritual progress4 #b4 ,in the ordinary1 or weekly1 confessions1 which1 in the case of religious1 rarely include a mortal sin1 earnest care must be taken that one or more real sins1 recently or formerly committed1 be confessed1 so that matter be presented for absolution2 and also that there be elicited an act of supernatural contrition for those sins1 or at least for some one of them4 ,else the ,sacrament would be invalid1 for real supernatural contrition is one of its essential parts4 #c4 ,an annual or semi-annual review of the weekly confessions affords marked advantages1 especially when it is made during the retreat3 a4 ,faults are thus likely to be noticed which attracted little attention at other times4 ,as when a ray of sunshine enters into a rather dark room1 and reveals more dust on the furniture than was noticed before1 so the ,divine light of grace1 entering the soul during the ,exercises1 discovers various defects of which there had been no clear perception4 ,that is a good occasion to obtain pardon for them4 b4 ,when our faults are thus seen together1 they are apt to arouse more contrition1 and thus secure more entire pardon4 c4 ,such a review gives us a clearer knowledge of ourselves and shows us what defects we should chiefly labor to correct4 ,,ii ,to prepare for such a review1 we should consider those sins especially which are more likely to be committed by religious4 ,in mentioning them we shall follow the order of the ,decalogue4 ,the ,first ,commandment regards the worship of ,god4 ,under this head come wilful distractions or negligences in prayer1 which may spoil considerable parts of our spiritual exercises2 disrespectful handling of holy things1 and the unworthy reception of the ,sacraments4 ,this last sin is of course rare among religious1 but very grievous if it should occur2 for it bears the guilt of sacrilege4 ,the ,second ,commandment requires the observance of our vows4 ,the vow of poverty is violated when a religious disposes of any temporal goods without permission of his superior1 acting as if it were his own property4 ,that of chastity attaches to the violation of the sixth and ninth commandments the additional guilt of sacrilege4 ,the vow of obedience is violated when a religious refuses or neglects to do what he is commanded to do under obedience1 or does what he is thus forbidden4 ,the ,third ,commandment is not likely to be violated by religious4 ,the ,fourth ,commandment obliges subjects to reverence and obey their superiors when they mean to impose an obligation of conscience2 and they must be supposed to mean it when the good of souls or the glory of ,god requires them thus to use their authority4 ,a precept of obedience in virtue of the vow is rarely imposed2 but commands in matters of some importance derive from the natural law power to oblige any subjects to obey their lawful superiors1 independently of any vow4 ,if serious consequences are likely to follow from the violation of the command1 the sin may be grievous4 ,the ,fifth ,commandment says3 8,thou shalt not kill10 and forbids all wilful injury to another's or to one's own body4 ,of course religious are not likely to injure others violently2 but this commandment may be violated in many other ways4 ,one may neglect his own health or injure it by indiscretion in the use of food and drink1 thus bringing on diseases by which many a life is shortened4 ,a superior or an infirmarian may neglect the proper care of sick or delicate persons1 a pastor or teacher that of school children1 etc4 ,injury done to the souls of others by scandal1 or bad example1 may also be considered under this commandment2 and there are very many ways of giving scandal4 ,the ,fifth ,commandment also forbids quarrelling1 unreasonable anger1 hatred and revenge4 ,a religious teacher1 for instance1 must be careful that1 when obliged to punish children1 he does not allow himself to be prompted by passion2 and revenge is totally opposed to the spirit of ,christ4 ,the ,sixth ,commandment forbids any act of impurity wilfully committed2 and it has this peculiarity that it admits of no slight matter1 but the sin is always grievous when the impure pleasure is sought or admitted with full knowledge and full consent4 ,the ,seventh ,commandment forbids stealing and all injustice done to others in their material possessions4 ,the religious state is a strong protection against these sins2 still it does not make them impossible4 ,it may happen that a religious does not fulfill all the conditions of a contract2 as for instance1 when a teacher neglects his class or some of his pupils1 so that these do not really get the value of the tuition charges4 ,the ,eighth ,commandment enjoins both truthfulness and regard for another's good name4 ,a lie is never allowed1 and mental reservations must not be used but for good reasons1 lest human intercourse lose the charm and security of mutual confidence4 ,any lessening of another's good name without sufficient reason is sinful1 and it is doubly so when the accusation is false2 even a rash judgment or suspicion is wrong1 yet it may be mistaken without being rash4 ,the great rule is3 8,see thou never do to another what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee by another0 7,tob4 iv1 #af74 ,the ,ninth and ,tenth ,commandments forbid sinful thoughts and desires in matters forbidden by the ,sixth and ,seventh ,commandments4 ,on this point ,st4 ,ignatius remarks that when an evil thought is promptly dismissed1 there is merit1 not sin2 and if it returns again and again and is always resisted1 there is more and more merit4 ,but a venial sin is committed when one listens to the evil suggestion so as to dwell a little on it1 or to admit some carnal delight1 or to be somewhat negligent in rejecting it4 ,a grievous sin supposes that the thought or desire is fully consented to4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on ,eternal ,loss ,remarks3 ,the purpose of the first days of the ,exercises being to inspire an intense and lasting hatred of sin1 it is highly proper that we should meditate on the principal punishment of sin1 the eternal loss of the soul1 the pains of ,hell4 ,many ,saints have been led to ,heaven by the road of fear1 some religious ,orders acknowledge this as their chief spirit4 ,no one can afford to do without the fear of ,god2 we should all nourish it2 so that1 if ever our love of ,god should be too weak to keep us from sin1 the fear of ,hell may restrain us4 ,we descend into that abyss in thought at present1 that we may not hereafter be cast into it in reality4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see in the center of the earth a vast ocean of fire1 in which are plunged countless souls condemned to eternal punishment4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg earnestly from your ,sovereign ,lord for an intense and abiding fear of those awful sufferings and for a firm purpose of never sinning again4 ,,point ,i4 ,recall to memory what we know of ,hell2 in particular3 #a4 ,that its existence and its dreadful nature are as clearly revealed in ,holy ,writ as any truth whatever4 ,for instance1 ,christ said3 8,if thy eye scandalize thee1 pluck it out4 ,it is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of ,god1 than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire2 where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not extinguished4 ,for every one shall be salted with fire0 7,st4 ,mark ix1 #df1 #dh74 ,then there is the parable of ,dives and ,lazarus 7,st4 ,luke1 xvi1 #ai-ca74 #b4 ,that ,hell awaits all those who die in mortal sin1 whatever they may have been in life1 religious or seculars1 bishops or priests4 #c4 ,that vast multitudes go there3 8,broad is the way that leadeth to destruction1 and many there are who go in thereat0 7,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #ac74 ,many who were supposed to be holy4 ,see ,st4 ,liguori1 8,melancholy ,examples40 ,many who had begun well1 as ,judas had4 #d4 ,that ,i am in danger1 as long as ,i live1 of sinning mortally1 of dying in sin and losing my soul4 ,perhaps some are in ,hell through my fault4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what are the sufferings of the body in ,hell8 ,all the senses will be tormented1 as for their gratification ,god has been offended4 ,chiefly the sense of touch1 and that by the horrible torture of fire3 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxv1 #da71 8,which of you can dwell with everlasting burnings80 7,is4 xxiii1 #ad74 ,god showed ,st4 ,teresa in a vision the place the ,devil had prepared for her in ,hell4 ,she narrates it thus3 8,i was one day in prayer1 when ,i found myself in a moment1 without knowing how1 plunged apparently into ,hell4 ,i understood that it was our ,lord's will that ,i should see the place which the devils kept in readiness for me1 and which ,i had deserved by my sins4 ,it was but a moment1 but it seems to me impossible that ,i should ever forget it1 if ,i were to live many years4 ,the entrance seemed to be by a long and narrow pass1 like a furnace1 very low1 dark and close4 ,the ground seemed to be saturated with water1 mere mud1 exceedingly foul1 sending forth pestilential odors and covered with loathsome vermin4 ,at the end was a hollow place in the wall1 like a closet1 and in that ,i saw myself confined4 ,all this was even pleasant to behold in comparison with what ,i felt there0 7,coleridge1 8,life of ,st4 ,teresa10 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #acc74 8,she says10 ,father ,coleridge adds1 8she cannot describe what she felt4 ,there was a fire in her soul4 ,she suffered unendurably in her body4 ,all that she had suffered in diseases1 or in what ,satan had been allowed to inflict upon her1 was as nothing in comparison2 and she saw there was to be no intermission1 no end to the pain4 ,but the pains of the body were as nothing to the pains of the soul4 ,she describes the anguish as a sense of oppression and stifling in the soul1 all the while tearing itself to pieces with remorse and despair40 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what are the sufferings of the soul8 #a4 ,the memory will recall the abundance of graces1 by which salvation could so easily have been secured2 the example of companions who were innocent or sincerely penitent1 who are now in ,heaven2 the soul's own goodness and happiness at the time of its first ,communion and at other periods of its life4 #b4 ,the understanding will then fully realize that one thing alone was necessary while on earth1 that life was given to work out salvation1 that all the rest was vanity1 that all illusions are now dispelled1 and there is no happiness to be found by the creature except in ,god2 there is only total disappointment1 absolute loss of all satisfaction2 and this pain of disappointed love will then be greater than all the other sufferings4 #c4 ,the will then will desire only ,god1 for the love and possession of whom all its nature longs1 because it was made for ,him alone4 ,therefore the soul will hate its own perverseness with a sovereign hatred1 and curse itself in its absolute despair4 #d4 ,the soul will always have present to its mind the awful sentence pronounced by the ,supreme ,judge3 8,depart from me into eternal fire40 8,eternal03 ,what1 in comparison1 are days1 or nights1 or months1 or years of suffering8 ,ever in pain1 ever in despair2 no end1 no hope of an end or of any mitigation4 ,colloquy with ,jesus crucified1 dying for our sins2 with ,mary1 the refuge of sinners4 ,,the ,,third ,,day ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,a ,preparation for ,death #ast ,prelude4 ,a captain of infantry had been ordered by his general to lead his company at the first dawn of light the next morning up a neighboring hill where the enemy had just planted a masked battery4 ,to spend the intervening night he had a log cabin allotted him4 ,he felt it was a dangerous task assigned him1 as he was likely to be shot while ascending the hill at the head of his men4 ,yet he faltered not1 for he was brave4 ,but before lying down to rest1 he lit a candle1 pulled out his prayer book1 and knelt down to prepare himself for a good death4 ,imagine that ,god gives you the present hour to prepare for your own approaching death4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,o ,lord3 give me the grace of making to-day a thoroughly good preparation for death4 ,,point ,i4 ,it is absolutely certain that ,i shall die1 it is only a matter of more or less delay2 8,it is appointed unto men once to die0 7,hebr4 ix1 #bg74 8,dust thou art and into dust thou shalt return0 is the sentence pronounced on me1 as on all men4 ,no sensible man doubts this1 yet many try to forget it1 and live as if the sentence were not for them4 ,o my ,lord ,god6 ,i will not be so foolish2 and ,i accept with humility the sentence of death4 ,i have deserved it1 and ,i will suffer it in punishment and expiation of my sins4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,all the circumstances of my death are very uncertain4 #a4 ,the time4 ,no one but ,god can assure me of another day of life4 ,many are at this moment in vigorous health who will be dead to-morrow4 ,i may be one of them3 8,if thou shalt not watch1 ,i will come to thee as a thief1 and thou shalt not know at what hour ,i shall come to thee0 7,apoc4 iii1 #c74 ,a thief comes when least expected4 ,many are sick for a time and yet expire suddenly before they realize their danger4 ,even many of the ,saints were called away in the middle of their most important careers3 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier when on the point of entering ,china1 ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas before he could finish his ,summa of ,universal ,theology1 ,st4 ,bonaventure during the ,general ,council of ,lyons1 etc4 ,am ,i ready8 ,was ,i ready at any hour of last year8 #b4 ,the place may be anywhere2 we cannot find a spot secure against the shafts of death4 #c4 ,the manner2 ,it may be sudden1 whether from a latent disease which we never suspected1 or from any of the multitudinous accidents so common in the modern rush of life4 ,or it may be preceded by weeks of suffering in an unconscious or semi-conscious condition4 ,even when the danger is known to others1 it is often hidden from the patient4 ,my ,lord ,god6 ,i humbly submit beforehand to all the circumstances ,thou hast determined shall attend my death1 to all its physical and mental sufferings1 to its sudden stroke or lingering approach4 ,only grant me the grace of being well disposed when it shall arrive4 ,make known to me1 ,i pray1 what sacrifices ,i must make that ,i may be well prepared4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what shall be my sentiments when death is nigh8 ,some rejoice at its approach2 like ,st4 ,paul1 they wish to be dissolved and to be with ,christ4 ,many are horrified when it comes1 and wish in vain that they could live their lives all over again4 ,now is the time to prepare1 then it will be too late4 ,many again1 even good ,christians and religious1 would then wish to make some more or less important changes before expiring4 ,now is the time to make them4 ,i have seen a novice dying most joyously1 with these words on his lips3 8,i know ,i am going to ,heaven40 ,i have seen a religious priest1 who had led a pious and zealous life1 bursting into tears on his deathbed1 explaining that he now realized how much more he could have done for ,god and the good of souls1 and how bitterly he regretted his former negligences4 ,and yet he was a model pastor of souls4 ,what shall be my sentiments8 ,colloquy with ,jesus and ,mary1 begging earnestly to know now what is still wanting to me1 that ,i may provide in good time2 8,o ,lord6 make me know my end--that ,i may know what is wanting to me60 7,ps4 #ch74 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on the ,particular ,judgment #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine that your soul has left your body and is now to be judged by ,christ4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly that you may understand all things now as you shall then1 and that you may act accordingly4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider when that judgment will take place3 8,it is appointed unto men once to die1 and1 after this1 the judgment0 7,hebr4 ix1 #bg74 ,human tribunals delay trials to take evidence2 not so ,god4 ,one moment we may be sinning or meriting1 the next moment we are judged for it4 ,no warning is given beforehand1 as for a college examination4 ,the rich man of whom ,christ said that he was going to build new barns1 saying to his soul3 8,soul1 thou hast much goods laid up for many years2 take thy rest1 eat1 drink1 make good cheer10 was rebuked by the ,lord1 saying3 8,thou fool1 this night they will require thy soul from thee0 7,st4 ,luke xii1 #af-bj74 ,be ever ready4 ,make frequent acts of perfect contrition4 ,make every confession as if it were to be the last of your life4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the persons present3 #a4 ,the soul2 ,father ,gaudier1 ,s4 ,j41 describes it thus3 8,it receives a novel manner of knowing1 without the body1 by which its entire life is represented to it at a glance4 ,it thoroughly understands what is the nature of created things1 its own present condition and the new aspect of things2 and it sees itself naked1 solitary and deserted by all1 with nothing but its good and bad works1 in the presence of its ,judge4 ,hence arises a very different view of its own concerns and all created and external things from what it had before4 ,besides1 its will is changed2 for all love of created goods is vanished1 and in its stead there is a most powerful impulse towards ,god as its last end4 ,this tendency1 now that the hindrance of the body is removed1 urges it most forcibly to this union0 7,introd4 ad ,solid4 ,perfect41 p4 #aif74 #b4 ,christ is now manifested to the soul4 ,he is the ,god who condemned to eternal woe the rebel angels1 ,judas1 and all who are in ,hell1 and who has rewarded all the ,saints with eternal bliss4 ,as man1 ,he is now going to examine what fruit the soul now before ,him has produced4 ,no other parties can well be expected to be present1 except1 perhaps the ,guardian ,angel and an evil spirit1 ready to execute the sentence4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider the account to be rendered1 of every thought1 word1 action and omission from the first dawn of reason till the last breath4 ,even good works may contain many imperfections1 as ,st4 ,paul explains by this comparison4 8,other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid1 which is ,christ ,jesus4 ,now if any man build upon this foundation gold1 silver1 precious stones1 wood1 hay1 stubble1 every man's work shall be manifest2 for the day of the ,lord shall declare it1 because it shall be revealed in fire2 and the fire shall try every man's work1 of what sort it is0 7,i ,cor4 iii1 #aa-af74 ,the examination will embrace all the ,commandments of ,god and of the ,church1 the duties of one's state of life1 the proper use of one's talents1 one's opportunities1 etc4 a4 ,there are two consoling thoughts in this matter4 #a4 ,the religious vows probably act as a second ,baptism1 cancelling all former debts4 ,st4 ,thomas attributes this effect to the perfect dispositions of the person making them4 ,if this is the reason1 then it would seem that the renewal of vows may have the same effect1 whenever it is made with equally good dispositions4 #b4 ,whatever has once been forgiven remains forgiven4 ,merit when lost may return1 but forgiven sins do not return4 b4 ,yet there are two classes of sins that may well cause anxiety4 #a4 ,those of which we have never truly repented1 perhaps because we were too proud to admit we were to blame1 and laid the blame on others instead4 #b4 ,those sins which we have very often confessed1 but which we have made no serious efforts to avoid in future1 perhaps because we had no real contrition for them4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,the sentence will be just what is deserved2 for a judgment is not an act of mercy1 but of the intellect seeing the truth of things and pronouncing accordingly3 8,i will judge thee according to thy ways1 and ,i will lay upon thee all thy crimes4 ,my eye shall not spare1 neither will ,i show mercy0 7,ezech4 vii1 #h1 #i74 8,then will he 7the ,son of man7 render to every man according to his works0 7,st4 ,matth4 xvi1 #bg74 ,if a mortal sin be there1 all is lost3 8,if a just man shall turn away from his justice and shall commit iniquity--he shall die in his sin1 and his justices which he hath done shall not be remembered0 7,ezech4 iii1 #bj74 ,the sentence will be final1 because there is no appeal to a higher tribunal1 and we can no longer merit a change3 8,the night cometh when no man can work0 7,st4 ,john ix1 #d74 ,the sufferings of ,purgatory come to an end1 but merit neglected to be acquired can never more be gained4 ,we may well exclaim with ,st4 ,magdalene de ,pazzi3 8,it is a terrible thing to have to stand before the judgment seat of ,god40 ,colloquy4 ,ask to understand all things now as you shall realize them at the judgment4 ,,consideration ,on ,purity of ,conscience ,the main purpose of the first part of the ,spiritual ,exercises1 or what ,st4 ,ignatius calls the first week1 is to purify the soul from all stains of sin1 and to strengthen it against all temptations to sin in future4 ,of course mortal sin is the principal evil to be destroyed1 it is the greatest evil in the world4 ,since the religious life is essentially the way of perfection1 it presupposes the destruction of mortal sin2 being the way of the counsels1 it supposes the observance of the ,commandments4 ,yet it is quite proper that religious in their yearly retreats should review the ,exercises of the first week1 the meditations regarding mortal sins and the fear of the ,lord1 not so much to obtain pardon of sins committed1 as to strengthen their resolutions and to take precaution against committing sins in the future4 ,in fact1 as a rule1 religious do not commit mortal sins2 and1 although they must be constantly on their guard against temptations1--because1 while the spirit is willing1 the flesh is weak1--yet it is a consoling truth that they rarely fall so low4 ,a religious that frequently commits mortal sins lives far below the normal standard of his state of life4 ,he is indeed greatly to be pitied1 and is in serious danger of becoming a reprobate4 ,of course no one should ever be discouraged1 but such a person should arouse himself to fervent prayer and vigorous exertions2 he is walking on the brink of the precipice4 ,whoever has come to the present part of the ,spiritual ,exercises is supposed to have conceived an intense horror of mortal sin4 ,but we ought not to be satisfied with attaining this first degree of purity of conscience2 we ought to strive seriously to attain the second degree1 or to confirm ourselves in the same2 that is1 we ought also carefully to avoid the commission of all deliberate venial sins4 ,we must distinguish between two kinds of venial sins1 the deliberate and the indeliberate4 ,both kinds suppose that1 while committing them1 we are aware that we are doing something which ,god forbids1 or omitting what ,he commands2 else we do not really displease ,him4 ,but the sin is deliberate when we fully notice the evil1 and do it nevertheless with full consent of our free will2 else it may be called indeliberate4 ,indeliberate sins will escape from time to time even very virtuous persons1 owing to our unruly passions and the weakness of the human will in consequence of ,adam's sin and of evil habits4 ,each of such faults1 singly considered1 could be avoided2 for whatever cannot be avoided at all cannot be laid to our blame2 but all cannot be avoided together4 ,thus a beginner may be able to pronounce correctly every word on a page of his reader1 but will not proceed far without making some mistakes4 ,so we cannot avoid all indeliberate venial sins a long time together1 unless ,god give us an extraordinary grace to do so4 ,but with the ordinary grace of ,god a virtuous person may avoid all deliberate venial sins4 ,for this purpose we must first of all convince ourselves of the great evil contained in every wilful offense of ,god2 for by such offense a poor mortal puts his will above the will of his ,creator and ,lord4 ,this evil is so great that no creature1 nor even all creatures united1 could by their own power fully atone for it4 ,this becomes more evident when we consider some examples of the severe punishments inflicted by the ,lord on those guilty of such offences4 ,thus when ,king ,david had committed an act of vanity by ordering an enumeration of all his subjects to see how great a monarch he had become1 which seems to have been only a venial sin1 the ,lord sent to him the prophet ,gad1 to give him the choice between three punishments1 namely three years of famine1 three months of flight before his enemies or three days of pestilence on his people4 ,he chose the pestilence1 and it carried off seventy thousand men 7,i ,paral4 xxi74 ,moses for a venial fault was refused the honor of leading the ,chosen ,people into the promised land1 which would have been a fitting crown of all his labors4 ,his sister ,mary1 for some murmuring against her brother1 was stricken with a leprosy and humiliated before all the people4 ,in fact1 leprosy is a striking figure of the effect of venial sin on the soul2 for it disfigures the soul without depriving it of life4 ,if a visible leprosy were usually the effect of wilful venial sin1 men would be as anxious to avoid such an evil as they are now to escape that bodily plague4 ,then there are the pains of ,purgatory to be considered1 which are deserved by venial sins2 they are worse than any pain known to us in this life4 ,for1 as ,st4 ,thomas remarks1 they are different in kind3 the fire of ,purgatory is not created for the service and comfort of man1 but for his punishment and torture4 ,the examples of its duration which have been made known by revelations to saintly souls are proofs of the terrible evil such offences are in the sight of the just1 all-holy ,god4 ,father ,faber1 in his 8,all for ,jesus0 says3 8,in the revelations of ,sister ,frances of ,pampeluna1 we find that1 among some hundreds of cases1 by far the greater majority suffered #cj1 #dj or #fj years0 7pp4 #cid1 #cie74 ,there results besides from venial sins a still worse consequence than any transitory suffering1 namely that they expose us to the danger of committing mortal sins and losing our soul for eternity4 ,this happens in two ways1 naturally and supernaturally4 #a4 ,it is natural for man1 when he does a good or a bad act1 to become thereby more inclined to do the same again under similar influences and circumstances2 thus habits are contracted of virtue and vice4 ,the commission of venial sins therefore inclines the soul to sin more readily thereafter1 and to sin1 not only oftener1 but also more grievously2 and thus venial often lead to mortal sins4 ,this is not theory only1 but the teaching of constant experience4 ,for instance1 a religious has acquired great purity of conscience1 he is a model of modesty2 but he begins to neglect his rules1 he gets accustomed to glance rather freely at indelicate objects1 he becomes habituated to indulge his curiosity4 ,still he would shrink from anything impure4 ,but his imagination becomes more indelicate1 his passions less restrained1 wilful venial sins multiply and grievous falls may follow sooner than he expected4 ,mortal sins themselves may become habitual1 and who can tell where the evil will end8 ,even if only one mortal sin were thus brought about1 the evil is the greatest of misfortunes4 ,but this growing habit is likely to get still worse4 #b4 ,supernaturally a similar process is going on4 ,by every act of virtue we obtain1 along with the merit1 additional actual grace to merit more2 but when we sin1 we fail to obtain this new accession of grace2 and thus it becomes less likely that we shall do better next time4 ,we may thus lose more and more grace by repeated venial faults2 and in face of an unusually strong temptation1 we may be so weak as to yield assent4 ,no one becomes very bad on a sudden2 but many gradually lose their virtue and become reprobates4 ,history is full of such examples1 and daily experience ought to be a constant warning against such danger4 ,but even if there were no danger of mortal sin 7which is1 of course1 a false supposition7 a religious has a special reason to avoid all deliberate sin in the fact that he has been made a favorite disciple of the ,blessed ,saviour4 ,when he wantonly offends the ,lord1 he deserves to some extent the reproach originally addressed to the ,chosen ,people1 and afterwards applied to ,judas3 8,if my enemy had reviled me1 ,i would verily have borne with it4 ,and if he that hated me had spoken great things against me1 ,i would perhaps have hidden myself from him4 ,but thou a man of one mind1 my guide and my familiar1 who didst take sweetmeats together with me2 in the house of the ,lord we walked with consent0 7,ps4 #ed74 ,we would not willingly grieve or insult a friend2 and is not ,jesus our dearest and most devoted friend8 ,certainly it ought to be one of the principal resolutions of the retreat to strive earnestly and unceasingly to avoid all deliberate sins4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,to ,excite ,perfect ,contrition ,it is highly proper that we should not conclude this first part of the retreat without striving earnestly to arouse within our hearts a deep sorrow for all our sins1 and that for the most perfect of motives1 namely because by them we have offended ,god1 who is infinitely good in ,himself and infinitely bountiful to us4 ,for this purpose we are going to spend this hour of meditation in considering various manifestations of the ,divine goodness4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold the return of the ,prodigal ,son1 whom his aged father clasps most affectionately to his heart4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly for an intense love of ,god and a perfect contrition for all your sins4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the parable of the ,prodigal ,son1 in which the ,lord ,jesus ,himself has given us a most striking picture of the goodness of our ,heavenly ,father4 ,we may read to advantage the whole parable 7,st4 ,luke xv1 #aa1 etc471 but chiefly xv1 #bj-bd3 8,and rising up he came to his father4 ,and when he was yet a great way off1 his father saw him1 and was moved with compassion2 and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him4 ,and the son said to him3 ,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven and before thee1 ,i am not now worthy to be called thy son4 ,and the father said to his servants3 ,bring forth quickly the first robe1 and put it on him1 and put a ring on his hand1 and shoes on his feet4 ,and bring hither the fatted calf1 and kill it1 and let us eat and make merry2 because this my son was dead and is come to life again1 was lost and is found2 and they began to make merry40 ,not a word of reproach1 no limit to the pardon1 only expressions of happiness1 and solicitude to restore the boy's honor4 ,thus does ,god act with sincere penitents4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,as the feast prepared is to-morrow's ,holy ,communion1 we will consider in the next place how ,christ prepared ,his ,apostles for their ,communion4 8,before the festival day of the ,pasch1 ,jesus knowing that his hour was come1 and that he should pass out of this world to the ,father1 having loved his own who were in the world1 he loved them to the end4 8,and when supper was done--he rises from supper1 and layeth aside his garments and having taken a towel1 girdeth himself1 etc40 7,st4 ,john xiii1 #a-e74 ,the washing of the feet is the image of the ,sacrament of ,penance1 in which ,christ washes away our sins in ,his sacred blood4 ,what a wonderful invention of ,his infinite love3 ,and how we ought to love ,him1 in return1 instead of offending ,him by sin4 ,elicit an act of contrition4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider that other manifestation of ,divine love1 the institution of the ,blessed ,sacrament3 8,whilst they were at supper ,jesus took bread1 and blessed1 and broke1 and gave to his disciples1 and said3 ,take ye and eat1 this is my body4 ,and taking the chalice1 he gave thanks1 and gave to them saying3 ,drink ye all of this4 ,for this is my blood of the new testament1 which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sins0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxvi1 #bf-bh74 ,could we conceive any greater love than that ,christ should feed us with ,his own sacred body and blood8 ,and yet1 when we sin1 we turn against ,him1 as when a serpent bites its benefactor who warms it in his bosom4 ,my ,god1 pardon me6 ,my ,god1 ,i love ,thee above all things6 ,i am most sorry for having offended ,thee6 ,a consoling fact like the following may give us a more sensible appreciation of the favor granted us in the reception of ,holy ,communion4 ,on ,all ,saints ,day1 #afab1 ,st4 ,alphonsus ,rodriguez had received the ,blessed ,sacrament with his brethren1 when the good ,lord showed him in a sensible manner ,his presence in the hearts of all those who had just communicated1 so that he beheld the ,saviour resplendent with glory1 whole and entire in each of the religious 7,life of ,bl4 ,alph4 ,rodr4 by a ,lay-brother1 p4 #hb74 ,,point ,,iv4 ,imagine you visit a church or chapel at midnight4 ,jesus ,christ is there then1 as at every hour of night and day4 ,he is praying for you to ,his ,heavenly ,father1 because he loves you1 and ,he knows you need abundant graces to lead a worthy life4 ,it was when ,blessed ,margaret ,mary was adoring ,him in her convent chapel that ,jesus appeared to her on the altar pointing to ,his ,sacred ,heart1 and saying3 8,behold the ,heart that has loved man so much1 and ,i receive nothing but coldness in return40 ,he longs for love2 and certainly we did not love ,him when we sinned4 ,o my ,jesus6 ,i wish to love ,thee4 ,i detest my sins4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 protesting to ,him that ,i love ,him sincerely with my whole heart and soul1 that ,i am most heartily sorry for having offended ,him1 because ,he is infinitely amiable1 begging that ,i may love ,him more and more4 ,,the ,,fourth ,,day ,now that we have freed our souls from every sinful affection1 ,christ comes to offer ,himself to lead us on1 that by following ,him we may establish the ,kingdom of ,god in our own souls and in the souls of others4 ,the study of the end of man was the foundation of a good life1 the study of the following of ,christ is the foundation of a perfect life4 ,,first ,,meditation ,the ,kingdom of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see ,christ going from town to town1 announcing the ,kingdom of ,his ,father4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for grace to understand the call and to follow ,him with a generous heart4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider this parable3 ,god has chosen a most noble ,catholic prince1 endowed with all the virtues that conciliate the esteem and love of every good and brave man2 and ,he has appointed him to put down all the enemies of ,christ1 to establish the ,kingdom of ,god in all countries1 and make the ,lord reign supreme over all mankind4 ,he is the greatest of heroes1 accomplished in person1 magnetic in influence1 beyond any mortal that has ever appeared on earth4 ,this ,king issues a call to all ,catholic warriors 7for in this parable only warriors are spoken of7 inviting them to rally under his standard4 ,they are going to fight for the grandest1 holiest and dearest of all causes4 ,he promises them certain victory1 no one of his followers shall perish unless it be through his own fault4 ,yet it will be a strenuous campaign1 full of hardships and fatigue for all concerned4 ,but the ,king himself will ever be in the midst of his soldiers1 in the thickest of the fight1 sharing in their hardships and privations1 so that no one will be expected to toil and endure more than the leader2 and each one shall share in the victory in proportion to the sacrifices he shall have made in the holy cause4 ,what should a brave warrior answer to such an appeal8 ,the promises may appear to be excessive1 impossible2 but they are so in the parable only1 not in the real facts figured by it4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,now consider the application to the reality signified4 ,the ,son of ,god ,himself is that ,king1 nobler and grander than any mere human genius or hero1 who has truly come into this world to establish the ,kingdom of ,god1 and who is accomplishing this appointed task4 ,he calls upon all men1 women and children to follow ,him in ,his contest against ,god's enemies2 not that ,he needs their aid1 but that they may share in the glory of the victory4 ,for this purpose all must1 in some measure1 share ,his labors and ,his sacrifices2 but ,he will ever be by their side1 and endure more than any of them4 ,every one will share in the magnificent rewards in proportion to his generous exertions4 ,what answer should every generous heart make to such an appeal from his great1 good ,god1 his sovereign ,lord and ,saviour8 8,to-day1 if you shall hear his voice1 harden not your hearts0 exclaims the ,psalmist 7,ps4 #id74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,those who wish to show greater affection1 and to signalize themselves in the ,king's service1 not only will offer their whole persons to labor1 but will also act against their own sensuality1 and say3 8,eternal ,lord of all things1 ,i make my oblation with ,thy favor and help1 in the presence of ,thine infinite goodness1 and in the sight of ,thy glorious ,mother1 and of all the ,angels of ,thine ,heavenly court1 protesting that ,i wish and desire1 and that it is my deliberate determination 7provided only it be for ,thy greater service and praise7 to imitate ,thee in bearing all insults and reproaches1 and all poverty1 as well actual poverty as poverty of spirit1 if only ,thy ,divine ,majesty be pleased to choose and receive me to this life and state40 ,as ,jesuits1 we are certainly called to this close imitation of ,christ4 ,we must1 not only faithfully resist all temptations to sin1 but also generously follow our ,king in sacrificing lawful pleasures1 trampling upon worldly honors1 upon self-esteem and bodily comforts1 leading mortified lives1 as worthy companions of ,jesus4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,that war against ,satan and against human depravity has been going on for nineteen centuries4 ,millions have been following ,christ to victory1 and are now reigning with ,him in ,heaven4 ,our time is come2 we too must make our choice4 ,our ,king has said3 8,he who is not with me is against me10 8,no man can serve two masters0 7,st4 ,matth4 vi1 #bd74 ,let us offer ourselves to be the generous and faithful followers of our ,blessed ,saviour1 imitating ,him on earth that we may follow ,him into the glory of ,heaven4 ,what sacrifices in particular can ,i offer ,him8 ,colloquy4 ,beg earnestly for light and grace to understand and follow the example of ,christ4 ,,second ,,meditation ,on the ,incarnation ,here ,st4 ,ignatius begins what he calls the ,second ,week of his ,exercises1 in which he bids us study how the great ,king leads us in the grand enterprise of establishing the ,kingdom of ,his ,father1 by considering ,his coming on earth1 ,his nativity1 ,his childhood and ,his private life4 ,the main purpose all along is to make us know ,him more intimately1 love ,him more ardently and follow ,him more faithfully4 ,this following consists in making ourselves more and more like to ,him3 8,whom he 7,god7 foreknew he also predestinated to be made comformable to the image of his ,son0 7,rom4 viii1 #bi74 ,by this conformity to ,christ we make ,god reign in our hearts and prepare ourselves to enter into ,his ,heavenly ,kingdom4 ,in this and the following exercises a change is made in the process so far followed2 namely1 instead of recalling the facts to memory in the body of the meditation1 we now recall them in a special prelude1 put before the two usual ones4 ,then in the points we do less reasoning2 we rather look on and behold the event as it were passing before our eyes1 noticing in particular the persons1 their words and their actions1 and dwelling on the thoughts and the sentiments which they suggest to our minds4 ,from the fact that we behold rather than reason1 these exercises are usually called contemplations1 rather than meditations1 though the name is of little importance1 provided the process be well understood4 #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the facts to mind1 as they are related by ,st4 ,luke 7i1 #bf-ch74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,imagine you see the face of the earth1 as it was at that time1 inhabited by diverse races of men1 civilized and barbarian1 all steeped in vice and rushing on1 a vast torrent1 into the abyss of ,hell4 ,in the little town of ,nazareth the ,virgin ,mary at prayer1 and ,god the ,father1 the ,son and the ,holy ,ghost looking down from ,heaven upon the varied scene4 #crd ,prelude4 ,beg fervently that you may understand this mystery1 and may learn from it to know your ,king1 ,christ1 more clearly1 love ,him more ardently and follow ,him more faithfully4 ,,point ,i4 ,study the scene as it was before the descent of the ,angel1 noticing the persons1 with their words and actions4 #a4 ,the human race1 in a great variety of conditions3 some rich1 others poor2 some learned1 others ignorant2 some refined1 others rude2 some suffering1 others rejoicing2 talking of wars and of pleasure1 adoring idols2 but nearly all rushing on1 like a vast torrent1 into ,hell4 #b4 ,then consider the chaste ,virgin ,mary1 praying for the coming of the ,messias1 lowering herself in her own mind1 thinking of her littleness before ,god4 ,thus the poet tells of a drop of water saying to itself3 8how little ,i am in the vast ocean around me20 and at that moment a shellfish swallowed the drop1 and it lay hardening in the shell1 and it became the choicest pearl that ever shone on a queenly diadem4 ,so was ,mary chosen in her humility4 #c4 ,consider the three ,divine ,persons looking down from ,heaven upon the scene below1 seeing the mass of moral corruption1 yet1 instead of sending down avenging fire or a new deluge of water to punish the guilty race1 pitying its sad condition4 ,the ,son of ,god steps down from ,his throne1 and casts ,himself at the feet of ,his ,heavenly ,father1 offering ,himself to assume our mortal nature and to atone for our sins4 ,here is the first step of our ,king1 lowering ,himself3 ,exinanivit semetipsum3 8,he emptied himself1 taking the form of a servant1 being made in the likeness of men1 and in habit found as a man0 7,phil4 ii1 #g74 ,we are to imitate ,him1 to be made like to ,him4 ,this is our first lesson2 let us learn it well3 we must be humble4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the ,angel ,gabriel is sent to ,mary to announce her selection as the ,mother of ,god4 ,he comes1 not to the mighty city of ,rome1 to its gilt palaces and learned scholars2 the things of earth are very small in the sight of ,god4 ,he comes to an unknown little town in a despised country1 to a poor maiden1 unknown to the world4 ,listen to the words spoken3 8,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee1 blessed art thou among women40 ,mary is too humble to realize that such words could be suitable to her3 8,she was troubled at his saying40 ,but the ,angel explains and dispels her fear4 ,he adds3 8,thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus4 ,he shall be great and shall be called the ,son of the most ,high40 ,now her ,virgin heart is alarmed2 so precious is the jewel of virginity in her sight4 8,how shall this be done1 because ,i know not man8 ,and the ,angel answering said to her3 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the most ,high shall overshadow thee4 ,and therefore also the ,holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god40 ,thus reassured1 she understands that such is the will of ,god2 her answer beautifully expresses her humility3 8,behold the handmaid of the ,lord1 be it done to me according to thy word40 ,she does not say3 behold then the future queen of ,heaven and earth1 but the handmaid of the ,lord4 ,jesus has associated her with ,himself making her1 here and all through life1 the model of every virtue4 ,her example is like that of the ,redeemer3 humility1 humility4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,after her consent had thus been expressed1 ,god1 who always respects the free will of men1 formed in her womb1 from her virgin blood1 the body of her ,divine ,son3 8,and the ,word was made flesh and dwelt among us0 7,st4 ,john i1 #ad74 ,as when he formed the body of ,adam out of the slime of the earth1 ,he breathed into his face the breath of life2 so now ,he created the soul of ,christ1 and united it at once with the embryonic body to build it up to the perfection of manhood1 and at the same moment ,god the ,son assumed this humanity into substantial union with ,his ,divine ,person4 ,this is the second step in the career of our ,king1 again a species of self-annihilation3 ,exinanivit semetipsum4 ,it is also an example of ,his love for men1 of ,his boundless zeal for their salvation and glorification4 ,he stooped down to earth in order to raise man to ,heaven4 ,colloquy with the ,lord incarnate3--gratitude1 love2 promise to follow ,him1 to humble self1 to labor for the good of souls4 ,ask for the help of ,mary4 ,our ,father--,hail ,mary4 ,,consideration ,on the ,imitation of ,christ ,the main truth that ,st4 ,ignatius inculcates1 both in the meditation on the ,kingdom of ,christ and in all the subsequent portions of his ,exercises1 is that man must be perfected by imitating ,christ1 by making himself like to the ,son of ,god made man1 according to the words of ,st4 ,paul3 8,whom ,god foreknew he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his ,son1 that he might be the first-born among many brethren0 7,rom4 viii1 #bi74 ,the intense love of ,god1 which the ,saint conceived during his retreat at ,manresa1 prompted him to make himself as like to ,christ as1 with ,god's grace1 was possible2 and the zeal for the salvation of souls1 which he learned from the example of ,christ1 urged him to form a band of men like to himself1 or rather like to the ,god-man1 a select band to be1 as it were1 a bodyguard of the ,divine ,king in the holy warfare1 undertaken to establish the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,this is the spirit of the ,society of ,jesus1 and of all religious ,orders1 and to some extent of all who wish to attain perfection4 ,for this purpose the principal means to be used is the study of the life of ,christ1 which is to be the chief occupation of the exercitant during this and the following days4 ,it is not a work of human skill1 but one of the direct influence of the ,holy ,spirit2 ,he alone can produce in the heart of man the supernatural likeness to the ,son of ,god4 ,as ,he sanctified ,st4 ,ignatius1 so ,he sanctifies all those who faithfully and generously perform these exercises4 ,we may1 in some respects1 compare the process of sanctification to the work of a painter who produces an exquisite likeness of a distinguished personage on his canvas4 ,the first outlines of the supernatural likeness of a child of men to the ,son of ,god are traced by the ,divine ,artist in the ,sacrament of ,baptism4 ,the infant's soul receives the precious impress as the unconscious canvas receives the colors1 without its own co-operation4 ,yet already then the difference is immense between a mere child of earth and an adopted child of ,god4 ,but very much remains to be accomplished by the ,holy ,ghost before the likeness is perfected4 ,and this increase of sanctification is the most important work that is being done on earth from generation to generation3 8,for the perfecting of the ,saints--for the edifying of the body of ,christ0 7,eph4 iv1 #ab74 ,most of this further sanctification is to be produced by the ,holy ,ghost in our hearts with our co-operation3 ,he teaches us how to make ourselves like to ,christ1 while ,he aids us to do it4 ,for ,his teaching does not consist in simply suggesting to us what we must do1 as we teach a child its ,catechism2 but ,he acts as does a music teacher with his pupils1 who makes them constantly practise what they are learning4 ,it is by their own efforts that they are to acquire the art4 ,so the ,spirit of ,god makes us like unto ,christ by helping us to act as ,christ did1 to practise the virtues of which ,he has given us the example4 ,in this consists the sanctification of the soul1 in the imitation of ,christ4 ,how ,christ acted during ,his whole career1 from ,his incarnation to ,his ascension1 this is the study of the second1 third and fourth weeks of the ,exercises4 ,we will here call attention to some of the characteristic traits of ,his life on earth4 #a4 ,his conduct was diametrically opposed to that by which ,adam and ,eve had forfeited their original happiness4 ,they had aspired to rise above their own condition and become like unto ,god4 ,for the ,devil had said3 8,god doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof1 your eyes shall be opened1 and you shall be as gods1 knowing good and evil0 7,gen4 iii1 #e74 ,christ1 on the contrary1 while being ,god1 stooped down and made ,himself man2 and ,he continued lowering ,himself more and more1 becoming the poorest child on earth1 born in a stable1 laid upon straw1 8a worm and no man1 the reproach of men and the outcast of the people0 7,ps4 #ba71 condemned to a shameful death1 and1 as a criminal1 crucified with thieves4 ,if then we wish to be like ,christ1 we must practise humility4 #b4 ,another characteristic trait of ,christ's conduct is seen in the means ,he used to establish the ,kingdom of ,his ,father4 ,he could have made the colossal power of ,rome ,his tool to effect that purpose1 or have employed the wisdom of the philosophers or the elegance of the writers of that classic age4 ,but instead ,he used ignorant and timid men1 and first gathered into ,his fold the poor and despised of the earth1 as ,st4 ,paul expressed it3 8,for see your vocation1 brethren1 that there are not many wise according to the flesh1 not many mighty1 not many noble2 but the foolish things of the world hath ,god chosen that he may confound the wise1 and the weak things of the world hath ,god chosen that he may confound the strong1 and the base things of the world1 and the things that are contemptible hath ,god chosen1 and things that are not1 that ,he might bring to naught things that are1 that no flesh should glory in ,his sight0 7,i ,cor4 i1 #bf-bi74 ,must we then1 to imitate ,christ1 cast all human learning to the winds8 ,by no means2 but we must understand that merely natural means cannot produce supernatural effects1 that all the learning and all the power of the world cannot save or sanctify a soul4 ,and therefore we must trust in supernatural means4 ,as to the natural means1 ,christ did not need them to accomplish ,his purpose2 but we must use all the means1 natural and supernatural1 that ,god puts at our disposal2 yet remembering all along that we must put our main confidence in the supernatural1 in the help of grace1 which is secured by the imitation of our ,king4 ,we must then ever keep our eyes upon ,him1 study ,his example1 and reproduce ,his virtues in ourselves4 ,it will often happen that to act thus we must do things which seem foolish in the eyes of a worldly wisdom1 as when ,st4 ,francis ,borgia resigned his office of viceroy1 in which he was doing so much good1 to hide himself in the religious state2 or when the ,seven ,holy ,founders of the ,servites of ,mary gave up all their riches to become poor like ,christ4 ,a beautiful illustration of the way in which we are to imitate the ,saviour is given us in the ,book of ,judges1 where ,gedeon and his three hundred followers rescued their people from oppression by means apparently most unwise1 yet fully successful because they obeyed ,god with heroic fidelity4 ,gedeon was designed by ,divine ,providence to be a type of ,christ4 ,jesus is our ,gedeon1 and we can learn how we must follow ,him by studying the story of ,gedeon in ,holy ,writ4 ,the ,israelites in his day had been conquered by the ,madianites and ,amalekites1 who were overrunning their land with a countless army1 and destroying all they could not carry off4 ,the ,chosen ,people were reduced to a state of slavery and starvation4 ,so they repented of their idolatry1 and called upon the ,lord for pardon and mercy4 ,god sent them a savior in the person of the faithful ,gedeon4 ,this hero1 encouraged by miracles1 which he had seen1 destroyed the altar and the grove of ,baal1 and then gathered together #cb1jjj men1 trusting in ,god that with this small force he could defeat the vast number of the foes4 ,but ,god told him his followers were too many2 if they conquered1 they would attribute the victory to their own prowess4 ,he bade him choose only #cjj of them1 and promised ,gedeon that with these alone he would gain a complete victory4 ,now notice how this was accomplished2 it was by means apparently most rash and foolish4 ,the ,scripture narrates it thus3 8,gedeon divided the #cjj men into three parts1 and gave them trumpets in their hands1 and empty pitchers1 and lamps within the pitchers4 ,and he said to them3 ,i will go into one part of the camp1 and do you as ,i shall do4 ,when the trumpet shall sound1 in my hand1 blow you also the trumpets on every side of the camp4--,they began to sound their trumpets1 and clap the pitchers one against another--,and they cried out1 ,the sword of the ,lord and of ,gedeon--,and the ,lord sent the sword into all the camp and they killed one another0 7,judges vii1 #af-bb74 ,the immense army of the foe was destroyed1 and the country delivered by the #cjj unarmed men4 ,these had simply done what they saw their leader do1 and ,god had done the rest4 ,christ is our ,gedeon2 we must simply do what ,he did1 and ,god will do the rest3 ,he will establish ,his ,kingdom in our hearts1 and by us1 no matter how weak the instruments1 effect the salvation of souls4 ,,third ,,meditation ,on the ,birth of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the facts to mind1 by reading ,st4 ,luke i1 #a-bj4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,see the stable1 with the ,divine ,infant lying on the straw in the manger1 with ,mary and ,joseph kneeling in adoration4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask to understand how ,christ has loved you1 that you may love ,him ardently and follow ,him faithfully4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider how ,mary and ,joseph received the order to go from ,nazareth to ,bethlehem to be enrolled there4 ,notice the persons1 their words and their actions4 #a4 ,the pagan emperor who ordered the census1 no matter what was his motive1 was an agent of ,divine ,providence to bring the ,holy ,family to ,bethlehem4 ,his order had been issued three years before2 it arrived at ,nazareth just at the right time for ,god's purposes4 #b4 ,st4 ,joseph brings it home1 knowing what inconvenience it would cause1 but resigned to ,god's will4 #c4 ,mary1 though she sees it comes at a most inopportune time1 as far as man can judge1 has only words and thoughts of cheerful submission to the voice of authority4 ,both prepare at once for the journey1 and start as soon as possible4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,see the ,holy ,family arriving in ,bethlehem4 ,they have traveled five days1 over #aaj miles1 ,mary perhaps riding on an ass or in a rude cart1 and ,joseph leading the animal4 ,both now are dust begrimed and tired out1 glad to get at last to the one inn of the town2 but they are disappointed and find no room there to receive them4 ,follow them in imagination as they wander through the poorer streets1 asking here and there for a night's lodging1 but refused at every door4 ,here now are the holiest persons that ever trod the earth1 and see how the ,lord allows them to suffer for our example of patience4 ,and the ,divine ,child1 how helpless3 8,he came unto his own1 and his own received him not0 7,st4 ,john i1 #aa74 ,happy they1 if any such there were1 who spoke a kind word to them1 even a word of excuse for a refusal2 it must have brought a blessing4 ,do ,i always speak kindly to the poor8 ,do ,i render every service ,i can8 ,god willed it all1 that ,jesus might be born in a stable1 rather than in a comfortable cottage2 laid on straw1 rather than on a cushion4 ,our edification is all the greater on ,christmas day4 ,but their lot was hard4 ,so too our sufferings shall be turned into joy4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,behold the stable1 in which they have found a refuge4 ,cattle were there before them1 and the floor is littered with their leavings4 ,mary and ,joseph patiently tidy up a spot where they may rest1 and collect the cleanest blades of straw to lay them in the manger1 provident for the expected birth of the ,divine ,child4 ,there1 during the night1 ,mary is miraculously delivered1 and in an ecstasy of love and joy1 presses the ,son of ,god to her maternal breast4 ,she tenderly wraps ,him in the swaddling clothes she has brought along for the purpose1 and reposes ,him upon the straw of the manger1 that she and ,joseph may kneel before ,him in humble adoration4 ,angels are there of course to honor the ,king of glory2 but they appear not to the sight nor charm the ear with their ,heavenly song1 that all may be as desolate as possible4 ,he came to share our poverty and our loneliness4 ,meanwhile ,his glory is beginning to be manifested elsewhere4 ,for a bright angel announces to the shepherds the birth of a 8,saviour1 who is ,christ the ,lord in the city of ,david10 and he adds3 8,this shall be a sign unto you2 you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes1 and laid in a manger4 ,and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army1 praising ,god and saying3 ,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace to men of good will0 7,st4 ,luke ii1 #aa-ad74 ,he who came to assume our poverty made the poor ,his favorites2 to them ,he was first revealed4 ,if we wish to enjoy ,his favors1 let us be satisfied with little1 study rather with how little we can get along than how much we can acquire4 8,blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #c74 ,the closest followers of ,christ are known by their resemblance to ,him4 ,and how is ,he known8 ,the ,angel has proclaimed it3 by ,his poverty3 8,and this shall be a sign unto you2 you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes1 and laid in a manger40 ,colloquy with the ,divine ,infant1 loving ,him1 thanking ,him1 begging for the spirit of poverty1 humility2 and with ,mary and ,joseph1 begging of them to obtain for me these precious dispositions4 ,,the ,,fifth ,,day ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,on the ,flight into ,egypt #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the facts1 as narrated by ,st4 ,matthew ii1 #ac-ai4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,see ,st4 ,joseph quietly asleep in the night1 and the ,angel standing before him to deliver his message4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask the grace to understand the lessons taught in this mystery by ,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph1 so as to know your ,king more intimately1 love ,him more ardently and follow ,him more faithfully4 ,point ,i4 ,consider the message of the ,angel1 noticing particularly the persons1 their words and their actions4 #a4 ,the persons4 ,the ,angel is a faithful messenger1 a model of exactitude when a task is entrusted to us4 ,he addresses ,joseph because he is the head of the family4 ,so ,god usually directs us through our superiors1 even if these should be less able1 even as ,joseph was less gifted than the others4 ,jesus and ,mary are not visited3 8,take the child and his mother40 #b4 ,consider the words spoken3 8,arise and take the child and his mother1 and fly into ,egypt1 and be there until ,i shall tell thee2 for it will come to pass that ,herod will seek the child to destroy him40 ,the action required implies many great difficulties2 first a very long journey of hundreds of miles1 and that through a wild country1 where savage animals and robbers roamed4 ,the parable of the ,good ,samaritan shows that robbers infested those regions1 and the watch kept by the shepherds points to the presence of wolves1 bears1 etc4 ,then they are to leave at once1 with no provisions for so long a journey3 8,arise1 and take1 etc40 ,they are not even to say a kind farewell to the neighbors who had befriended them1 but must leave in secret like criminals4 ,and the motive assigned by the ,angel is unsatisfactory to human reason3 8,herod will seek the child to destroy him40 ,were there not a thousand easier ways to prevent this8 ,was not ,god wise and powerful enough to save ,his ,divine ,son in ,bethlehem8 ,or could they not have gone to ,mary's cousin ,elizabeth1 where young ,john the ,baptist was living in security8 ,perhaps we might have been self-opiniated enough to find such objections2 but ,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph did not criticize4 #c4 ,the ,actions of these exhibit a prompt1 cheerful and perfect obedience4 ,these are our models4 ,have we always acted thus8 ,is it our habit now to do so8 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the exile itself4 ,how the ,holy ,family was supported during the many weeks their travel must have lasted1 we cannot imagine4 ,they may have suffered many severe hardships2 most probably they did1 since ,christ had come to give the example of patience under sufferings4 ,but ,god's ,providence watched over every step of theirs1 and supplied all their wants as far as was conformable to ,his designs4 ,he did not do so only on account of their privileged personalities1 but ,he ever does the same for all who trust in ,him4 8,i say to you1 be not solicitous for your life1 what you shall eat1 nor for your body1 what you shall put on--for after all these things do the heathens seek4 ,for your ,father knoweth that you have need of all these things4 ,seek you therefore first the ,kingdom of ,god and ,his justice1 and all these things shall be added unto you0 7,st4 ,matth4 vi1 #be-cc74 ,we can especially trust in ,god's assistance when we are obeying ,his commands1 as was the ,holy ,family at that time4 ,therefore we should love to be directed by our superiors1 who make known ,god's will to us4 ,and again1 works done under obedience with a willing mind have a special blessing on them4 8,an obedient man shall speak of victory0 7,prov4 xxi1 #bh74 ,the heroic virtues practised in later ages by the solitaries in those deserts may well have been the fruit of the obedience then practised by the ,holy ,family4 ,their stay in ,egypt for several years among strangers is best appreciated by those persons who have themselves experienced the bitterness of exile4 ,christ knew that many of ,his followers would endure those ills1 and ,he wished to leave them a most consoling example4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider the massacre of the ,innocents4 ,all its cruelty was meant for ,christ1 and cruel persecution has been continued against ,his followers throughout the ages1 and is so to the present day4 ,he had foretold it3 8,the disciple is not above the master1 nor the servant above his lord4 ,if they have called the good-man of the house ,beelzebub1 how much more them of his household0 7,st4 ,matth4 x1 #bd-be74 ,we must then be patient under any kind of molestation1 though of course we may use all honest means to prevent it4 ,the persecution works the good of them who properly endure it4 ,see this exemplified in the massacre of the innocents4 ,it was very wickedly done1 a cruel injustice and bitter suffering to the little ones1 and a still more dreadful affliction to their mothers2 but it resulted in eternal glory for the children4 ,when a priest blesses an article of devotion1 he makes a cross over it2 so the ,lord bestows ,his blessings with a cross4 ,every sorrow comes from the hand of our loving ,lord1 and is meant for the good of those who love ,him3 8,to them that love ,god all things work together unto good0 7,rom4 viii1 #bh74 ,colloquy4 ,with ,jesus and ,mary1 begging for constant fidelity in the imitation of my ,divine ,model amid all trials1 with a firm confidence in ,his loving providence3 8,know ye that no one hath hoped in the ,lord and hath been confounded0 7,ecclus4 ii1 #aa74 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on the ,private ,life of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the few verses in which ,holy ,writ records the history of the eighteen years of ,christ's private life1 from ,his loss in the temple to ,his entrance on ,his public life3 8,and he went down with them1 and came to ,nazareth2 and was subject to them4 ,and his mother kept all these words in her heart4 ,and ,jesus advanced in wisdom and age1 and grace with ,god and men0 7,st4 ,luke ii1 #ea-eb71 8,is not this the carpenter's son80 7,st4 ,matth4 xiii1 #ee74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,imagine you see the modest cottage of the ,holy ,family at ,nazareth1 where ,mary is preparing a meal1 while ,joseph and the youthful ,saviour are working in the adjacent carpenter shop4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to understand the wonderful lessons of sanctity here taught1 and to grow in the love and imitation of your ,redeemer4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the words3 8,he went down with them and came to ,nazareth40 ,he might have moved in the midst of the world1 as ,he had done for three days when lost in ,jerusalem1 but ,he wished to give an example which people generally could imitate4 ,nearly all persons must lead a private life during the greater portion1 if not the whole of their career4 ,restlessness to be abroad is very injurious to virtue4 ,but the inner life1 needed to attain perfection1 is favored by retirement from the world4 ,hence all founders of religious orders require a retired novitiate1 and the ,church strictly prescribes enclosure1 which law has not been relaxed except where charity to the neighbor demands it4 ,it is not the spirit of ,god that makes some priests aspire to conspicuous offices and functions4 ,nazareth was good enough for ,christ1 though it was so obscure a town that ,nathanael asked1 8,can anything good come from ,nazareth80 7,st4 ,john i1 #df74 ,it is a bad sign when a religious is displeased because applied to obscure duties4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the words1 8,and ,he was subject to them02 that is1 ,jesus was subject to ,mary and ,joseph4 ,this is the chief lesson ,christ chose to teach the world during the first thirty years of ,his life4 ,it must then be of the utmost importance4 ,st4 ,gregory says of it3 8,obedience is a virtue which1 by itself alone1 plants all other virtues in the mind and preserves them after they are once planted0 7,l4 #ce ,mor4 c4 #aj74 ,st4 ,ignatius1 in his 8,epistle on ,obedience10 quoted these words with emphatic approbation2 and he has made this the characteristic virtue of his ,society4 ,in fact the vow of obedience belongs to the essence of the religious life1 and some orders comprise all the obligation of their members under the one vow of 8obedience according to their rule40 ,my perfection as a religious depends chiefly on the perfection of my obedience4 ,consider besides1 in meditating on ,christ's private life1 who was the ,person that obeyed2 namely ,god ,himself in ,his human nature4 ,whom did ,he obey8 ,his own creatures infinitely beneath ,him in every respect4 ,in what did ,he obey8 ,in all the details of ,his life2 in working for instance1 under the direction of ,joseph1 after the unskilful manner of that time4 ,how perfectly do ,i obey my superiors8 ,i must make myself like unto ,christ1 not in working miracles1 but in submitting to my superiors4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,christ spent ,his private life in humble labor4 ,such a career is intended by the ,lord for the vast majority of mankind4 ,it is the sentence pronounced upon our race3 8,in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread till thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken0 7,gen4 iii1 #ai74 ,such labor fosters devotion4 ,it has always been fondly cherished in learned religious bodies4 ,during his voyage to ,india which lasted thirteen months1 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier used to wash his soiled linen in the sight of his fellow-passengers1 while bearing the dignity of ,apostolic ,nuncio1 and he would never consent to be waited on by others 7,life1 ,bartholi and ,maffei1 p4 #gd74 ,,point ,,iv4 8,and ,jesus advanced in wisdom and age1 and grace with ,god and men40 ,it is by the faithful and steady exercise of the virtues taught by our ,divine model that ,christians ever grow in sanctity2 for sanctity consists in this4 ,and thus there are thousands to-day1 as in every period of the ,church1 of whom it can be said with truth1 as is here said of the ,blessed ,saviour1 that they are growing in wisdom as they are advancing in age2 and as a consequence they grow in grace with ,god2 and meanwhile they also become daily more perfect subjects of edification to their fellow-men4 ,that young religious are expected to resemble ,christ in steady progress in virtue is of course understood by all4 ,but this should not be confined to young religious4 ,older religious must persevere in this imitation of ,christ2 their own welfare requires it1 and the welfare of the younger generation1 who are naturally much influenced by the example of their elders4 ,all who profess to follow ,christ should therefore grow constantly in wisdom and obedience1 in humility and generosity1 in charity and devotion1 and in all the virtues1 of which ,he has given such bright examples4 ,colloquy with our ,divine ,lord1 asking earnestly that we may know ,him more intimately1 love ,him more ardently and follow ,him more faithfully2 and that we may correct the faults we have discovered in us during this meditation4 ,,consideration ,on the ,imitation of ,christ's ,private ,life ,since most of our progress in virtue is to be effected by our imitation of ,christ's private life1 it is worth while adding to the meditation we have made on that subject some further appropriate considerations4 ,let us examine in what exactly lay the excellence of that great model4 ,i ,it did not consist in the use of extraordinary austerities1 such as were practised by ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 whose holiness was so highly extolled by the ,saviour ,himself4 ,that would not have been a suitable model of imitation for mankind generally4 ,christ's sanctity was of course infinitely superior2 and it is the pattern on which our virtue must be modeled4 ,in fact ,christ's private life was not distinguished from the common lives of men by unusual bodily hardships4 ,millions of men and women in our day1 and in civilized lands1 toil harder and enjoy fewer material comforts than did the ,holy ,family4 ,see how hard is the lot of vast numbers of our laboring classes4 ,see them going to their work at early morning1 carrying their cold lunches in their baskets1 their only support for the toils of the day4 ,their labor is fatiguing and protracted1 often quite exhausting1 as is manifested by the bent forms and wasted frames of so many of them4 ,all day they hear rebukes1 harsh and gross language2 and with their best efforts very many can scarcely earn enough to keep up their strength4 ,and when they return at night1 exhausted and begrimed with dirt1 they have no comfortable cottage to rest their wearied limbs2 only some room in a tenement house1 or in a garret or cellar1 crowded together with their wives and children1 amidst a rude and often vicious crowd of associates4 ,compared to their life that of the ,holy ,family was one of decent comfort4 ,,ii ,what then made the life of ,christ so very holy and so very meritorious8 ,especially two qualities4 #a4 ,of course ,his ,divine ,person gave infinite merit to every act performed by ,him in ,his human nature4 ,now it is a great consolation for us to remember that1 by the gracious dispensation of the ,lord1 we too are children of ,god1 adopted brothers of ,christ1 as long as we live in the state of grace2 and1 by the aid of the ,holy spirit1 who is diffused in our hearts1 we can make our acts worthy of supernatural reward4 ,and all this merit keeps on accumulating throughout our conscious life1 unless it be lost by mortal sin4 ,our principal fear ought ever to be lest we thus foolishly lose it1 and our bitterest regret if we have done so4 #b4 ,the second source of holiness in ,christ was the perfection of his intention1 ever aiming purely at the glory of ,his ,heavenly ,father4 ,this also we can and we ought to imitate1 with the help of grace offered us for this purpose4 ,here lies in fact the principal means of improving our resemblance to ,christ4 ,and we can do so constantly1 even in our commonest actions1 as the ,apostle teaches us saying3 8,whether you eat or drink or whatever you do1 do all to the glory of ,god0 7,i ,cor4 x1 #ca74 ,it is a very appropriate occupation for the time of the yearly retreat to examine carefully to what extent we act habitually for a supernatural intention1 one resting on the faith1 and not merely directed to some natural advantage4 ,it is the intention that determines the true value of every human act4 ,whatever is done for some temporal good alone can only claim a temporal reward4 ,what am ,i habitually working for8 ,is it only for some material or intellectual success8 ,or am ,i actuated to a great extent by a merely natural impulse8 ,even though such impulse be not sinful1 not opposed to reason1 still it is so much time and energy wasted on the things of earth1 and cannot add to my eternal happiness4 ,to act thus1 as far as supernatural reward is concerned1 is without result1 as one would waste his time and labor who would spend hours in sewing without thread1 or writing without ink in his pen4 ,people do not act so foolishly in the affairs of this life2 but very many do so in the things of eternity4 ,is not a great portion of my own life thus habitually wasted by the want of a supernatural intention8 ,what improvement can ,i make in this matter8 ,,iii ,we are explicitly warned by our ,blessed ,saviour against two copious sources of waste of time and labor4 #a4 ,the first regards actions which appear to be very reasonable and virtuous2 for instance the exercises of kindness to our friends and relatives1 or the practice of any other natural virtues in human intercourse4 ,of all these ,christ said3 8,if you love them that love you1 what reward shall you have8 ,do not even the publicans this8 ,and if you salute your brethren only1 what do you do more8 ,do not also the heathens this80 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #df-dg74 ,we ought to love our friends for ,god's sake4 #b4 ,the second source of waste is a very copious one among men1 even among religious2 namely doing what is quite proper1 but only to gain the esteem of others4 ,this regard for the good opinion of our fellow-men is not sinful in itself1 as is erroneously supposed by some pious writers1 who would have penitents accuse themselves in ,confession of vanity when they have said or done anything to attract favorable attention or gain praise4 ,every sin is essentially a violation of a law of ,god4 ,but there is no law of ,god forbidding us to seek the approbation of sensible persons4 ,does a boy sin by trying to please his parents8 ,does a student sin by trying to gain a prize8 ,jansenists would think so1 but such is not ,catholic doctrine4 ,the desire of praise is a constant encouragement to the practice of the natural virtues4 ,sin enters when praise is sought for doing what is unreasonable1 or when we take all the credit of good conduct to ourselves1 forgetting that our very goodness is a gift of ,god4 ,for this is blamed by ,st4 ,paul3 8,what hast thou that thou hast not received8 and if thou hast received1 why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received80 7,i ,cor4 iv1 #g74 ,there is unfortunately plenty of sin in the world2 but we must avoid increasing it by forming false consciences4 ,yet1 even when reasonable praise is sought1 and no sin committed1 there may be great evil in the loss of merit for ,heaven2 and the imitation of ,christ will teach us to avoid that evil4 ,he acted in all things for the glory of ,his ,heavenly ,father4 8,i seek not my own glory10 ,he said to the ,jews2 and again3 8,he that sends me is with me1--for ,i do always the things that please him0 7,st4 ,john viii1 #ej1 #bi74 ,by imitating the ,saviour in this1 we become more and more like unto ,him1 and we lay up abundant treasures for ,heaven4 ,but ,he earnestly warns us not to lose such precious merit1 saying3 8,take heed that you do not your justice before men1 to be seen by them2 otherwise you shall not have reward of your ,father1 who is in ,heaven0 7,st4 ,matth4 vi1 #a74 ,and speaking1 in the next verse of the hypocrites who gave alms that they might be seen by men1 the ,saviour adds3 8,they have received their reward40 ,but the loss of supernatural reward is not the only evil resulting from the seeking of human praise2 for1 though1 as we have seen1 seeking such honor is not in itself a sin1 still it is very often the cause of sin1 even of mortal sin4 ,for praise is very apt to affect the mind somewhat as intoxicants affect the body2 it arouses an inordinate greed of more and more of the stimulant4 ,the more we get of it1 the more are various passions aroused within us1 and we are likely to become ambitious of honor and of superiority over others1 conceited and contemptuous of others1 becoming infatuated with our supposed good qualities2 in a word we gradually become proud1 and a proud man is an abomination to the ,lord1 or1 as ,st4 ,luke expresses it3 8,that which is high to men is an abomination before ,god0 7xvi1 #ae74 ,,iv ,a third cause that made the life of ,christ so holy was that ,he did everything perfectly well3 8,he hath done all things well0 7,st4 ,mark vii1 #cg74 ,our goodness does not consist so much in what we do as in the manner in which we do it4 ,in fact1 during the thirty years of ,his private life1 which we are now studying1 ,christ did no great things whatever4 ,his occupations were of the humblest kind2 millions of men are doing the same day after day2 but ,his actions derived their excellence from the perfection wherewith ,he did them1 and our goodness consists in imitating ,his perfect manner of acting4 ,the excellence of a masterpiece in painting and sculpture results from the excellent delicacy and appropriateness of every1 even the smallest1 detail2 the beauty of a specimen of good penmanship does not result from bold dashes1 but from the perfection of every single letter2 and so the excellence of the life of ,christ1 and the lives of those who wish to become like unto ,him1 lies not in doing great things1 but in doing everything excellently well4 ,few of us1 if any1 have occasion of doing many great things in the course of our life2 but we can all1 with ,god's grace1 do a multitude of little things well1 and thus resemble our ,divine model4 ,our crown in ,heaven will not consist of some one or two magnificent jewels1 as does the crown of many glorious ,martyrs1 but of countless little gems1 each shining with its own peculiar lustre4 ,these are the lessons we should learn from the private life of the ,god incarnate4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on the ,public ,life of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the facts3 ,christ began ,his public labors for the salvation of souls by leaving ,his ,blessed ,mother1 by being baptized among sinners1 then fasting forty days4 ,next ,he travelled on foot from town to town during three years1 in great poverty1 through ,galilee and ,judea2 selected ignorant men as ,his ,apostles1 instructed them most patiently1 and predicted ,his sacred passion4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ1 attended by ,his ,apostles1 while ,he addresses a miscellaneous multitude4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly that you may learn from ,him an intense zeal for souls and generosity in following ,his example4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the grandeur of the work of saving souls4 ,it is the noblest occupation possible1 as is expressed in the maxim attributed to ,st4 ,dionysius the ,areopagite3 8,the most ,divine of all ,divine works is the salvation of souls40 ,in fact the saving of one soul is a higher achievement than the creation of the material universe2 for the value of an action is properly measured by the result achieved1 and a glorified soul is as far above all bodily substances as the knowledge1 love and fruition of ,god is above mere matter4 ,we admire the poet who composes a grand epic1 the painter or sculptor who produces a masterpiece of his noble art1 the architect who erects an imposing structure1 etc42 but what is all this compared to the salvation of a soul1 that will be for eternity an ornament of ,heaven4 ,to ,christ belongs the glory of all salvation of souls1 but ,he deigns to share this glory with ,his followers1 to whom ,he says3 8,i have chosen you and have appointed you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #af74 ,what a noble object to work for6 ,and while a soul is so precious1 its salvation is to be effected in a short time4 ,we may at times achieve this wonderful success in a single hour4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the example set us by the ,son of ,god to accomplish this purpose3 #a4 ,he left ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and we do not read that ,he ever returned to her home4 ,this ought to encourage us to make similar sacrifices4 #b4 ,he so humbled ,himself as to be baptized among sinners2 and1 to call down the blessings of ,heaven upon ,his sacred ministry1 ,he spent forty days in fasting and prayer4 ,by all this ,he taught us that the supernatural work of saving souls is to be accomplished by the supernatural means of humiliations and penance and prayer2 mere eloquence and logic are not sufficient4 #c4 ,he endured many privations4 ,for during those three years ,he and ,his ,apostles had not the comforts of a home3 8,the foxes have holes1 and the birds of the air nests1 but the son of man hath not where to lay his head0 7,st4 ,matth4 viii1 #bj74 ,they often spent the night in the open air1 for instance in the ,garden of ,olives4 ,they had no regular supply of food1 and must often have endured bitter hunger4 ,st4 ,matthew narrates an instance3 8,at that time ,jesus went through the corn on the ,sabbath2 and ,his disciples being hungry began to pluck the ears and to eat them0 7xii1 #a74 ,he travelled and taught the people all day and received visitors during the night1 like ,nicodemus and ,joseph of ,arithmathea1 who were ,his disciples secretly for fear of the ,jews4 ,the history of the ,saints is full of similar hardships2 for they had learned to follow ,his example4 ,am ,i a worthy follower of my ,king8 ,do ,i make generous sacrifices in ,his service8 ,frequently the salvation or the loss of a soul depends on the zeal of a priest or religious4 ,neglect in this matter is often irreparable4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,during ,his public life ,jesus also gave us the example of earnest prayer1 in which ,he would at times spend the entire night4 ,st4 ,luke writes3 8,he 7,jesus7 went out into a mountain to pray1 and he passed the whole night in the prayer of ,god0 7vi1 #ab74 ,he did not need to pray for ,his own sake1 but ,he wished to show us by ,his example the necessity of fervent prayer for those employed in the active duty of saving souls4 ,they need it for themselves and for the good of others4 ,for themselves1 because the sacred ministry is full of dangers2 it is like striving to save drowning men1 in which task those who lend assistance often perish themselves4 ,sad experience teaches that many priests1 employed in constant labors1 neglect their own souls1 and come to a miserable fall4 ,and as far as the neighbor is concerned1 it is the man of prayer1 the man of ,god1 that does the work of ,god1 and not the priest of a worldly mind who neglects his prayer4 ,with what devotion do ,i offer the holy sacrifice of the ,mass8 receive ,holy ,communion8 make my meditation8 recite the ,divine ,office8 ,the annual retreat is the time to consider all these things and to provide for improvements4 ,colloquy with our ,dear ,lord1 praying for an increase of fervor in prayer1 of zeal for souls1 of generosity in the labors of the ministry4 ,,the ,,sixth ,,day ,after we have meditated on the ,kingdom of ,christ1 ,his self-annihilation1 ,his private life and ,his zealous labors1 we must now consider the plots and efforts of the archenemy ,satan1 who opposes ,him at every point4 ,for life is a continuous warfare3 8,the life of man upon earth is a warfare10 says ,job2 and in every war there are of course two opposing forces4 ,st4 ,augustine in his celebrated work on 8,the ,city of ,god10 compared together the working of those conflicting powers1 the impersonations of virtue and vice1 of humility and pride4 ,st4 ,ignatius here proposes a similar parable1 for the purpose of discovering the plots and snares of ,satan to ruin souls1 contrasting them with ,christ's plans and labors to procure their eternal happiness4 ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,on the ,two ,standards #ast ,prelude4 ,the figure under which the two opposing forces are presented by ,st4 ,ignatius is that of two armies encamped1 the one near ,babylon1 the city of confusion1 as the name signifies2 the other near ,jerusalem1 that sacred city of peace4 ,in the former camp ,satan is seen elevated on a throne of fire and smoke1 his countenance horrible to behold4 ,he is surrounded by countless demons1 whom he is instructing how to compass the ruin of souls4 ,in the other camp the ,blessed ,saviour stands humbly in the midst of ,his followers1 ,angels and men1 ,his countenance beaming with kindness1 while teaching them how to gain all hearts for virtue and happiness4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold these two camps with their respective leaders4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask for light to understand the treacherous schemes of ,satan1 that you may oppose them in yourself and in others1 and may lead all to obey ,christ4 ,,point ,i4 ,study the special features of ,satan's camp4 #a4 ,it is near ,babylon1 where the tower of ,babel once stood1 to signify the pride and the confusion which ,satan ever labors to stir up in the hearts of men4 ,he is elevated on a throne1 to denote the ambition he arouses in all to rise above their fellows4 ,the throne consists of flames1 ever restless1 and smoke1 darkening the mind of his miserable dupes4 ,his monstrous features reflect the ugly vices of his heart4 #b4 ,listen to his address3 8,go into every country1 every province1 every city1 town and hamlet1 enter into every house1 and tempt every man1 woman and child to grasp for the good things of this world4 ,most of them are easily enticed to the greed of money and riches1 the accumulation of which seems to them reasonable and proper4 8,when they become rich1 tempt them to the ambition of honor1 by which they are puffed up with self-esteem and the spirit of independence of ,god40 ,this spirit is the very essence of pride1 and the subversion of the moral order4 ,the world is full of minds independent of ,god2 they are the conquests of ,satan4 ,beginning with what appears proper enough1 they are gradually led to the abyss of sin4 #c4 ,the demon understands full well that the temptation is to be adapted to each one's character4 ,with many there is from the beginning an inordinate love of honor and distinction2 these may at once be assailed on their weak point and more rapidly led into pride4 ,others are more readily allured by the bait of pleasure2 they may first be tempted by innocent amusements1 then by more inordinate enjoyment1 till they cast off all restraint1 loving self to the contempt of the ,creator1 which is but another form of pride4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,now consider the opposing camp4 #a4 ,there behold the gentle ,saviour1 not enthroned1 but humbly standing in the midst of ,his followers1 as it were an equal to the least4 ,his serene countenance is lit by a genial smile1 inspiring all with love and confidence2 8,beautiful above the sons of men1 grace is poured abroad in thy lips--,thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity2 therefore ,god1 thy ,god1 hath annointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows0 7,ps4 #dd74 #b4 ,listen to the instructions ,he gives to ,his ,angels and the human ministers of ,his mercy4 ,he says3 8,go ye into the whole world1 to every country1 every province1 every city1 town and hamlet1 enter every house1 and induce every man1 woman1 and child to labor for their eternal happiness1 by the practice of self-restraint and moderation in all their desires2 let all be satisfied with a decent competency of wealth1 detaching their hearts from earthly possessions1 so as to acquire poverty of spirit1 and to be ready to embrace even actual poverty1 if the spirit of ,god should be pleased to lead them to that perfection4 ,induce them next to willingness to be slighted1 even despised1 so as to resemble ,me more closely4 ,the result will be true humility1 which is the root of all the virtues40 ,colloquy1 first with your ,mother ,mary1 asking her to obtain from her ,divine ,son1 true poverty of spirit1 and willingness to become actually poor1 if ,god should wish it4 ,then ask the ,saviour through ,his love for ,mary1 as man1 to obtain these graces for you from ,his ,heavenly ,father4 ,lastly ask the ,father to grant you the same through ,his love for ,his ,divine ,son4 ,this triple colloquy is a powerful prayer4 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on the ,three ,degrees of ,humility #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold ,christ1 who says to you3 8,my son1 ,i will now show you the highest point of perfection to which ,i desire you to aspire for the present40 #bnd ,prelude4 ,speak1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy servant heareth4 ,give me the grace of generously complying with ,thy invitation4 ,,point ,i4 ,the first degree of virtue1 also called the first degree of humility1 consists in such a disposition of heart1 such firm attachment to our good ,lord1 that nothing in the world1 not even the danger of death1 can make us even deliberate about committing a mortal sin4 ,this degree is necessary for all men1 it is the habitual state of all good ,christians4 ,weakness or passion may sometimes cause them to fall2 but they soon rise again1 and return to this state of mind4 ,it is in fact simply the application of the words of ,christ3 8,if thy right hand scandalize thee1 cut it off3 it is better for thee to enter into life maimed1 than having two hands to go into hell1 into unquenchable fire0 7,st4 ,mark ix1 #db74 ,let us thank ,god that we have attained this degree at least2 but let us also consider whether any passion is so unrestrained within us as to expose us to a serious fall4 ,no man is safe as long as he lives2 some make a sad failure in the end4 ,they fare like the vessel that came from the ,new ,world with loads of gold and silver on board1 and was wrecked in sight of the ,golden ,gate1 the harbor of ,san ,francisco1 while its sailors were answering the hurrahs of welcome rising from the crowd of spectators on the shore4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the second degree consists in such an habitual state of mind that we would rather do or suffer anything1 even rather die1 than enter into deliberation about committing even a wilful venial sin4 ,this degree supposes considerable indifference to the good things or the evils of this world4 ,it is the habitual state of fervent religious2 they may be surprised into venial sins1 but they rarely commit them with full deliberation4 ,let us try to establish ourselves firmly in this degree2 and if we find difficulty in this1 let us pray most earnestly for help1 and do ourselves violence4 8,the ,kingdom of heaven suffereth violence1 and the violent bear it away0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #ab74 ,we should not rest satisfied till1 by prayer and efforts1 we have confirmed ourselves in this degree4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,the third degree consists in such devoted attachment to our ,blessed ,saviour that we wish to be like ,him1 to be in suffering and forgotten1 or even despised by men1 as ,he was2 so that1 where duty does not require the contrary1 we wish1 even without a view to any reward1 to share ,his afflictions1 for no other reason than because ,christ1 our dearest friend and ,sovereign ,lord endured the same4 ,thus when a member of a decent family is in a dying condition1 all the other members abstain from feasting or attending pleasure parties2 so too1 because our ,lord led a poor and humble life1 enduring intense hardships and sufferings1 we wish to bear a share in ,his afflictions4 ,as an accomplished artist takes great delight in practising his art1 in which a beginner finds only labor and difficulties1 so those derive most happiness from the practice of virtue who have attained in it uncommon proficiency4 ,the sentiments of this third degree are beautifully expressed in the ,prayer of ,st4 ,xavier1 8,o ,deus3 ego amo te10 etc4 7page #acb74 ,the colloquy is three-fold3 #a4 ,begging the ,blessed ,virgin to obtain for us from her ,divine ,son the grace of frequently eliciting acts of this third degree4 #b4 ,begging our ,divine ,lord to ask this grace for us from ,his ,heavenly ,father4 #c4 ,begging our ,heavenly ,father to grant us the same1 through the love ,he has for ,his ,divine ,son4 ,,consideration ,on ,temptations ,in the meditation on the ,two ,standards we studied the manner in which the evil spirit tempts the souls of men1 leading them from apparently innocent beginnings to total independence of their ,creator4 ,we must now consider the subject of temptations in further detail4 ,i ,why does the ,devil hate men8 ,because he hates ,god1 and as he cannot injure ,god1 he wreaks his vengeance on ,god's images and children4 ,now man is created in the image of ,god1 and all men are1 or at least are destined to be1 elevated to the dignity of children of ,god4 ,besides1 they are intended to occupy in ,heaven the thrones which the evil angels have lost4 ,therefore ,satan envies them1 and wants to ruin them by every means in his power4 ,the chief means is mortal sin1 by which a man joins in with the tempter in rebelling against his ,sovereign ,lord4 ,if ,satan cannot succeed in leading us into mortal sin1 he will strive to impair at least the beauty of the soul by venial sin1 and worry it to deprive it of the peace of ,god4 ,god allows all this to happen that man may be further ennobled by his victories over temptations and be more richly rewarded2 also that the power of the ,lord may be more and more manifested1 when ,he enables so weak a being as man to triumph over such powerful spirits4 ,thus ,providence draws good out of evil1 and the wisdom1 power1 and goodness of ,god are glorified1 virtue is perfected in infirmity 7,,ii ,cor4 xii1 #i71 and the free creature is exalted4 ,this is beautifully explained in the book of ,tobias3 8,thy counsel is not in man's power4 ,but this every man is sure of that worshippeth thee1 that his life1 if it be under trial1 shall be crowned2 and if it be under tribulation it shall be delivered1 and if it be under correction1 it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy3 because after a storm1 thou makest a calm1 and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness4 ,be thy name1 ,o ,god of ,israel1 blessed forever0 7iii1 #bj-bc74 ,,ii ,all must expect to be tried by temptations2 for the ,lord assures us3 8the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #ab72 now our indolence tempts us to shirk this violence4 ,our ,blessed ,saviour allowed ,himself to be tempted1 and we are to be made like unto ,him3 8,the disciple is not above his master0 7ib4 x1 #bd74 ,those who aim at a closer resemblance to their ,divine ,master must expect to be more violently tempted2 and therefore ,ecclesiasticus warns us3 8,son1 when thou comest to the service of ,god1 stand in justice and in fear1 and prepare thy soul for temptation4 ,humble thy heart and endure0 7ii1 #a74 ,in fact those who please ,god must be tempted2 the two things are inseparable1 as the ,angel explained to ,tobias3 8,because thou wast acceptable to ,god1 it was necessary that temptation should prove thee0 7xii1 #ac74 ,read the lives of the ,saints1 and you will not find one who had not to endure severe temptations1 from ,st4 ,paul and the other ,apostles down to the latest ,saint4 ,,iii ,god will not allow us to be tempted above our strength1 as ,he has graciously promised through ,st4 ,paul1 who writes3 8,god is faithful1 who will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able1 but will make also with temptation issue that you may be able to bear it0 7,i ,cor4 x1 #ac74 ,this truth is strikingly illustrated by the history of ,job1 which is graphically told thus1 in poetic language3 8,on a certain day1 when the sons of ,god came to stand before the ,lord1 ,satan also was present among them4 ,and the ,lord said to him3 ,hast thou considered my servant ,job1 that there is none like him in the earth1 a simple and upright man1 and fearing ,god and avoiding evil8 ,and ,satan answering said3 ,does ,job fear ,god in vain8 ,hast thou not made a fence for him and his house1 and all his substance round about1 blessed the work of his hands1 and his possession hath increased on the earth8 ,but stretch forth thy hand a little1 and touch all that he hath1 and see if he blesseth thee not to thy face4 ,then the ,lord said to ,satan3 ,behold all that he hath is in thy hand1 only put not forth thy hand upon his person40 ,he thus allowed ,satan to deprive ,job of his possessions1 but not to go any further4 ,we all know how ,satan carried out this permission to the letter1 and took away in one day all that ,job enjoyed1 his sons and daughters included1 so that he exclaimed3 8,naked came ,i out of my mother's womb1 and naked shall ,i return thither1 the ,lord gave1 and the ,lord hath taken away2 as it hath pleased to the ,lord so it is done10 and he added with perfect resignation3 8,blessed be the name of the ,lord0 7i1 #f-bb74 ,next1 ,satan obtains power from ,god to afflict ,job in his health1 yet so as to spare his life2 ,god controls all4 8,so ,satan went forth from the face of the ,lord1 and struck ,job with a very grievous ulcer1 from the sole of the foot to the top of his head4 ,and he took a potsherd1 and scraped the corrupt matter1 sitting on a dunghill4 ,and his wife said to him3 ,dost thou still continue in thy simplicity8 bless ,god and die1 and he said to her3 ,thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women2 if we have received good things at the hand of ,god1 why should we not receive evil8 ,in all these things ,job did not sin with his lips0 7ii1 #g1 #h74 ,such is the grand example of patience that ,job gave for all subsequent ages4 ,after his trials were ended1 the ,lord rewarded him abundantly in his wealth and in the excellence of his later children2 8and ,job lived after these things a hundred and forty years1 and he saw his children and his children's children unto the fourth generation1 and he died an old man and full of years40 ,in the ,new ,law1 in which we live1 the rewards of patience are far more precious than those here mentioned in the case of ,job2 for 8,the sufferings of this time10 says ,st4 ,paul1 8are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us0 7,rom4 viii1 #ah74 ,and ,st4 ,james writes3 8,blessed is the man that endureth temptations2 for when he hath been proved1 he shall receive the crown of life which ,god hath promised to them that love ,him0 7i1 #ab74 ,,iv ,we must remember1 however1 that not all our temptations are from the evil spirit4 ,he is wicked enough to cause them all2 but he need not do so4 ,of course they never come from ,god2 for ,st4 ,james says3 8,let no man1 when he is tempted1 say that he is tempted by ,god2 for ,god is not a tempter of evils1 and ,he tempts no man4 ,but every man is tempted by his own concupiscence1 being drawn away and allured0 7i1 #ac-ad74 ,as concupiscence belongs to our fallen nature1 it cannot be altogether suppressed2 but its power can be very much increased or diminished2 and therefore the temptations it causes are to a considerable extent under our own control4 ,if a ,st4 ,aloysius1 a ,st4 ,stanislaus and many other chaste youths scarcely felt any rebellions of the flesh1 it was due in great part to the care with which they had from their early childhood guarded the gates of their senses1 their eyes1 their ears1 their touch2 and instead of flattering them1 they had constantly mortified them in various ways4 ,on the other hand1 very many persons allow themselves liberties of an indelicate nature2 these need not wonder why they find it so difficult to lead chaste lives4 ,however1 even the most mortified souls may be severely tempted to carnal sins2 thus we read of ,st4 ,anthony1 that1 even in his frightful desert1 he was one day assailed by such temptations2 and when the victory was won1 he exclaimed3 ,lord where wast ,thou when those vile images beset my mind8 ,and the ,lord answered him3 ,anthony1 ,i was in the midst of your heart4 ,but the danger of the sin is certainly much greater when a person is1 partly at least1 the cause of such disorderly affections1 when he heaps fuel on the fire of concupiscence4 ,it is well to ask oneself in a retreat3 have ,i anything to reproach myself with in this respect8 ,how do ,i habitually observe modesty of the eyes in public and in private8 ,is my reading always proper and prudent8 ,do ,i ever indulge indolence or excessive softness8 am ,i perfectly temperate in food and drink1 and thus cautious not to arouse dangerous passions8 ,it is necessary to ask the ,lord frequently and fervently3 8,lead us not into temptation02 but this will be of little avail if we bring on temptations by our own laxity or imprudence4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on the ,three ,classes of men #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold ,christ before you1 looking kindly upon you1 and saying3 8,my son1 give me thy heart0 7,prov4 xxxiii74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask fervently for light to understand this gracious invitation1 and strength to comply with it generously4 ,,point ,i4 ,while this invitation is really addressed by our loving ,lord to every man1 consider how differently it is responded to by various classes of men4 ,the first class1 which unfortunately is very numerous1 turn a deaf ear to this appeal4 ,they are so taken up with the vanities or the pleasures of the world1 with the pursuit of riches or honor or friendships1 that they do not even stop to consider the call of grace4 ,the turmoil of their passions drowns the still voice of conscience1 and they rush on to the yawning abyss of eternal loss4 ,let me thank the ,lord that ,he has prevented me by ,his loving care from running along in this mad career4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the second class of men listen to the ,divine call1 appreciate its infinite condescension1 fly from the allurements of the grossest vices1 and give their hearts to their ,sovereign ,master4 ,yet they do not give their whole heart4 ,a part of it is occupied by some cherished creature1 which they will not sacrifice to their loving ,lord4 ,we read that when ,st4 ,sebastian was trying to convert a ,roman nobleman1 named ,croatius1 he promised him a cure from a painful disease as soon as he should receive ,baptism2 for ,sebastian worked many miracles4 ,but he required as a necessary condition that ,croatius should destroy all the idols he had in his house4 ,after the ,baptism the convert complained that his sickness was not removed4 ,it was found that he had not destroyed one little idol of gold1 an old heirloom in the family2 and only after this also was given up was the cure obtained4 ,thus very many souls are kept back from perfection by some cherished idol which they hesitate to resign4 ,in the world some men are estimable citizens1 honest1 charitable1 but neglectful of religious duties2 others are even practical ,catholics1 except that they neglect ,confession4 ,all such are in evident danger of dying in their sins and being lost forever2 but passion blinds them to their terrible danger4 ,among religious no great vice is common1 but many are held back from attaining perfection by some human attachment1 or by some evil habit1 which they refuse1 or hesitate to abandon altogether4 ,is there any sacrifice that ,i know1 or at least suspect1 my dear ,lord asks of me8 ,is there any practice or habit of mine that may not please ,him8 ,if a sculptor1 carving an elegant statue1 would find a flaw in the marble that would disfigure the countenance1 he might have to reject that stone and choose another4 ,the ,divine ,artist is forming my soul into an image of ,christ2 happily1 if ,he finds a flaw in my soul1 ,he can remove it1 but ,he will not do so without my consent2 or rather ,he will not remove it ,himself1 but aid me to remove it4 ,is there such a flaw8 ,are there perhaps more than one8 ,speak1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy servant heareth4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,the third class of men to whom the ,lord says1 8,son1 give me thy heart10 answer promptly and generously3 8,o ,lord6 ,i wish to be all thine02 8,for what have ,i in ,heaven8 and besides ,thee what do ,i desire upon earth8 ,for ,thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away2 ,thou art the ,god of my heart1 and the ,god that is my portion forever0 7,ps4 #gb74 ,but of course virtue does not consist in fine sentiments alone4 ,docile to the invitation of ,christ1 we must so give ,him our hearts that we are willing to satisfy all ,his desires4 8,what shall ,i render to the ,lord for all the things that ,he hath rendered to me80 7,ps4 #aae74 ,i am now come to the end of the second week of the ,exercises4 ,its main purpose was the study of ,christ's private and public life1 so as to make myself like unto ,him4 ,this therefore is the proper time to examine whether there is any trait of my ,divine model which ,i am not yet determined to reproduce in my own soul4 ,here ,st4 ,ignatius introduces the election of a state of life for those who have not yet entered on a permanent career2 and from those who have he expects a reformation of life4 ,now this is best accomplished by comparing our own hearts with that of our ,divine pattern1 taking most generous resolutions to remove all flaws and supply all deficiencies4 ,colloquy4 ,o my dear ,mother ,mary6 ,i beg of thee to obtain for me from thy ,divine ,son the grace of following ,his example in the practice of all the virtues1 doing whatever ,he may desire of me and that at any sacrifice4 ,oh1 dearest ,lord6 by ,thy love for ,thy ,blessed ,mother1 obtain for me1 this precious grace from ,thy ,heavenly ,father4 ,and ,thou1 my ,supreme ,lord and ,master1 ,god the ,father1 grant me this entire devotedness at the prayer of ,thy ,divine ,son4 ,,the ,,seventh ,,day ,here we begin the ,third ,week of ,st4 ,ignatius' ,exercises2 it is devoted to the consideration of ,christ's sacred passion4 ,these meditations1 or contemplations1 are a tribute of love that we offer to our dear ,lord2 and they are suggestive to ourselves of generous sentiments1 and earnest resolutions to practise even heroic virtue1 in following our beloved ,king to the height of ,his self-sacrifice4 ,by the light and grace they impart1 they aid us to advance rapidly in the way of perfection4 ,we read in the ,life and ,revelations of ,st4 ,gertrude 7p4 #cdh7 that she beheld one day our ,blessed ,lord as ,he was after ,he had been whipped at the pillar1 covered with wounds1 and she asked ,him1 tenderly3 8,alas1 ,lord1 what remedy can we find to sooth ,thy agonizing pains80 ,our ,lord replied3 8,the most efficacious and tenderest remedy you can prepare for ,me is to meditate on ,my passion1 and to pray charitably for the conversion of sinners40 ,it is in this spirit that all the exercises of this day should be performed4 ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,on the ,sufferings of ,christ in the ,garden #ast ,prelude4 ,read the #bfth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew's ,gospel1 from the #cjth to the #egth verse4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ prostrate in the prayer of ,his agony4 #crd ,prelude4 ,beg grace to condole with ,him and to suffer patiently and generously4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider ,christ's entrance into the garden4 ,the persons3 ,christ1 my ,saviour1 goes to suffer for me4 ,the fact then regards me personally1 ,i cannot be indifferent to its details4 ,he selects ,peter1 ,john and ,james to witness ,his agony4 ,thus the severest trials come to ,god's favorites4 ,christ has prepared them for this trial of their faith by the vision of ,his glory on ,mount ,thabor4 ,thus ,he provides special aids for special difficulties4 ,all the ,apostles have been strengthened for the occasion by ,holy ,communion4 ,a fall soon after receiving ,communion does not prove an unworthy ,communion4 ,the words4 ,peter said3 8,although all should be scandalized in thee1 ,i will never be scandalized40 ,pride goes before a fall4 8,jesus said to him3 ,amen1 ,i say to thee that1 before the cock crow1 thou shalt deny me thrice40 ,christ saith to his ,apostles3 8,my soul is sorrowful even unto death40 ,we should not then be discouraged if we shrink from suffering1 and are saddened by them4 ,the actions4 ,jesus prepares for the conflict by betaking ,himself to prayer4 ,i must do the same in trials4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the agony4 ,the words3 8,my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this chalice pass from me4 ,nevertheless1 not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt40 ,it is then perfectly proper to pray for deliverance from the cross2 but we must ever add submission to ,god's holy will3 8,not my will but thine be done40 ,the actions3 8,he cometh to his disciples1 and findeth them asleep40 ,we are not then forbidden to seek for consolation from our fellow-men2 but we shall usually be disappointed2 like ,jesus1 we must return to prayer4 ,he prayed again1 8saying the self-same words40 ,we should not try to be eloquent in prayer1 but dwell on a few thoughts or sentiments4 ,we can have no better model of prayer than we have here before us4 ,the ,apostles neglected their opportunity2 hence their cowardice4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,the treason of ,judas4 ,the persons4 ,the ,son of ,god is meanly betrayed by one of ,his own ,apostles4 ,how is the gold obscured6 ,when favorite souls fall away1 they often fall the deepest4 ,how did he come to this8 ,from small beginnings1 by little thefts at first4 ,one passion left unchecked is enough to ruin the noblest character4 ,all the passions are in every one of us1 and need constant watching4 ,the words4 8,hail ,rabbi40 ,what hypocrisy6 8,friend1 whereunto art thou come80 ,christ still loved the wretch1 and kindly wished to bring him back to his duty4 ,that is the charity of my model4 ,is mine like ,his8 ,the actions4 ,he receives the kiss of the traitor and shows no indignation4 ,then ,christ lets ,himself be seized and bound like a criminal1 and ,he abandons ,himself into the hands of ,his enemies1 recognizing in them the executers of ,his ,father's will4 8,then the disciples1 all leaving him1 fled02 and yet all of them had said with ,peter that they were ready to go with ,him even to death4 ,it is not boasting1 but praying we need4 ,colloquy1 thanking our dear ,lord for ,his generous love for us1 asking that we may know and love ,him better and follow ,him more perfectly4 ,notice that the thoughts here expressed are only suggestions and need not be entertained4 ,the exercitant is apt to be most benefited by what he discovers himself4 ,and when a thought or sentiment strikes him1 he should dwell on it as long as it gives him devotion1 and not hasten on to other matters4 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on ,christ's ,sufferings before ,his ,judges #ast ,prelude4 ,christ was dragged from court to court1 everywhere loaded with false accusations2 but ,he opened not ,his mouth4 ,he was dressed in a fool's garment1 cruelly scourged and crowned with thorns1 and bore all patiently4 ,exposed to the sight of the multitude1 ,he saw a robber preferred to ,him1 was rejected by ,his people and condemned to the death of the cross4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ with ,his hands tied like a criminal1 standing before the tribunal of ,caiphas4 #crd ,prelude4 ,my dear ,lord1 grant me deep sorrow for ,thy sufferings and for my sins1 by which ,i have repaid ,thy infinite love4 ,,point ,i4 ,christ is falsely accused4 ,consider3 ,the persons4 ,the judges presume to sit in judgment on ,him who has proved ,himself to be the ,son of ,god4 ,our sins1 like theirs1 are often far more serious than we are willing to acknowledge to ourselves4 ,we blind ourselves4 ,caiphas did so by claiming that it was 8expedient that one man should die for the people1 and that the whole nation perish not0 7,st4 ,john xi1 #ej74 ,this was true1 but not in the sense the high priest gave to it4 ,do ,i ever judge my neighbor unjustly8 perhaps even my superiors8 ,the witnesses little think how wicked their accusations are1 leading to the crime of deicide3 8,the tongue is a fire1 a world of iniquity0 7,st4 ,james iii1 #f74 ,meanwhile ,christ is silent1 to teach us how to suffer2 silence under accusations1 true or false1 is usually better than the most eloquent defense4 ,isaias had predicted3 8,he shall be dumb as a lamb before his hearers1 and he shall not open his mouth0 7liii1 #g74 ,he only spoke when the honor of ,god required it1 as when the high priest said3 8,i conjure thee by the living ,god that thou tell us if thou be the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,jesus said to them3 ,thou has said it4 ,nevertheless ,i say to you1 hereafter you shall see the son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of ,god and coming in the clouds of ,heaven4 ,they answering said3 ,he is guilty of death0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxvi1 #fc-ff74 ,what injustice6 ,this is often repeated to-day by those who hate the ,church2 we must wait patiently for the time of its glorification4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,dressed in a fool's garment1 scourged1 crowned with thorns4 ,behold the humiliations1 the cruel sufferings patiently endured by the ,redeemer1 as an expiation of your own sins4 ,try to realize the details of the torments heaped upon ,him4 ,that flagellation was borne to expiate sins of the body4 ,do ,i practise bodily mortification enough8 ,soft members are out of place in the mystic body of ,christ4 ,he is crowned with thorns2 do ,i look for honors and laurel crowns8 ,he is decked in mockery with a rag of purple2 do ,i delight in vain display8 ,lord1 make me like unto thee4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,pilate shows ,him to the people3 8,ecco homo10 8,behold the man40 ,let me observe ,him well1 noticing every indignity inflicted on ,him4 ,his head crowned with thorns1 ,his face defiled with spittle1 every visible portion of ,his sacred body livid with bruises and stained with clotted blood3 8,a worm and no man1 the reproach of men and the outcast of the people0 7,ps4 #ba71 8,despised and the most abject of men1 a man of sorrows0 7,is4 liii1 #c74 ,the words3 8,give us ,barabbas and take ,jesus away40 ,how can ,i complain when others are preferred to me8 8,let him be crucified02 8,his blood be upon us and upon our children40 ,how fearfully has this curse been carried into effect4 ,behold the whole ,jewish race struck with spiritual blindness for already nineteen centuries1 in the midst of nations blest with the light of faith4 ,how this ruin of ,his nation must have grieved the heart of the ,redeemer4 ,pilate vainly tries to disclaim his responsibility for the deicide3 8,i am innocent of the death of this just man40 ,so we may deceive ourselves1 wilfully4 ,am ,i always honest in my pretences8 ,the actions4 ,pilate delivers ,christ to be crucified4 ,this is the price paid for every soul1 the death of ,christ4 ,how precious is a soul6 ,the blood of ,christ is the atonement of sin2 what a terrible evil is sin6 ,colloquy with ,jesus1 as ,he stands there condemned to an ignominious death2 indulging the sentiments aroused by the meditation4 ,,consideration ,on ,generosity in the ,service of ,god ,when we performed the meditation on the ,kingdom of ,christ1 we imagined a very noble prince1 who1 at the call of ,god1 abandoned all other pursuits to devote himself to the establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god on earth1 and summoned all brave souls to rally under his standard for this exalted purpose4 ,we next considered that this parable was not a mere creation of the fancy1 but was a fit expression of a grand reality4 ,for such a noble prince did actually appear on earth1 one far nobler than we could have conceived possible1 the ,son of ,god ,himself1 come down to establish the ,kingdom of ,his ,father in the hearts of men1 and thus prepare them to enter into the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,at this summons we resolved to follow ,him1 and we have really left all things for that purpose1 and our highest ambition now is to follow ,him most closely by making ourselves as like to ,him as1 with ,god's grace1 may be possible4 ,to accomplish this purpose1 we have been studying ,his example1 from the moment of ,his incarnation1 through ,his birth1 childhood1 ,his private and ,his public life1 till we have seen ,him deliver ,himself into the hands of ,his enemies1 submit to the most shocking indignities and torments2 and all this through love for us1 paying the penalties of our sins in ,his own ,person1 to save us from ,hell and make us share ,his glory4 ,the most appropriate term to express all this devotedness is 8boundless generosity40 ,this is the most striking characteristic of our glorious ,king4 ,as we are earnestly striving to make ourselves like to ,him1 we will now consider the excellence of the virtue of generosity2 and we do so by preference on this day on which we are meditating on the sacrifices by which ,christ's generosity was exhibited in the most impressive manner4 ,among natural qualities in man generosity is the noblest1 among the supernatural virtues it is the highest1 because it is the most ,godlike4 ,charity1 the love of ,god1 and of the neighbor for the love of ,god1 is the most perfect virtue1 and generosity is the perfection of charity4 ,the highest manifestation that ,god has made of ,himself is twofold1 the creation and the incarnation with all its consequences4 ,he created to pour out happiness on other beings1 all manners of good things on created natures2 ,he became incarnate to bestow ,himself on them2 and ,he did so even after they had forfeited their primal destiny4 ,thus too a man by the practice of generosity gives of his own to others1 by supernatural generosity he gives himself entirely to ,god and to others for the sake of ,god4 ,when we give to our neighbor what we owe him1 we practise the virtue of justice2 when we give to ,god the honor we owe ,him1 we practise the virtue of religion1 which is a species of justice2 but we practice the virtue of generosity when we give more than the ,lord demands of us1 and thereby we more closely resemble ,god1 on whom we have no claim and who yet gave us all we have4 ,the proper esteem1 as well as the practice of this virtue1 is taught us by the grand mysteries on which we meditate to-day4 ,in fact these lessons have been excellently learned by the followers of ,christ throughout all the ages of ,christianity4 ,see how ,his ,apostles1 to a man1 gave their whole lives and finally shed their blood1 as ,jesus had done1 for the honor of ,god1 and the salvation of souls4 ,the same was done by thousands of other followers in after generations and is continued to be done till the present day4 ,countless solitaries of both sexes1 and monks and nuns and missionaries among the heathens have left all things and thus imitated the generosity of the ,redeemer4 ,sacrifice for the same glorious cause is written large over the history of the ,church in every age and every land4 ,it is this spirit of generous sacrifice that we must to-day rekindle in our hearts4 ,we should not now ask ourselves merely1 as we did properly some days ago1 is there any sacrifice ,i am bound to make if ,i want to save my immortal soul8 but1 at the sight of ,jesus mocked and scourged1 and crowned with thorns and dying like a criminal upon the cross1 and all this for my sins1 let me ask myself generously1 8what sacrifices can ,i make to ,god to show my gratitude80 ,these sentiments aroused in ,st4 ,ignatius1 as under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit he performed the ,spiritual ,exercises at ,manresa1 an ambition beautifully expressed in the motto he selected for his ,society ,ad ,majorem ,dei ,gloriam1 8,for the ,greater ,glory of ,god40 ,for he became so enraptured with the love of ,christ that he longed only to sacrifice himself entirely for the honor of ,god1 and to rally around him a generous band of men who should be aglow with the same ,divine enthusiasm4 ,this spirit of generosity1 so characteristic of ,st4 ,ignatius1 is clearly manifested in the ,constitutions which he drew up for the guidance and the government of his ,society4 ,the whole spirit of his institute is a spirit of generous devotion to the service of ,god and the good of men4 ,for instance1 he wants his followers to be so little attached to their country1 or to any place whatever1 that they shall be willing to go and live in any part of the world where there is hope of ,god's greater service and the help of souls4 ,they must leave father and mother1 sisters and brothers and whatsoever they had in the world4 ,they must so far resign their right to a good name as to allow all their errors and defects to be manifested to their superiors4 ,they are even urged to wish to suffer reproaches1 slanders and injuries1 and to be treated and accounted as fools1 so as to resemble ,jesus ,christ1 and in all things to seek their greater abnegation and continual mortification4 ,in the exercise of low and mean offices they must be willing to be employed in such as are more abhorrent to nature4 ,certainly all these rules and practices suppose an uncommon degree of generosity4 ,and yet the ,saint insists on them1 and urges his followers to labor constantly that no point of perfection which by ,god's grace they can attain in the perfect observance of his ,constitutions1 be omitted by them4 ,in all things they are to seek ,god1 casting off1 as much as is possible1 the love of creatures1 that they may set all their affections on the ,creator4 ,as to the general spirit of his ,society1 it is hard to conceive how this could be more generous than it actually is2 and no less generosity is seen when the rules descend to practical details4 ,consider1 for instance1 the strict interpretation they put on the understanding of the religious vows4 ,they make poverty a total privation of the right to dispose of anything at one's will or discretion1 neither allowing one to give nor to receive1 to lend nor to borrow any object whatever without permission of the superior4 ,for the measure and the pattern of the vow of chastity nothing less is proposed than the purity of the blessed ,angels in ,heaven4 ,to protect this virtue a ,jesuit has to submit himself all the days of his life to such careful surveillance as solicitous parents exercise over their daughters1 who are not allowed to go outside the house without permission1 nor1 as far as circumstances allow1 without the attendance of a discreet companion4 ,it is especially with regard to the vow and the virtue of obedience that generosity is carried to its highest perfection4 ,not only every command of a superior is to be obeyed1 but even every hint of his will is to be complied with1 every token of his wishes2 and this is to be done promptly1 without excuse1 without reluctance of the will1 without disagreement of the judgment4 ,and in all these observances no one can claim exemption or privilege on account of high offices formerly held1 on account of great learning or unusual ability or for any other consideration4 ,with such precepts and examples before me1 what can ,i do better than to lead henceforth a life of constant generosity8 ,let me pause to consider carefully and prayerfully what sacrifices in particular ,i can offer4 ,speak1 ,lord6 ,thy servant heareth2 there is nothing ,i will refuse4 ,give me the grace of doing what ,thou desirest1 and ask what ,thou wilt4 ,when our ,divine ,lord appeared to five of ,his ,apostles after ,his resurrection1 ,he took ,st4 ,peter aside and asked him3 8,simon1 son of ,john1 lovest thou me more than these8 ,he saith to him3 ,yea ,lord1 thou knowest that ,i love thee2 ,he saith to him3 ,feed my lambs--,feed my sheep40 ,as if ,he had said3 ,you cannot show ,me your love better than by feeding ,my lambs and ,my sheep4 ,and thus we too cannot give to ,christ a more acceptable proof of our love than that of working for the salvation of souls1 the lambs and sheep for which ,he shed the last drop of ,his sacred blood4 ,how am ,i performing that holy task8 ,the question just now is not3 am ,i doing my full duty in the exercise of the sacred ministry8 but1 can ,i do any more than ,i have done so far1 or than ,i am actually doing for the good of immortal souls8 ,can ,i undertake any more work and remain within the bounds of discretion8 ,or at least can ,i perform my tasks with more care and devotedness8 ,and can ,i pray more fervently to draw down ,god's blessing on my labors8 ,there is still another way in which we can successfully exercise our zeal for souls1 namely by praying and working for the increase of the number of laborers in ,christ's vineyard4 ,st4 ,matthew tells us that1 8,seeing the multitudes ,christ had compassion on them1 because they were distressed and lying like sheep that have no shepherd4 ,then he said to his disciples3 ,the harvest indeed is great1 but the laborers are few4 ,pray ye therefore the ,lord of the harvest that he send laborers into his harvest0 7ix1 #cf-ch74 ,undoubtedly such prayers are daily going up to ,heaven asking for more sacred laborers1 and in response ,god is constantly furnishing ,his ,church with new accessions to the number of her ministers4 ,if our prayers were more abundant and more fervent and our efforts more earnest1 we could obtain still more4 ,here too is room for more generous exertions4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on the ,death of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,christ carried ,his cross a weary way up the mountain1 falling repeatedly beneath it4 ,arrived at the top1 ,he is despoiled of ,his garments1 and stands there a pillar of bleeding flesh4 ,he is most rudely nailed to the cross1 which is next lifted up1 and dropped with a shock into its socket4 ,his hands and feet are torn around the nails4 ,he exclaims3 8,father1 forgive them10 says to ,st4 ,john3 8,behold thy mother10 exclaims 8,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my ,spirit60 and expires4 ,his sacred ,heart is pierced4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ hanging on the cross1 amid the jeers of ,his triumphant enemies4 ,he is praying for us all4 #crd ,prelude4 ,beg for a loving compassion for ,his pains and for a deep sorrow for sin4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider how ,christ painfully carries ,his cross4 ,he thus shows us the one way to ,heaven1 that of suffering4 ,there would have been another way1 that of innocence1 by which the ,angels had entered2 but it was closed by the sin of ,adam and by our own sins4 ,now we must all suffer1 here or hereafter4 ,the lookers on were of three classes3 ,his enemies1 rejoicing2 ,his friends sorrowing2 the crowd1 indifferent4 ,it is so to-day4 ,the falls of ,christ represent our moral falls2 these must humble1 but not discourage us4 ,he meets ,his blessed ,mother3 sufferings bring us nearer to ,mary4 ,condole with her4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,christ is despoiled of ,his garments1 that ,he may die in the utmost poverty1 in which ,he has also been born4 ,his clothes cling to ,his torn flesh1 and are removed with no tender hands4 ,he bleeds again at every pore4 ,he is rudely thrown down on the cross2 watch the process of the nailing1 of the raising of the cross1 of its dropping into the hole with a rude shock1 ,his sacred flesh tearing about the nails4 ,he exclaims3 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,what charity6 ,what an example for us ,his followers6 ,again ,he speaks3 8,woman1 behold thy son10 8,behold thy mother40 ,st4 ,john1 the only one of the ,apostles present1 represented the ,church2 in his person we were all commended to ,mary by her dying ,son1 and we were bidden to hold her as our ,mother4 ,as ,christ hung there on the cross1 ,he viewed and read the hearts of all men1 for whom ,he died2 ,he thought of me in person4 ,he exclaimed3 8,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit60 and ,he expired4 ,let me resign myself into the hands of ,god with humble1 loving confidence4 ,let me thank the ,lord for ,his most precious death1 repent of my sins1 which required such expiation1 and pray that sinners may be converted4 ,let me lovingly kiss the cross1 and in spirit bend my head beneath the stream of ,his sacred blood1 to wash away my sins4 ,the sacred heart of ,jesus is next pierced with a lance1 to open that sanctuary for me and for all sinners4 ,let me adore that ,divine ,heart1 and promise to love and honor it1 and teach others to do the same4 ,colloquy with ,jesus1 my loving ,saviour2 with ,mary1 the ,mother of ,sorrows2 pleading for pardon1 protesting my love and my boundless gratitude4 ,,the ,,eighth ,,day ,so far we have followed our ,king1 ,jesus ,christ1 through ,his humiliations1 labors and sufferings from ,his incarnation to ,his cruel death2 we must now follow ,him in ,his glorified life4 ,there too ,he is still our leader1 by whose side we must triumph1 as we have fought by ,his side4 ,we must now rejoice with ,him4 ,for joy at ,his exaltation is worship2 and at the same time it encourages us to follow ,him generously and lovingly and to persevere to the end4 ,such is the purpose of the ,fourth ,week of ,st4 ,ignatius's ,exercises4 ,,the ,,first ,,meditation ,on the ,resurrection of ,christ #ast ,prelude4 ,the soul of ,christ1 accompanied by the holy souls from ,limbo1 comes to the tomb4 ,he arises glorious4 ,the holy women come to annoint the body4 8,he is not here40 ,christ appears to ,his ,blessed ,mother1 to the penitent ,magdalen1 to ,st4 ,peter1 to the devout women4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold the glorified body of the ,saviour1 as ,he arises from the tomb4 ,imagine the scene4 #crd ,prelude4 ,ask to rejoice with ,him for ,his own sake1 and to be thereby encouraged to suffer like ,him4 ,,point ,i4 ,behold the scene of ,his resurrection4 ,first see the lifeless body1 with its gaping wounds and discolored flesh4 ,in union with the blessed souls1 adore it4 ,then as ,christ's soul enters it1 behold how it is transformed4 ,how different ,he is now from 8the man of sorrows06 ,his sacred countenance beams with happiness4 ,recall ,his former transfiguration on ,mount ,thabor3 8,his face did shine as the sun1 and ,his garments became white as snow40 ,on ,his head there is still a crown1 but no more of thorns1 but now one of glory4 ,his sacred wounds are in ,his hands and feet and in ,his side1 but they drip no more with blood1 but pour forth rays of light4 ,bow down in loving adoration1 and in spirit humbly kiss ,his feet1 and adore your sovereign ,lord4 ,ask ,him to bless you1 and to strengthen you to follow in ,his footsteps4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,imagine you see the blessed souls proceed1 in company with ,christ1 to visit the cross1 on which ,he expiated the sins of the world4 ,adore the cross1 and kiss it lovingly4 ,bow down and kiss the spot on which ,he was nailed to the tree4 ,next1 retracing the way of the cross1 meditate lovingly on ,his various sufferings4 ,at last accompany the ,lord in spirit as ,he goes to visit and console ,his ,blessed ,mother4 ,there behold her still seated in the deepest affliction1 the ,mother of ,sorrows1 plunged in an agony of grief1 like that which had made the ,saviour exclaim3 8,father1 if it be possible let this chalice pass from me40 ,when suddenly a soft radiance fills the room1 and1 as she looks up1 she sees before her the glorified form of her ,divine ,son4 ,pause to share in her exceeding joy and love and gratitude4 ,remember that thus your sufferings too will one day be exchanged for boundless bliss4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider how meanwhile the pious women were hastening1 at early dawn1 on their way from the city to the tomb1 carrying with them precious ointments to embalm more perfectly the sacred body of their ,lord4 ,they ask one another as they approach the sacred spot3 8,who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre8 ,and looking they saw the stone rolled back4 ,for it was very great0 7,st4 ,mark xvi1 #c74 ,thus it is that we often see difficulties before us1 and we see no way of escape2 but a kind ,providence brings us unexpected help3 8,i can do all things in him who strengtheneth me0 wrote ,st4 ,paul 7,phil4 iv1 #ac74 ,we should not be too timid when we work for the glory of ,god4 ,still the holy women are not favored with the sight of the ,saviour1 but they are sent by the ,angel with a message to the ,apostles2 in due time ,jesus will reward their devotion4 8,and behold ,jesus met them1 saying1 ,all hail1 ,but they came up and took hold of his feet and adored him0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxviii1 #i74 ,this favor was the reward of their loving service4 ,oh6 that we could serve the ,redeemer as they did6 ,we can do so by honoring ,him in the ,blessed ,sacrament1 visiting ,him there1 adorning ,his altars4 ,we can also do it by serving the poor3 8,amen1 ,i say to you3 as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren1 you did it to me0 7,ib4 xxv1 #dj74 ,the ,lord has ,his own sweet way of encouraging us4 ,before appearing to those pious women1 ,he appeared first to ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen1 out of whom ,he has cast seven devils2 then ,he appeared to ,simon ,peter1 who had foresworn ,him4 ,truly ,christ had come on earth to save sinners2 none of us should ever despond4 ,a loving colloquy with our dear ,lord1 adoring ,him1 congratulating ,him on ,his triumphs1 in spirit embracing ,his sacred feet1 begging for grace to walk in ,his blessed footsteps till we too partake of ,his glory4 ,,the ,,second ,,meditation ,on ,christ's ,ascension into ,heaven #ast ,prelude4 ,read ,acts1 i1 #a-aa4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,behold the scene on ,mount ,olivet1 ,christ rising above the crowd of ,his disciples1 every one of whom looks lovingly upwards1 enraptured by the sight of ,his triumph4 #crd ,prelude4 ,beg to rejoice for ,christ's sake1 and to be encouraged to follow your ,king faithfully to the end4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider #a4 ,the ,persons3 ,christ1 the former 8,man of ,sorrows10 now the conqueror of death1 the glorified ,lord of ,heaven4 ,he is still our ,king1 leading the army of ,his followers into the ,kingdom of ,his ,father4 ,i must follow ,him on earth1 that ,i may follow ,him into ,heaven4 ,by ,his side stands ,his blessed ,mother1 how exultant now in ,his triumph6 ,there is the ,magdalen1 rapt in an ecstasy of joy2 ,st4 ,peter1 ,st4 ,john1 all ,his dearest friends1 rejoicing at the blissful vision4 #b4 ,the actions4 ,christ is ascending ,heavenwards1 going to take possession of ,his ,kingdom4 ,all ,his disciples raise their eyes and their hands towards ,his ascending form1 and experience a foretaste of that happiness which is to be their eternal reward4 #c4 ,the circumstances4 ,where does ,christ ascend8 ,in sight of ,calvary4 ,when8 ,but a few weeks after ,his dreadful death4 ,so too will our trials come to an early end1 much earlier perhaps than we anticipate4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider ,christ's entrance into ,heaven amid the adoring and exulting choirs of the entire angelic host1 and proceeding to occupy the most magnificent of all thrones1 prepared for ,him at the right hand of ,his ,father4 ,then began a bliss not less real than ,his sufferings had been1 with a joy ever ancient and ever new1 and destined to last for all eternity4 ,happy souls1 redeemed by ,his sacred death1 and purified in ,his precious blood1 are flocking in from every clime1 and are received to ,his loving embrace4 ,what ecstasy6 ,shall ,i ever reach that goal8 ,it is destined for me4 ,jesus is the ,king whom ,i am serving4 ,he knows me1 ,he loves me1 ,he beckons me on4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,look around that blissful abode4 ,who are there8 ,all the truly good of every generation4 ,there1 on that bright throne nearest to ,jesus is ,his ,blessed ,mother ,mary1 the queen of ,heaven and earth1 the refuge of sinners1 the help of ,christians1 my loving ,mother4 ,kneeling in spirit at her feet ,i will ask for perseverance in her service4 ,there are my blessed patrons1 whom ,i have honored on earth1 now ready to welcome me to their happy company4 ,holy ,saints of ,god1 pray for me6 ,there are many blessed souls whom ,i knew in the days of their own trials on earth1 my parents and relatives and fellow-religious1 and some perhaps whom ,i have benefited in life1 or after their death in ,purgatory4 ,all look down on me with loving eyes1 and bid me persevere and improve further in fervor of life2 for 8,the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 which shall be revealed in us0 7,rom4 viii1 #ah74 ,,point ,,iv4 ,consider the words of the two ,angels3 8,why stand you looking up to heaven8 ,this ,jesus who is taken up from you into heaven shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven40 ,for this second coming of the ,lord we must now prepare by active work4 ,the days of the retreat will soon be past1 we must return to the daily drudgery of life2 but we must do so with a renewed spirit of genuine devotion4 ,we must prepare like the ,prudent ,virgins3 8,at midnight there was a cry made3 ,behold1 the bridegroom cometh1 go ye forth to meet him--,and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxv1 #f-aj74 ,colloquy4 ,address our dear ,lord lovingly1 joyfully1 congratulating ,him on ,his triumph1 and begging for a generous spirit of sacrifice in ,his service4 ,,consideration ,on the ,spirit of ,love ,the ultimate purpose of the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius1 is to make us serve ,god in the most perfect manner possible1 and therefore in the spirit of love1 or charity3 8,now there remain faith1 hope1 and charity2 these three1 but the greater of these is charity0 7,i ,cor4 xiii1 #ac74 ,love is the most excellent homage that the creature can render to the ,creator4 ,behold the bee in the springtime issuing from its hive and soaring afar over the sunny fields4 ,it is in quest of honey3 ,honey is all it cares for4 ,it passes by the velvet pansy1 the flaming tulip1 and lights with eagerness on the humble clover1 because it finds honey there4 ,thus too some men prize and seek nothing but riches1 others only honor1 others pleasure1 etc4 ,what can there be in this vast material universe that ,god would deign to care for8 ,it is love of the human heart4 ,it is ,his delight to be with the children of men1 as ,he tells us in the ,book of ,proverbs3 8,my delights to be with the children of men0 7viii1 #ca74 ,and what does the ,lord desire from men8 ,he states it further on3 8,my son1 give me thy heart0 7,ib4 xxiii1 #bf72 that is1 of course1 thy love2 for the heart of man is the emblem of love4 ,without love nothing has value in ,god's eyes1 as the ,apostle proclaims so eloquently in his ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians3 8,if ,i should distribute all my goods to the poor1 and ,i should deliver my body to be burned1 and have not charity1 it profiteth me nothing0 7xiii1 #c74 ,this charity is so pleasing to ,heaven because it comes from ,heaven2 it is ,divine3 8,the charity of ,god is poured forth in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost1 who is given to us0 7,rom4 v1 #e74 ,of course1 our love of ,god is no benefit to ,him1 no more than the love of a little child for its parents is any profit to them4 ,the infant causes any amount of inconvenience and trouble in the home4 ,its loving looks and tender caresses are all it can give in return for the kindness shown it2 but this is sufficient in the eyes of affectionate parents4 ,we are like infants before the ,lord1 we can give ,him nothing that ,he stands in need of1 all ,he desires of us is that we love ,him2 and this very love ,he turns to our own advantage1 for ,he rewards it most richly4 ,besides this reward1 there is another advantage derived from loving ,god1 namely that love lightens all burdens of life4 ,why does a young mother1 formerly rapped up in the pursuit of pleasure1 now sit so patiently for hours by the bedside of her ailing child1 forgetful of all worldly amusements1--except because she loves that infant4 ,love makes all efforts pleasing2 as ,thomas ,kempis puts it3 ,facile equitat quem gratia ,dei portat1 8,he rides along with ease who is borne up by the grace of ,god40 ,so if we are animated by the love of ,god1 we rejoice in serving ,him1 we hunger and thirst after justice4 ,and this cheerful service on our part vastly increases the love ,god has for our persons2 8,for ,god loveth a cheerful giver0 7#b ,cor4 ix1 #g74 ,and thus by the practice of ,divine love the bond that unites the human soul with our ,blessed ,lord grows stronger and stronger4 ,therefore1 while the worldling sees nothing but hardships in the religious state1 the inmates of the cloister would consider it the saddest misfortune if they were compelled to leave their happy homes and return to the world4 ,this love of ,god is that sacred fire of which ,christ said3 8,i am come to cast fire on the earth1 and what will ,i but that it be kindled80 7,st4 ,luke xii1 #di74 ,it shone with a most refulgent light when1 on the day of ,pentecost1 the ,holy ,ghost appeared in the form of fiery tongues and filled the minds and hearts of the disciples4 ,and see how the ,divine love1 then received1 transformed the ,apostles into new men4 ,before1 they had been very dull of comprehension1 some of them asking the ,saviour on the day of ,his ascension whether ,he was then going to restore the ,kingdom of ,israel2 then they became at once the infallible teachers of the world4 ,before1 they had been cowardly men1 locked up in the upper room for fear of the ,jews2 then they were suddenly changed into heroes1 rejoicing1 when they had been publicly whipped1 that they were allowed to suffer for the name of ,jesus4 ,all of them were glad to die for their ,lord4 ,countless martyrs were enkindled with the same fire of love2 men1 timid women1 little boys1 tender maidens1 astonishing the ,pagans by their heroic fortitude4 ,when the early persecutions were past1 thousands of solitaries retired from the allurements of the world1 and were led by the spirit of ,divine love into frightful solitudes to spend their lives in penance and prayer1 thinking of ,god alone4 ,every subsequent age in the history of the ,church is replete with similar exhibitions of the love of ,jesus4 ,hundreds of thousands of ,christians left home and country1 and sacrificed their lives to rescue from the hands of ,pagans the tomb of the ,redeemer4 ,others1 during the ,ages of ,faith1 devoted their riches or their personal labor to erect magnificent cathedrals1 and provide a rich supply of gold and silver vases1 of precious vestments and ornaments for the house of their beloved ,lord4 ,when the charity of many had grown cold1 the ,blessed ,saviour knew how to rekindle its fires by means of the devotion to ,his ,sacred ,heart4 ,he appeared to ,his humble servant ,blessed ,margaret ,mary ,alacoque1 and said to her3 8,behold the heart that has loved men so much1 and yet ,i receive nothing but ingratitude in return40 ,the whole purpose of this beautiful devotion is to elicit the love of human hearts for their loving ,saviour1 so as to unite ,god and men together by the golden bond of love4 ,to promote this devotion ,jesus has been liberal in ,his promises4 ,for those who practise it fervently ,he promised that ,he would be their secure refuge during life and above all in death1 that ,he would bestow a rich blessing on all their undertakings1 that by it tepid souls would become fervent1 and fervent souls would mount quickly to a high perfection1 that ,he would give to priests the gift of touching the hardest hearts1 that ,he would write in ,his sacred ,heart the names of those who would zealously promote this devotion and ,he would never allow them to be blotted out4 ,it is conformable to the sweet ways of ,providence to make the remedy of an evil reach further than the disease4 ,thus1 when our race had been disgraced by the sin of ,adam1 ,god far more than repaired the harm done2 which makes holy ,church exclaim with gladness3 8,oh1 happy fault1 which merited to have such a ,redeemer60 ,and so it has been with the devotion to the ,sacred ,heart4 ,it was instituted by the ,lord that men might learn to appreciate more highly ,his love for us1 and return ,him a more ardent love than was given ,him before1 to atone also for the coldness and the sins of others1 and to induce all to receive more frequently ,his ,sacred body and blood4 ,it is truly wonderful how successfully all this has been accomplished4 ,now millions of persons of all ages and conditions in life1 have formed the excellent habit of daily giving their first thoughts to elicit an act of love for ,jesus1 and offering all their actions and sufferings at the opening of each day for the intentions of the ,sacred ,heart4 ,and it is probably no exaggeration to say that1 since ,christ's desire of frequent ,communions was whispered by ,him to ,blessed ,margaret ,mary1 the number of ,holy ,communions daily received has increased1 not only a hundred but a thousand fold4 ,and while such devout practices have thus multiplied beyond all calculation1 the main purpose of it all has been attained to a most consoling extent4 ,for while the age in which we live is becoming more and more indifferent and often hostile to the ,lord1 ,his true friends long more ardently than before to return to ,him love for love1 and to induce countless souls to serve ,him in the spirit of love4 ,this spirit no doubt animates our own hearts4 ,it has now been enkindled anew in the ,spiritual ,exercises2 and it ought to be the dominant note in the new life for which this retreat has been a preparation4 ,let us do our utmost1 with the help of ,divine grace1 to do all things henceforth in the spirit of the love of ,god4 ,this spirit of love is beautifully expressed in the ,,hymn ,,of ,,st4 ,,francis ,,xavier ,my ,god1 ,i love ,thee6 not because ,i hope for ,heaven thereby2 ,nor because those who love ,thee not ,must burn eternally4 ,thou1 ,o my ,jesus1 ,thou didst me ,upon the ,cross embrace6 ,for me didst bear the nails and spear1 ,and manifold disgrace1 ,and griefs and torments numberless1 ,and sweat of agony1 ,yea1 death itself--and all for one ,that was ,thine enemy4 ,then why1 ,o ,blessed ,jesus ,christ1 ,should ,i not love ,thee well8 ,not for the hope of winning ,heaven ,nor of escaping ,hell2 ,not with the hope of gaining aught1 ,not seeking a reward2 ,but as ,thyself hast loved me1 ,o everlasting ,lord6 ,e'en so ,i love ,thee1 and will love1 ,and in ,thy praise will sing-- ,solely because ,thou art my ,god1 ,and my eternal ,king4 ,translation of ,e4 ,,caswall4 ,,the ,,third ,,meditation ,on ,divine ,love ,after our consideration on the value and excellence of ,divine love and its connection with the devotion to the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus1 we are now to meditate on some striking manifestations of ,god's love for us1 and on various ways in which we can manifest our love for ,him4 ,we begin1 with ,st4 ,ignatius1 by remarking that genuine love does not consist in a mere feeling1 or sentiment1 but in the will to please or benefit the person loved1 even at the cost of sacrifice on our part4 ,for instance1 imagine two boys1 coming home for vacation from a boarding school1 differing greatly in the manifestation of their affection for parents and kindred1 whom both were glad to meet again4 ,one of them was very demonstrative of his tender feelings2 you would have thought that his love for all was far greater than that of his less effusive brother4 ,after a few days however their father had a task for them to do which required a little sacrifice on their part4 ,then the affectionate lad had all manner of excuses to evade the trouble1 without giving a thought to his father's needs1 while his brother quietly volunteered to do the work of both4 ,his love was genuine2 such should be our love for ,god4 ,a second remark of ,st4 ,ignatius is that love between two persons is increased by the frequent interchange of kindly services4 ,the more we do for ,god1 and the more we consider what ,he has done for us1 the more devoted we shall become to ,him1 and the more pleasing in ,his sight4 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold ,jesus before you1 looking benignly down upon you as upon a loved child4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg fervently for an increase of love for ,him4 ,,point ,i4 ,recall to mind the principal benefits you have received from ,god1 from your birth till the present day1 both those common to you and all others1 and particularly those peculiar to yourself1 tracing the wonderful ways in which a benign ,providence has guided you to your present state4 ,render hearty thanks to the ,lord1 and make ,him the following offering in return3 8,accept1 ,o ,lord1 all my liberty1 accept my memory1 my understanding and my will4 ,thou hast given me all these powers2 ,i restore them all to ,thee1 and ,i deliver them entirely into ,thy hands that ,thou mayest direct them4 ,only give me ,thy love and ,thy grace2 these are all ,i desire40 ,,point ,,ii4 ,see how ,god is most intimately present to you1 not only as the water of the ocean is about a sponge1 before it and behind1 above and below1 right and left of it and within every pore1 but ,he penetrates your entire body and soul1 and ,his delight is to be with the children of men4 ,on your part resolve to keep yourself constantly in the presence of ,god1 cultivating the habit of thinking lovingly about ,god1 speaking with ,him when not otherwise employed4 ,this need not cause a strain of mind2 it only gives an excellent direction to our thoughts and affections1 which would otherwise be wasted upon useless or perhaps even unworthy objects4 ,lovingly offer this resolution to your dear ,lord1 and ask ,him to bless and prosper it4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider how ,god is unceasingly working for you1 as a loving father works for the support of his children4 ,he causes the earth to produce whatever you need for food and raiment and lodging2 in far distant climes ,he makes the fruits and the spices grow which are to refresh and to cheer you4 ,resolve1 in return1 to labor strenuously for whatever will promote the glory of ,god4 ,the field of zealous labors for the honor of ,god and the good of souls1 the children of ,god1 is vast and varied4 ,christ bids us pray the ,lord of the harvest that he may send laborers into ,his harvest 7,st4 ,luke x1 #b74 ,offer yourself to be a devoted laborer1 ask for toils and even hardships in this noble service4 ,see what special efforts you can make in this matter1 and offer your resolves to the ,lord4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,every trait of goodness1 whatever is amiable or admirable in any creature1 is but a faint reflection of an infinite perfection in the ,creator4 ,a bright flower1 a vast prospect1 a noble deed1 an affectionate heart and a thousand other charms found on earth are able1 each of them1 to raise our minds to the thought of the beauty1 the grandeur1 the infinite loveliness of our dear ,lord4 ,thus the sight of a pretty flower sometimes threw ,st4 ,ignatius into an ecstasy of ,divine love4 ,resolve1 that1 whenever any charm on earth arouses your love or admiration1 you will take occasion from it to raise your heart to ,god1 and to elicit an act of love for ,him who is the source and the pattern of all that can duly delight the human heart4 ,colloquy4 ,finish this last meditation of the retreat with a generous consecration of yourself and of all you have to the love and service of your dear ,lord and ,master1 either in your own words or in those of ,st4 ,ignatius quoted in the first point of this exercise1 or in the loving renovation of your religious vows4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,eight ,,days ,,retreat4 ,,six ,,triduums ,in ,preparation for the ,semi-,annual ,renovation of the ,vows ,,triduum ,a ,,meditation ,i ,on the ,desire of ,perfection #ast ,prelude4 ,hear ,christ1 in the ,sermon on the ,mount1 saying to ,his disciples3 8,be ye perfect as also your heavenly ,father is perfect0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #dh74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg for an earnest desire of perfection4 ,,point ,i4 ,one great hindrance to attain perfection is the want of desire to attain it1 a want of proper appreciation of this exalted privilege4 ,this state of mind is3 #a4 ,very unreasonable1 unwise4 ,it is like the deplorable disposition of many college boys1 whom we blame and despise1 because they have not sense enough to value their opportunity to acquire an education4 ,their fault is palliated by their youth2 they will be sorry afterwards4 ,there is no such excuse for religious4 ,they ought to know better4 ,striving after perfection is the main duty of their state4 #b4 ,very inexpedient for their happiness even in this world4 8,the heart of man is made for ,god6 nothing but ,god can make it happy10 says ,st4 ,augustine4 ,a lax religious is less happy than a fervent one2 he does not enjoy that peace of mind which the world cannot give2 he worries1 frets at many things1 unlike the fervent4 #c4 ,inexpedient for the next life1 causing immense loss of merit and future glory1 exchanged for trifles4 #d4 ,injurious to our neighbor1 whose salvation depends to a great extent on our holiness4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,a second hindrance to the attainment of perfection consists in a want of confidence of attaining it4 ,some imagine that perfection1 desirable as it is in itself1 is out of the question for them1 they are unworthy of aspiring to it4 ,now distrust of self is excellent1 but we must not distrust ,god1 either ,his power or ,his love for us4 ,god is not like the man condemned in the ,gospel who began to build and could not carry the building to completion4 ,he has invited us to aim at perfection2 for that is the nature of the religious life4 ,we have accepted ,his invitation2 it is now for ,him to furnish us copious means to attain perfection4 ,the die is cast2 we are pledged to strive after perfection1 and ,god has pledged ,himself to provide4 ,father ,lallemant1 so enlightened in spiritual matters1 has left written that the holiness to which every ,jesuit is called surpasses all imagination1 and that1 if any one could see the amount of grace that ,god has prepared for each of us1 he would conclude they were destined for no less a ,saint than an ,ignatius or a ,xavier 7,spiritual ,doctrine1 page #bi74 ,we ought confidently to say with ,st4 ,paul3 8,i can do all things in him who strengtheneth me10 ,omnia possum in eo qui me confortat 7,phil4 iv1 #ac71 and with the ,psalmist3 8,if armies in camp should stand together against me1 my heart shall not fear10 8,si consistant adversum me castra1 non timebit cor meum0 7,ps4 #bf74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,some religious say they know not how to attain perfection4 ,the way is plain enough1 if only we make up our mind to follow it4 ,it requires3 #a4 ,the faithful observance of our rules3 whoever observes them perfectly is a real saint4 ,we all observe most of them2 let us observe all of them4 #b4 ,much good prayer1 performing our spiritual exercises faithfully and fervently4 ,in particular let us perform this triduum to the best of our power4 ,what is required for this purpose8 a4 ,silence and recollection2 b4 ,earnest meditations2 c4 ,spiritual readings that speak to our hearts2 d4 ,careful examinations of our spiritual progress4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 asking for a thorough renovation of ,spirit4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,in ,what ,perfection ,consists #ast ,prelude4 ,see ,god enthroned in ,heaven1 and all the ,saints lovingly looking up to ,him4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg grace to understand in what perfection really consists4 ,,point ,i4 ,a thing is good if it answers fairly well the purpose for which it is made2 it is perfect if it answers that purpose as well as is desirable4 ,thus a pen is perfect if it is every way suitable to write with1 a watch is perfect if it always keeps time4 ,now man is made to love ,god2 he is therefore perfect if he devotes himself entirely to the love of ,god4 ,that perfection consists formally in ,charity is expressly stated by ,st4 ,paul1 who writes to the ,colossians3 8,above all things have charity1 which is the bond of perfection0 7iii1 #ad74 ,to attain perfection1 therefore1 we must accustom ourselves to be totally taken up with ,god and ,god's interests1 for ,god's sake4 ,this is the main purpose aimed at by ,father ,faber in his excellent book 8,all for ,jesus40 ,read for instance1 pages #dh1 #di4 ,much of this may be in many men merely sentimental1 or poetical4 ,to make it actual in us1 real in our conduct and the dispositions of our will1 seeking ,god in all things1 is true sanctity4 ,at this we must steadily aim4 ,it is in fact the motto of our ,society3 ,ad ,majorem ,dei ,gloriam1 8,to the ,greater ,glory of ,god40 ,a perfect man is a man of one idea1 the idea of the greater glory of ,god4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,such devotedness to ,god requires detachment from all creatures2 this detachment is not itself perfection1 but it is a necessary condition to attain this entire devotedness1 in which perfection consists4 ,we must act like the man who had found a treasure hidden in a field1 who to secure it went and sold all he had to buy that field2 and like him who1 to buy the precious pearl1 went and sold all he had 7,st4 ,matth4 xiii1 #dd-df74 ,we must be detached4 ,our hearts are so narrow that we cannot give a part of them to one object without detracting from our love for another1 except only if we love the former solely for the sake of the latter4 ,thus we should love all for ,god4 ,therefore we start on the road to perfection by leaving all things to follow ,him4 ,it must not prevent us from taking interest in many things1 else we become wooden saints4 ,with a ,st4 ,ignatius1 a ,st4 ,francis ,xavier1 a ,st4 ,catherine of ,sienna1 etc41 we must cherish eager desires of many projects1 but only in as much as they promote ,god's glory and the salvation of souls4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,in particular the study of perfection requires constant efforts3 #a4 ,to adorn our soul with more and more virtue1 #b4 ,to correct our faults1 #c4 ,for this purpose1 to labor earnestly at our particular examen1 our confessions1 #d4 ,to direct our spiritual readings and meditations to the purposes of the illuminative way1 returning to the purgative way if there arises some special need of it4 ,keep weeding1 planting1 binding4 ,the chief point in this triduum is to see whether we have been of late seriously laboring at the acquisition of perfection as we now understand it3 in particular whether we are attached to any creature so as to retard our progress1 or habituated to commit any faults1 which must be corrected2 also how we profit by our ,holy ,communions1 our meditations1 etc41 so as to promote steady progress in virtue4 ,colloquy4 ,ask for the special graces of which you see a present need4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,christ the ,model of ,perfection #ast ,prelude4 ,see ,christ carrying ,his cross1 and saying3 8,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross and follow me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xvi1 #bd74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for grace to follow ,christ faithfully4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the consoling truth that ,christ has really made ,himself our guide4 ,he is such by word and example4 ,we could not have a nobler nor safer guide4 ,he has led millions before us to the highest happiness4 ,in this text ,he invites us to follow ,him4 ,let us thank ,him for this gracious offer and eagerly accept it4 ,he is to us what the ,angel ,raphael was to ,tobias4 ,true1 ,tobias could see the ,angel1 but he did not know who he was2 we cannot see ,christ1 but we know who ,he is and how ,he has acted4 ,our ,society undertakes to follow ,him in all the details of our lives4 ,in this following consists perfection4 ,we are actually following ,him2 but how earnestly8 how generously8 ,can we not improve in many respects8 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the words3 8,let him deny himself40 ,christ denied ,himself3 ,his ease1 ,his health and life1 ,his honor4 ,in trying to follow ,him we made a good beginning when we left our parents and all earthly possessions2 to crown the work we must leave ourselves3 #ast4 ,our ease1 by hard work1 without repining1 with joy and perseverance4 ,many seculars work much harder than we do1 but many do so grudgingly4 ,not so ,christ2 we must do like ,him4 #bnd1 ,our health and life1 leaving all this in ,god's hands1 with proper care indeed1 but no solicitude4 ,oh1 if we could die in ,his service6 ,it would be the greatest happiness4 ,we may have that good fortune if we never shirk any duty4 #c1 ,our honor4 ,christ willingly made ,himself 8,a worm and no man1 the reproach of men and the outcast of the people0 7,ps4 #ba74 ,the lowest on earth at first1 ,he is now the highest in ,heaven1 and ,he invites us to follow ,him4 ,when we experience loss of ease1 of health1 of honor1 how do we take it8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider the words3 8and take up his cross40 ,what is our cross8 ,it is not so heavy as ,christ's4 ,our cross is3 #ast1 ,our daily tasks4 ,perform them faithfully1 zealously1 cheerfully4 #bnd1 ,our afflictions1 sufferings1 failures1 disappointments4 ,be patient1 do not despond3 8,sufficient for the day is the evil thereof0 7,st4 ,matth4 vi1 #cd74 ,trust in ,god3 8,no one hath hoped in the ,lord and hath been confounded0 7,ecclus4 ii1 #aa74 #crd1 ,our passions2 we must keep them in check by unremitting efforts4 #dth1 ,the conduct of others3 8,blessed are ye when they shall revile you--,be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #aa74 8,the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 that shall be revealed in us0 7,rom4 viii1 #ah74 ,,point ,,iv4 ,consider the words3 8,and follow me40 ,keep your eyes on ,jesus carrying ,his cross4 ,notice3 #a4 ,his exterior behavior4 ,do we properly observe our rules of modesty8 #b4 ,his interior sentiments4 ,like ,his ,sacred ,heart1 is our heart at peace8 ,kind to all8 ,conformable to ,god's will8 8,take up my yoke upon you1 and learn of me1 because ,i am meek and humble of heart1 and you shall find rest to your souls0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #bi74 ,colloquy4 8,master1 ,i will follow thee whithersoever thou shall go0 7,st4 ,matth4 viii1 #ai74 ,,meditation ,,iv ,the ,need of ,prayer to ,attain ,perfection #ast ,prelude4 ,see the ,apostles around ,christ1 and saying3 8,lord teach us to pray0 7,st4 ,luke xi1 #a74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg earnestly to become a man of prayer4 ,,point ,i4 ,no perfection is attainable without much fervent prayer4 ,for perfection consists in charity1 the love of ,god1 and this love is not natural to man4 ,men naturally view everything as related to themselves1 to their earthly advantages of business1 ease1 pleasure1 honor1 etc4 ,perfection substitutes ,god for self4 ,this1 being altogether supernatural1 requires much grace1 and the ordinary means to obtain grace is prayer4 ,those who enter on the way to perfection must be trained to the pursuit of it4 ,all religious ,orders use for this purpose a copious supply of prayer4 ,our ,society in particular has constant recourse to this means3 the long retreats1 the yearly octiduums1 the triduums1 the daily meditations1 holy masses1 holy communions1 daily litanies1 examinations of conscience1 the ,divine ,office1 the beads1 visits to the ,blessed ,sacraments1 etc4 ,most of these exercises are to be continued during life4 ,by all this prayer we get to realize practically what worldlings know only in theory3 ,god's love1 mercy1 majesty1 holiness1 justice1 eternity1 providence1 etc41 ,his incarnation1 the ,blessed ,sacrament1 the power and love of ,mary1 etc4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,when are we men of prayer8 ,when we have learned to refer all things explicitly to ,god4 ,cardinal ,bellarmin points out three degrees of prayer3 #ast1 ,some speak to ,god1 but hear no answer1 like the populace in the street crying to a distant king4 #bnd1 ,others receive some token that they are attended to1 like men admitted to an audience and allowed to file a petition4 #crd1 ,others converse with ,god and ,he with them2 they hear more than they say1 and1 like courtiers1 can approach their ,lord frequently4 ,how is it with us8 ,are we accustomed to turn to ,god readily1 confidently1 lovingly8 ,some have the gift of prayer before they enter the novitiate1 some get it during their early years of religious life and ever increase it1 some partly lose it amid active duties1 some get it at their ordination1 some during their third year of probation1 while others never acquire it to any great extent4 ,it can be obtained by earnest petition and fidelity in the practice of devout prayer4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what difference does it make in a man8 ,he may be a religious1 but not a good one unless he becomes a man of prayer2 nor is he safe meanwhile4 ,for one cannot lead the life of a fervent and faithful religious unless he possess considerable command over his passions1 and he cannot maintain this self-mastery without much good prayer4 ,yet he may do so without attaining the third degree of prayer4 ,but when he reaches that1 he becomes a different man1 a special friend of ,god1 enlightened1 strengthened1 not impeccable1 yet pretty safe2 a powerful means for the salvation of souls4 ,such have been all the models proposed by holy ,church for our imitation4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,what chance have we ,jesuits of becoming men of prayer8 ,an excellent chance4 ,the third degree of prayer is a common gift of ,god in our ,society4 ,it is the obvious tendency of our frequent retreats4 ,the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius aim directly to produce this fruit1 and the ,lord has entrusted the direction of them to our ,fathers1 whose duty it is to give them to priests and the laity1 even to members of the most contemplative ,orders4 ,many of our ascetic writers exhibit this gift in a conspicuous degree4 ,am ,i a man of prayer8 ,what can ,i do to improve in this important matter8 ,colloquy4 ,earnest petition for the gift of prayer1 and for light and grace to take the proper measures to procure progress4 ,,meditation ,v ,the ,power of ,prayer to ,obtain ,perfection #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you are listening to ,christ at the ,sermon on the ,mount while ,he says3 8,ask and it shall be given you1 seek and you shall find1 knock and it shall be opened to you0 7,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #g74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly to obtain great confidence in prayer4 ,,point ,i4 ,prayer is a spiritual gold mine4 ,when gold is discovered on a piece of arid land1 the owners have at once at their disposal the means of becoming very rich4 ,similarly the soul that begins to understand the efficacy of prayer can obtain by its means a copious supply of actual graces1 by which ,heaven and perfection are easily secured4 ,for ,providence has so disposed that grace is readily obtained by prayer1 and some holy ,doctors therefore call it the key to the treasury of ,god4 ,the riches of that treasury are inexhaustible4 ,they are intended for us and put at our disposal4 ,it was by prayer that a ,st4 ,aloysius1 a ,st4 ,stanislaus and countless others became saints in their childhood1 that ,st4 ,ignatius1 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier1 etc41 etc41 were led from a worldly to a holy life4 ,all of us have the same means at our disposal4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,listen to ,christ's own invitation and promises4 ,read ,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #g-aa1 ,st4 ,john xvi1 #bc1 #bd4 ,notice that these promises do not suppose great virtue in him who prays4 ,for ,christ addresses them to sinners1 saying3 8,if you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children1 how much more will your ,father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him80 7,st4 ,matth4 vii1 #aa74 ,we are most readily heard when we ask for spiritual favors4 ,this is clearly stated by the ,saviour1 for ,he says3 8,how much more will your ,father from heaven give the good ,spirit to them that ask him80 7,st4 ,luke xi1 #ac74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,why are we not always heard in prayer8 ,because we do not fulfil the required conditions4 #a4 ,we must ask what is really good for us4 ,for ,st4 ,james writes3 8,you ask and receive not2 because you ask amiss1 that you may consume it on your concupiscences0 7iv1 #c74 #b4 ,we must ask with great confidence4 ,we go to draw the waters of grace from a rich fountain1 but the vessel of our confidence may be so small that we can carry off but little4 ,while the multitudes pressed upon ,jesus on all sides1 one afflicted woman was cured because she touched ,him with great confidence2 and ,he said3 8,somebody hath touched me1 for ,i know that virtue is gone out from me4444 ,but ,he said to her3 ,daughter1 thy faith hath made thee whole0 7,st4 ,luke viii1 #df-dh74 #c4 ,we must ask with proper reverence and attention4 ,for how could we expect ,god to mind our petitions if we do not attend to them ourselves8 ,if we pray thus ,he may say3 8,this people honoreth me with their lips1 but their heart is far from me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xv1 #h74 #d4 ,we must pray with perseverance1 as ,christ teaches by the parable of the importunate man who came to ask for aid during the night1 and obtained it because he persevered in his importunity 7,st4 ,luke xi1 #e-h74 #e4 ,we must pray with resignation to ,god's will1 as ,christ ,himself did in ,his agony1 saying3 8,my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this chalice pass from me4 ,nevertheless not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxvi1 #ci74 ,we must be full of confidence that no good prayer ever goes up to ,heaven which does not obtain a grace2 but ,god knows best what grace will benefit us most1 and ,he deals with us as a loving father with his children4 ,colloquy4 ,ask eagerly for great confidence in the power of prayer4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,the ,aid of ,mary to ,attain ,perfection #ast ,prelude4 ,see the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary in ,heaven1 surrounded by the ,saints of our ,society4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for a fervent devotion to her4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider what part ,god has assigned to her1 in the salvation and sanctification of mankind4 ,the first promise of the ,redeemer referred to her as destined to crush the serpent's head4 ,the work of the redemption began with her at the ,annunciation4 ,at her voice ,elizabeth and her child were filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,as through ,mary ,jesus was given to the world1 so through her ,he is given to ,his servants individually4 ,as she was with ,jesus all through ,his life on earth1 so ,mary is ever ready to aid each one of us all through our earthly pilgrimage4 ,on ,calvary all of us were committed to her care in the person of ,st4 ,john4 ,in her company the disciples received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,she has been bodily taken up to ,heaven to intercede for us with the ,lord1 and to beckon us on to follow her4 ,she is daily co-operating for the sanctification of numberless souls through her multifarious religious ,orders and ,congregations1 her ,rosary and ,scapular ,societies and divers other ,confraternities1 etc41 ,st4 ,liguori and various other ,doctors say that every grace given to men passes through her hands and that a true child of ,mary is never lost4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider what the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary has been to our ,society in particular4 ,she appeared to ,st4 ,ignatius at ,loyola1 set the seal on his conversion and freed him once for all from temptations of the flesh2 she made him her devoted ,knight at ,mont-,serrat2 she aided him in composing his ,spiritual ,exercises at ,manresa2 she received the first vows of the little band at ,montmartre on the feast of her ,assumption4 ,she figures most conspicuously in the lives of all our ,saints2 of ,st4 ,stanislaus1 ,st4 ,aloysius1 ,st4 ,john ,berchmans1 ,st4 ,alphonsus1 ,blessed ,baldinucci1 etc41 etc4 ,she has given us the direction of her ,sodalities1 and by its means has helped us to promote piety and purity among countless numbers of her clients4 ,thank her warmly for all she has done in our favor1 and ask an increase of sanctity for yourself and for all your religious brethren4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,let each one consider what favors he personally owes to the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,retrace in mind your practices of devotion to her from your early childhood to the present day4 ,offer once more all you have ever done in her honor4 ,think of the protection she has afforded you with a mother's love1 her probable influence on your vocation to the ,society1 on your novice fervor1 on all your religious life up to the present day4 ,is there any devotion which you ever practised in her honor and which you have since discontinued8 ,with what fervor do you daily honor her8 ,could you do more to honor or to please her8 either by your own conduct or by your influence over others8 ,colloquy4 ,speak to ,mary confidently and lovingly1 asking for light and grace to improve further in your zeal for her glory4 ,,triduum ,b ,,meditation ,i ,on the ,vows #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine the scene of your first vows4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask light and grace to prepare for a fervent renovation4 ,,point ,i4 ,what did we do when we first took our vows8 ,we offered ourselves to ,god as a holocaust--with parents1 home1 possessions1 prospects--body and soul--understanding and will1--to belong to ,god alone1 to devote our entire life to ,his service and glory4 ,if we had died then1 what would have been our reward8 ,life everlasting 7,st4 ,matth4 xix1 #bi74 ,that reward is still due us2 it cannot be forfeited or even diminished except by mortal sin4 ,and if thus lost1 it is regained by penance in its entirety4 ,thank the ,lord warmly for such a treasure1 ask grace to be ever faithful1 and to profit by this triduum to increase your fervor4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what has been our life ever since8 ,the gradual consummation of the great sacrifice1 the accomplishment of our spiritual martyrdom4 ,then we entered the prison1 the exile2 now we are leading the martyr's life1 dying the martyr's death4 ,if we do not find it hard1 it is because grace supports us3 8,facile equitat quem gratia ,dei portat01 8,he rides along with ease who is borne up by the grace of ,god10 says ,thomas ,kempis4 ,still our life may be at times unsatisfactory2 it is a martyr's life1 above the power of mere human nature1 full of merit1 doing honor to ,god1 hated by the enemies of ,god1 salutary to ourselves and to the neighbor4 ,this life is never at a standstill1 but ever moving onward and upward2 therefore it is up-hill work4 ,and because it is a combat against sensual inclinations1 it has its alterations of successes and reverses2 its progress heavenward is not represented by a straight but by a curved line4 ,when it gets below a certain level1 or tends downwards at all1 we must beware4 ,facilis descensus ,averni1 8,the descent to ,hell is easy40 ,this is the very reason for the need of such triduums as the present4 ,thank ,god1 ask pardon1 resolve4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,compare your former with your present dispositions regarding your general spirit of fervor1 your faithful observance of rules1 even the most minute1 your obedience1 even of will and judgment1 your earnestness in prayer1 your self-distrust1 your charity to the neighbor1 your unworldliness1 your zeal for souls1 your patience4 ,above all avoid all wilful faults4 ,colloquy4 ,ask earnestly for a thorough renovation of spirit1 and offer your resolutions to the ,lord4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,on ,renovation of the ,vows #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine ,god says to you3 8,my son1 give me thy heart0 7,prov4 xxiii1 #bf74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to do so most earnestly4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the origin of this renovation4 ,it was begun by ,st4 ,ignatius and his first companions while they were students at ,paris1 where they met every year in the ,church of ,montmartre1 on the feast of the ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin1 the anniversary of their first vows1 to quit all things and live for ,god alone4 ,the practice was afterwards incorporated in the ,constitution of our ,society1 and has been adopted by numerous religious ,congregations4 ,it has been found so productive of good results that it ought to encourage all to perform the same most fervently4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what are the purposes of this renovation8 #a4 ,it confirms and reasserts the total dedication of ourselves to the service of ,god2 as ,holy ,church invites her children1 when they have attained the age of discretion1 to renew by their own act the promises made in their name by their sponsors at ,baptism4 ,if any hindrance interfered with the validity of our first vows1 the obstacle being now removed1 the renovation of the vows gives them permanent force4 #b4 ,it may often be more meritorious than the first vows had been1 since it is made after the hardships of the religious life have been experienced and are therefore more fully realized than before4 ,as the soldier who reenlists in an army shows more devotedness to its cause than he did by first joining the ranks of the army4 #c4 ,since the vows act as a second ,baptism1 removing all sin and all punishment due to sin1 and this precious effect is ascribed by ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas to the perfect charity which the vows imply1 the same results may naturally be expected whenever the vows are renewed with the same good will4 ,and this same good will is most apt to be present at the semi-annual renovation of the vows4 #d4 ,as the religious vows entitle the soul to a rich supply of actual graces that it may be faithful to their observance1 so the earnest renovation of the same secures a new supply of such ,divine aid to advance steadily in the pursuit of sanctity4 #e4 ,every act of virtue increases the measure of our eternal happiness1 especially acts of heroic virtue2 the loving renovation of the vows is sure to add each time a rich jewel to our heavenly crown4 ,taking the religious vows generously has always a touch of the heroic about it4 #f4 ,each renovation of the vows strengthens our resolves1 and clamps us more firmly to ,god4 ,it often takes many a blow to drive in a nail and make it stick with firmness1 so with our virtuous resolutions4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what are we expected to do during this triduum8 ,we must aim at a thorough renovation of the religious spirit2 and for this purpose generous souls will devise various means4 ,but to a certain extent our ,society undertakes to direct our efforts by describing certain definite practices1 which must be faithfully used by all4 ,they are clearly marked out in the ,letter of ,father ,vincent ,caraffa3 #a4 ,avoiding all unnecessary intercourse with the outside world2 #b4 ,observing a strict silence1 even during the times of the ordinary recreations2 #c4 ,half an hour's reading daily of a practical spiritual book4 #d4 ,making two earnest meditations daily1 one of them before the ,blessed ,sacrament exposed2 #e4 ,examining one's spiritual progress for half an hour every day2 #f4 ,a general confession of the last six months2 #g4 ,a public self-accusation of faults in the refectory2 #h4 ,a clear account of conscience to the superior4 ,if all this is observed and performed in the right spirit1 much profit will result4 ,colloquy4 ,offer good resolutions1 and ask further light and grace to correct all faults4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,what ,kind of ,men ,does ,our ,vocation ,require8 #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine ,christ says to you3 8,i have given you an example0 7,st4 ,john xiii1 #ae74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,pray to understand this great truth and to imitate that glorious model4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider that the men required by our vocation are to be like to ,christ3 8,whom ,god foreknew he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his ,son0 7,rom4 viii1 #bi74 ,a parable will explain this4 ,a very rich man had an only son1 a model of every virtue and adorned with every human accomplishment4 ,he devoted a large portion of his fortune to educate a number of other boys that should be fit companions for that son as like to him as possible4 ,thus ,god is treating all ,his elect1 and in particular the members of the ,society of ,jesus4 ,that is the very purpose for which ,st4 ,ignatius was inspired to found our ,society and to give us his ,constitution4 ,we are destined to be perfect images of ,christ4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider some special points of resemblance that the ,lord requires of us4 ,we must be3 #a4 ,like ,christ in our outward behavior1 so that ,he may appear reflected or reproduced in each one of us4 ,that is the purpose of our ,rules of ,modesty1 to which ,st4 ,ignatius was taught by the ,holy ,ghost to attach more than usual importance4 ,do we observe them faithfully8 ,if we do not1 it is because we fail to realize fully the ideal of our founder1 which was nothing less than the image of the ,son of ,god4 #b4 ,like ,christ in our inner sentiments1 in compliance with ,his own invitation3 ,there is so much meaning in ,his words inviting us to this special manner of imitation3 8,learn of me because ,i am meek and humble of heart0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #bi74 ,these two virtues are so conspicuous in our ,divine model4 ,meekness is emblemized by the gentlest of animals1 the tender lamb2 and ,christ was figured in the ,old ,testament by the sacrifice of the lamb1 and proclaimed in the ,new ,testament by ,st4 ,john the ,baptist with the words3 8,behold the ,lamb of ,god0 7,st4 ,john i1 #bi74 ,this is not the characteristic virtue of a warrior1 such as ,st4 ,ignatius had been2 but he had laid aside that garment of his youth and instead had put on ,christ1 as ,st4 ,paul teaches us to do1 saying3 8,put ye on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ0 7,rom4 xiii1 #ad74 ,we must do the same4 ,humility is most conspicuous throughout the life of ,christ2 it must be the foundation of all our spiritual life3 8,he emptied himself1 taking the form of a servant0 7,phil4 ii1 #g74 #c4 ,like ,christ in our practical reason1 taking ,god's view of all things1 in opposition to the views of the world4 ,the whole outlook on life of a good religious is very different from the outlook of the worldling4 ,therefore the world hates us3 8,if you had been of the world1 the world would love its own2 but because you are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #ai74 ,how can we acquire this unworldly spirit1 which is the spirit of ,christ8 ,by meditation1 spiritual reading1 all manner of prayer1 recollection1 spiritual conversation1 etc4 ,are we making earnest efforts on these lines8 ,do we avoid profane reading as far as our labors allow8 ,novels and newspapers are full of the spirit of the world1 and so is unnecessary conversation with most seculars4 #d4 ,like ,christ in our wills1 which should be ever intent on promoting the glory of ,god and ever zealous to procure the salvation of souls4 ,our zeal should cause us to labor hard1 wherever an opportunity can be found to further the great purpose of our ,society1 the greater glory of ,god4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 asking for light and grace to make ourselves more like unto ,himself4 ,,meditation ,,iv ,christ ,is ,here to ,help ,us #ast ,prelude4 ,realize the fact that ,christ is present on the altar1 and hear ,him say3 8,behold1 ,i am with you all days0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxviii1 #bj74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for a lively faith in ,christ's presence in our midst1 and a firm confidence in ,his loving assistance4 ,,point ,i4 ,in what sense is ,christ present on the altar8 #ast4 ,substantially1 personally1 body and soul1 ,god and ,man4 ,make a firm act of faith1 adore ,him1 lovingly thank ,him4 #bnd4 ,as our helper3 8,come to me1 all ye that labor and are burthened1 and ,i will refresh you0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #bh74 ,he will help us in attaining the purpose for which ,he has brought us to the ,society1 to perfect our souls and to save others2 in particular to bless the work of this renovation of spirit4 ,in ,him we can do all things3 8,i can do all things in him who strengtheneth me0 7,phil4 iv1 #ac74 ,ask eagerly for a thorough renovation4 ,examine whether your visits are fervent enough4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what treasure do we possess in the holy ,mass8 ,no one but ,god could have conceived the blessing granted to the faithful of being present in their successive generations at the mystical renovation of the sacrifice of the cross4 ,there1 before us1 day after day1 the same ,redeemer of the world who made ,himself the victim of expiation of our sins on ,calvary1 makes ,himself a victim again in the same sacrifice1 and offers ,himself to ,his eternal ,father1 as truly as ,he did then1 to obtain for those present in particular the graces they desire from ,his liberality4 ,no prayer could be more powerful than the holy ,mass4 ,if only we duly enter into the spirit of it1 a spirit of deep reverence1 of eager supplication1 of lively confidence1 the daily ,mass cannot fail to be for us a copious source of the choicest blessings4 ,whenever we find ourselves in some special need of ,god's assistance1 let us offer or hear ,mass for that purpose4 ,the result will not always be visible1 but it will probably often be so1 and it will always be very real4 ,how do we profit daily by this wondrous grace8 ,it will be an important gain towards the renewing of spirit if we improve our manner of attendance at holy ,mass4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what do we receive in ,holy ,communion8 ,we receive ,god ,himself1 no greater gift is possible4 ,and we receive ,him as our food2 that is1 coming to do for our soul what food does for the body1 giving it strength and growth1 and keeping it from corruption4 ,each worthy ,communion increases in us sanctifying grace1 gives us an additional supply of actual grace to lead holy lives1 and1 as the ,council of ,trent declares1 it frees us from venial sins and preserves us from falling into mortal sins4 ,but the amount of grace received in ,holy ,communion depends in great part on our own dispositions4 ,we can greatly increase it by making careful preparation for the reception of our ,lord1 by fervor at the moment of reception1 reciting firm acts of faith in the ,divine presence1 humble acts of adoration1 acts of ardent love and of eager desire and petitions for ,divine graces4 ,the time of thanksgiving after ,holy ,communion contains some of the most precious moments of the day4 ,how do ,i profit by this golden opportunity to enrich my poor soul8 ,can ,i improve my ways in this respect8 ,we read in the ,life of ,st4 ,alphonsus ,rodriguez written by a lay brother 7pp4 #ha1 #hb71 that on ,all ,saints' ,day1 #afab1 after he had received ,holy ,communion amid the ,scholastics and ,brothers of the community1 ,christ 8showed him in a sensible manner ,his presence in the hearts of all those who had just received ,him1 so that he perceived the ,saviour resplendent with glory whole and entire in each religious40 ,thus ,christ is really present in each of us during those precious moments4 ,can we not give ,him a more loving and honorable reception than we often do8 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 asking eagerly for light and grace1 and laying before ,him special resolutions and earnest supplications that we may improve4 ,,meditation ,v ,the ,holy ,ghost ,sanctifies ,us #ast ,prelude4 ,listen to the words of ,christ3 8,i will ask the ,father and he shall give you another ,paraclete0 7,st4 ,john xiv1 #af74 #bnd ,prelude4 8,come1 ,o ,holy ,ghost1 replenish the hearts of ,thy faithful40 ,,point ,i4 ,it is a great consolation to us to remember that we are not expected to work out our perfection by our own power4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is to be the principal agent in this work of sanctification2 for ,st4 ,paul wrote3 8,the charity of ,god 7and this is sanctity7 is poured forth in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost1 who is given to us0 7,rom4 v1 #e74 ,see what ,he did in the ,apostles1 in the early ,christians generally1 what he has done in all the ,saints1 in the faithful throughout the ages1 and in particular in religious1 whom ,he has selected and separated from the world to make them masterpieces of holiness4 ,conceive eager desires of ,his gifts and a firm confidence in ,his assistance4 ,beg earnestly for ,his light and grace to advance in virtue4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,how does the ,holy ,ghost sanctify us8 ,not in a miraculous way1 in which ,he sanctified the ,apostles1 but by a gradual process3 #a4 ,by the ,sacraments1 ,baptism1 ,confirmation1 ,holy ,eucharist1 ,penance ,he has been working in our souls from our early infancy4 ,make earnest acts of thanksgiving1 for these ,divine graces already received4 #b4 ,by our spiritual exercises1 our meditations1 attendance at ,mass1 examinations of conscience1 visits to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 spiritual readings1 vocal prayers of various kinds2 during which the ,spirit of ,god enlightens us1 suggests holy resolutions1 encourages and strengthens us to make generous sacrifices4 ,thus we have gradually been formed1 to some extent1 into spiritual men4 ,if we are not yet more spiritual1 it is because we did not sufficiently comply with the inspirations of the ,holy ,ghost1 but resisted ,his efforts to sanctify us further1 like those to whom ,st4 ,stephen said3 8,you always resist the ,holy ,ghost3 as your fathers did1 so you do also0 7,acts vii1 #ea74 #c4 ,the ,spirit of ,god sanctifies us by assisting all our efforts to advance in virtue1 aiding us to believe1 to hope1 to love ,god1 to practise charity to the neighbor1 humility1 prudence1 mortification1 etc4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,all this influence of the ,holy ,ghost requires our cooperation4 ,the best teacher cannot make a scholar of a careless boy4 ,cardinal ,manning in his ,internal ,mission of the ,holy ,ghost has a passage explaining this point very forcibly4 ,he says3 8,no grace that ,god gives ever fails of its effect1 except through our fault4 ,the seed that falls upon the barren sand can bear no fruit2 that which is cast upon the sea cannot cast a root2 that which falls upon a mind which is like the troubled sea1 or upon a heart which is like the barren sand1 will bear no spiritual fruit4 ,nevertheless the grace of ,god in itself is always fruitful2 it never fails of its effect unless we mar it4 ,are you then corresponding with the exuberant graces which ,god is always bestowing upon you8444 ,learn then to have a delicate conscience1 to understand promptly1 and to correspond1 if you can1 proportionately2 not to receive great graces languidly1 and squander one-half of them1 and correspond faintly with the rest4 ,try with your whole soul and strength to rise up and to obey1 when the grace of ,god calls you to any higher state or to any better action0 7,pages #cb and #cc74 ,yet1 whatever our natural disposition may be1 by the aid of the ,holy ,ghost we may become diligent and fervent in the pursuit of every virtue2 for1 as ,st4 ,paul says3 8,the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmity4 ,for we know not what we should pray for as we ought2 but the ,spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings0 7,rom4 viii1 #bf74 ,let us carefully consider what we must improve on this occasion4 ,colloquy with the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,sanctifier1 begging for light and grace to advance rapidly in holiness4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,effects ,produced by the ,holy ,ghost #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you behold the scene of the descent of the ,holy ,ghost on the ,apostles1 as narrated in ,acts ii1 #a-d4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for a liberal infusion of the ,gifts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we will consider the principal effects produced by the ,holy ,ghost in the soul as they are expressed in four verses of the ,veni ,creator4 ,,point ,i4 ,accende lumen sensibus1 8,enlighten our minds40 ,see what a change the ,holy ,ghost produced in the minds of the ,apostles4 ,they had failed to understand the teaching of the ,blessed ,saviour4 ,he had said to them3 8,behold we go up to ,jerusalem1 and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the ,son of man4 ,for he shall be delivered to the ,gentiles1 and shall be mocked1 and scourged and spit upon4 ,and after they have scourged him1 they will put him to death1 and the third day he shall rise again40 ,and ,st4 ,luke adds3 8,and they understood none of those things1 and this word was hid from them1 and they understood not the things that were said0 7xviii1 #ca-cd74 ,and a little while before ,christ's ascension into ,heaven the ,apostles asked ,him3 8,lord1 wilt thou at this time restore again the ,kingdom to ,israel80 7,acts i1 #f74 ,they were still so blinded that they only looked for earthly power4 ,but the ,holy ,ghost came down upon them1 and at once they understood all the meaning of ,christ's doctrine4 ,ever since that day the same ,divine ,spirit has been teaching the ,church1 enlightening the minds of its members1 enabling them1 not only to give a mental assent to the doctrines proposed1 but habitually to take ,god's view of things4 ,this is done by the faithful generally1 even very simple souls1 8,thou hast revealed them to little ones0 7,st4 ,luke x1 #ba74 ,this should be done by us1 religious1 especially1 and it should characterize our teaching and the tone of our conversations2 while on the other hand1 8,the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the ,spirit of ,god2 for it is foolishness to him and he cannot understand0 7,i ,cor4 ii1 #ad74 ,,point ,,ii4 ,infunde amorem cordibus1 8,infuse ,thy love into our hearts40 ,the ,love of ,god is sanctity1 and it is a gift of the ,spirit of ,god4 8,the charity of ,god is poured forth in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost who is given to us0 7,rom4 v1 #e74 ,it is the most precious of all gifts and1 like every good gift1 it is to be obtained by fervent and constant prayer4 ,for 8,every best gift and every perfect gift is from above1 coming down from the ,father of lights0 7,st4 ,james i1 #ag74 ,we are especially encouraged to ask this gift from ,god1 by the fact that ,christ ,himself assures us that the ,lord loves to bestow this treasure on those who eagerly ask for it2 for he says3 8,how much more will your ,father from heaven give the ,good ,spirit to them that ask him80 7,st4 ,luke xi1 #ac74 ,pray for it fervently1 on this occasion in particular4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti1 8,strengthen the weakness of our bodies with lasting power40 ,give us the virtue of fortitude1 an abiding willingness to do and to suffer whatever the service of ,god may require4 ,this willingness is the test of our love for ,him and the chief means of our sanctification4 ,we exercise this willingness by patiently toiling along1 suffering checks and contradictions1 meeting with disappointments without being disheartened by them1 enduring fatigue1 pain1 regret1 shame1 etc4 ,we may meet all these trials in the sacred ministry1 in the classroom1 in humble labor1 anywhere2 and that not occasionally1 but daily1 hourly1 yet without fretting or murmuring1 but cheerfully1 joyously1 buoyantly1 scarcely noticing them1 but treating them as matters of course in a life of generous sacrifice4 ,st4 ,augustine points out three degrees of patience4 ,in the lowest degree are those who would rather endure their sufferings than commit sin to escape from them4 ,those are in the second degree who accept willingly what ,god sends1 simply because ,god wills it4 ,we ascend to the third degree when we desire to suffer that we may more closely resemble our suffering ,lord4 ,this is a special gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 our third degree of humility4 ,colloquy4 ,ask earnestly that the ,divine ,spirit may increase in you all these precious effects4 ,,triduum ,c ,,meditation ,i ,on the ,need of ,frequent ,renovations of ,spirit #ast ,prelude4 ,st4 ,paul writes to the ,ephesians3 8,be renewed in the spirit of your mind0 7iv1 #bc74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to increase greatly your spirit of fervor4 ,,point ,i4 ,it is one of the infirmities of our fallen nature that we are constantly drawn down to sensual and other selfish gratifications2 and1 to rise heavenward in our desires1 we need the exertion of ever renewed efforts4 ,as truly as the clock needs repeated winding up1 so the soul needs frequent remindings of the vital truths which cause our lives to be supernatural4 ,for this purpose1 ,st4 ,ignatius has wisely provided these semi-annual renovations of spirit4 ,if we did not care to renew our spirit of fervor at the proper time1 the ,lord might do it for us by means far more painful than we imagine4 ,bitter afflictions brought on individual persons or upon entire bodies of men1 even such as are favorites of ,god1 are often intended by ,him to purify them from moral stains4 ,thus1 some years before the suppression of our ,society1 ,father ,paradiso was instructed by the ,lord to inform ,father ,ricci1 then our ,father ,general1 that the calamities which were going to overwhelm us were intended to renew the spirit of humility1 of faith and piety in the whole ,church4 7,see ,b4 ,n4's 8,the ,jesuits and ,their ,history10 ,vol4 ,,ii1 ,page #agi47 ,,point ,,ii4 ,another reason for this semi-annual renovation of the spirit of fervor is that our life calls for men of uncommon virtue4 ,the whole history of our ,order proves this truth4 ,every generation of our members has had numerous heroes1 conspicuous for their spirit of self-sacrifice4 ,every generation has had much need of solid virtue on the part of all its members to perform the difficult tasks imposed on them4 ,for the present we are passing through a crisis in the world's history1 which calls for the most patient endurance of ills1 and the most generous spirit of sacrifice1 that can be expected from brave and faithful men supported by the grace of ,god4 ,such virtue as you shall need during your lifetime1 if you do not want to disgrace the name you bear1 can only be acquired by leading a life of prayer1 and by the ever faithful performance of your duties1 no matter what sacrifices they may require4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,the purpose for which we have entered on this career is well worthy of all the sacrifices it may demand of us4 ,no grander purpose can be conceived4 ,god ,himself never holds out a higher aim than that which we are vowed to labor for1 namely most perfect happiness for ourselves and for a countless multitude of other souls4 ,in fact1 the aim of our lives is identical with that for which the ,son of ,god came down from ,heaven1 and toiled and suffered upon earth1 namely the procuring of the greater glory of ,god2 ,ad ,majorem ,dei ,gloriam4 ,we could not have entered upon this grand career if the ,lord had not given us extraordinary graces to do so4 ,he has deigned to make the sacrifices implied in it comparatively easy and full of consolations2 and if only we keep up our trust in ,him1 ,he will make the rest of our lives flow on in the same even current of loving worship4 ,they will not be lives of ease and earthly comforts2 far from it4 ,they will be successions of sacrifices1 as was the life of ,christ4 ,but he rides smoothly along whom the grace of ,god carries onward1 facile equitat quem gratia ,dei portat2 and we shall be cheered on at every step by the prospect of eternal bliss3 8,they that sow in tears shall reap in joy4 ,going they went and wept1 casting their seeds2 but coming they shall come with joyfulness1 carrying their sheaves0 7,ps4 #abe74 ,colloquy4 ,ask earnestly for a thorough renovation of the spirit of generous service1 which is to be the fruit of this triduum4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,sin the ,chief ,hindrance to ,our ,progress #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine ,christ speaks to you from the tabernacle and says3 8,you are my friends if you do the things that ,i command you0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #ad74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for copious light and grace to observe ,god's commandments perfectly4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider how much we ought to hate even the smallest sin4 ,in our first meditation we considered the grand purpose for which we live1 the attainment of eternal bliss for ourselves and others and the greater glory of ,god4 ,now sin is the greatest obstacle in our way2 it bars our road to ,heaven and directly insults our ,lord4 ,the condition of ,christ's friendship is the observance of ,his commandments3 8,you are my friends if you do the things that ,i command you40 ,to sin is to break those commandments4 ,if it does not always turn us against ,god1 it at least displeases ,him4 ,even a venial sin is a greater evil than any temporal loss4 ,we should rather die than wilfully commit one4 ,this disposition is the second degree of humility1 on which we resolve to live in every good retreat4 ,to it ,christ lovingly invites us1 saying3 8,he that hath my commandments and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth me2 and he that loveth me shall be loved by my ,father2 and ,i will love him1 and will manifest myself to him4444 ,if any one love me1 he will keep my word1 and my ,father will love him1 and we will come to him and make our abode with him4 ,he that loveth me not keepeth not my word0 7,st4 ,john xiv1 #ba-bd74 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the principal causes of sins4 #a4 ,one general cause is our thoughtlessness2 we are unmindful of the great truths of religion1 the supernatural light of which is allowed to grow dim amid the distractions of a busy or a frivolous life4 ,ecclesiasticus warns us1 saying3 8,in all thy works remember thy last end1 and thou shalt never sin0 7vii1 #dj74 ,now the remedy of this thoughtlessness is provided for us in our spiritual exercises3 our meditations1 examinations of conscience1 spiritual readings1 etc4 ,the religious who is accustomed to perform these faithfully and fervently is not likely to commit many sins1 and he will gradually become more and more virtuous4 #b4 ,another copious source of sins consists of unmortified passions4 ,when any passion is aroused1 it blinds us to the dictates of reason and the whisperings of grace4 ,you see this in the conduct of an angry man3 he says and does things which he is afterwards ashamed of and sorry for4 ,it is so with all unrestrained passions4 ,consider what are your most frequent faults and what are their causes4 ,what passions need particularly to be watched and checked4 ,the triduum is just the time for self-introspection1 examinations of conscience1 and for the ordering of our spiritual exercises4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider some faults in particular1 against which a religious should be guarded4 #a4 ,violation of fraternal charity1 whether in word or thought2 ever remember the words of ,christ3 8,amen1 ,i say to you1 as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren1 you did it to me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxv1 #dj74 #b4 ,irreverence in prayer3 disrespectful posture1 wilful or careless wandering of the mind1 want of proper preparation1 etc4 #c4 ,sensuality in food and drink1 or in the indulgence of superfluous sleep4 #d4 ,immodesty of touch or look1 effeminate softness of manner or language1 imprudent familiarity4 #e4 ,human respect1 more anxiety to please men than to please the ,lord1 and therefore doing or saying what is unlawful or imprudent1 or omitting to do what conscience dictates to be our duty4 ,colloquy4 ,earnestly beg pardon for faults committed and resolve to avoid the occasions of sin4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,fidelity in ,little ,things #ast ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ occupied in simple manual labor4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask the grace of understanding the value in ,god's sight of perfect fidelity in even the least observances4 ,,point ,i4 ,what is meant by fidelity in little things8 ,it means such fidelity in doing ,god's will on all occasions as to neglect no details1 even the least important4 ,what is there in those details that makes them precious8 ,it is their conformity to the will of ,god4 ,that is what ,christ valued in them4 ,the greatest things on earth are insignificant trifles in the sight of ,god2 but the least act of conformity to ,god's will has a ,divine worth1 and therefore is more precious than any merely natural performance4 ,faith teaches us to appreciate this truth2 ,christ came to enforce it by the example of ,his private life4 ,how do ,i act in this matter8 ,am ,i habitually faithful in observing all my rules1 even those which seem to be of less importance8 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the importance of such fidelity4 #a4 ,this fidelity is a necessary precaution against the commission of great faults4 ,for ,ecclesiasticus tells us3 8,he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little0 7xix1 #a74 ,and our ,blessed ,saviour teaches3 8,he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in that which is greater2 and he that is unjust in that which is little is unjust also in that which is greater0 7,st4 ,luke xvi1 #aj74 ,thus small faults in the matter of charity1 poverty1 sensuality1 chastity1 etc41 gradually lead to grievous sins4 ,no one becomes at once a great sinner or a great saint4 ,nemo repente fit summus1 says the old proverb4 ,before ,judas sold our ,lord for thirty pieces of silver1 he had accustomed himself to lesser acts of injustice1 as ,st4 ,john tells us1 saying of him that 8he was a thief1 and having the purse1 carried the things that were put therein0 7xii1 #f74 #b4 ,our lives are mostly made up of minor acts1 as were the private lives of ,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph1 and countless ,saints4 ,a ,martyr's crown in ,heaven may consist of one brilliant gem1 the ruby of his heroic death2 but the crowns of most ,saints are made up of countless sparkling little diamonds1 each the reward of fidelity in a little thing4 ,thus too in human things1 in which perfection depends on minor details4 ,for instance1 the politeness of the man who is to the manner born is not displayed in extraordinary actions1 but in that delicate tact which makes him know his place1 so that he never acts amiss1 and always says the right word and does the right thing at the right time4 ,this fidelity is1 in spiritual things1 what good taste is in literature and the other fine arts4 ,masterpieces differ from common works in the perfection of the least details2 for instance1 in sculpture1 painting1 etc41 etc4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,it is by fidelity in minor matters that we acquire the solid virtues needed to perform heroic deeds when the occasion calls for them4 ,this is brought about in two ways4 #a4 ,naturally4 ,our conduct on all occasions1 even the most important1 depends to a great extent on the good or evil habits we have acquired4 ,now habits are acquired by the frequent repetition of acts4 ,it is only in little things that actions can be frequently repeated2 for few of us have numerous opportunities to do great things4 ,therefore our habits1 good or bad1 are ordinarily the result of our fidelity or infidelity in little things4 #b4 ,supernaturally4 ,acts of virtue practised by us obtain for us additional actual graces to practise yet more acts of virtue3 and thus faithful souls constantly strengthen the chain of graces which binds them ever more closely to ,god4 ,unfaithful souls forfeit these additional helps of grace that were in store for them2 and thus their chain of graces is gradually weakened1 so that temptations may occur which cause them serious falls into sin4 ,examine your daily conduct of fidelity to grace4 ,colloquy1 according to the sentiments evoked by these considerations4 ,,meditation ,,iv ,the ,observance of ,our ,rules #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see ,st4 ,ignatius1 as he is often painted1 with the book of his ,constitutions in his hands4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg through his intercession for a high appreciation of our rules4 ,,point ,i4 ,what are the rules of our ,society8 ,they are a summary of those wonderful ,constitutions which the ,holy ,ghost has used for the conversion and sanctification of countless multitudes of souls during the last four centuries1 namely3 #a4 ,of the numerous members of our ,society during the successive generations1 so many of whom have given evident proofs of having attained heroic sanctity4 #b4 ,of vast numbers of other persons of the clergy and the laity who have been saved and sanctified by the virtues and the labors of the members of our ,society4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,why are these rules so productive of sanctity8 #a4 ,because they are not merely human work2 for ,st4 ,ignatius1 in writing his ,constitutions1 obtained by fervent prayer the special assistance of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is evident from the history of the ,saint4 7,for instance1 ,genelli's 8,life of ,st4 ,ignatius10 p4 #bdh74 #b4 ,because they lead the way to the perfect imitation of ,christ4 ,by his ,spiritual ,exercises ,st4 ,ignatius makes us conceive the most lofty ambition that can be aroused within the human heart1 namely to make itself comformable to the heart of ,jesus2 and by his rules he guides us through all the details of our earthly career to the realization of this lofty purpose4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how do our rules accomplish this end8 ,by animating all our actions with the spirit of the three highest virtues3 of ,faith1 ,hope and ,charity4 #a4 ,they aid us to lead a life of faith4 ,for whenever we observe a rule1 we thereby elicit an act of faith1 accepting the letter of the rule or the word of our superior as the expression of the ,divine will4 ,our life is thus made to consist of a succession of supernatural acts4 #b4 ,they make us live a life of hope4 ,he that follows his own judgment leans on a fragile reed2 but he that acts because the rules prescribe a certain course thereby trusts ,god more than his own reasoning and thus hopes in the help of ,god4 ,he shall not be disappointed4 #c4 ,they perfect in us the love of ,god4 ,for they constantly prescribe what tends to the greater glory of ,god3 ,ad ,majorem ,dei ,gloriam4 ,do ,i observe all my rules faithfully8 ,does any of them cause me a special difficulty8 ,perhaps ,i do not understand it well2 all of them1 if rightly understood1 are most reasonable4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 asking for great fidelity to observe all our rules4 ,,meditation ,v ,zeal for ,souls #ast ,prelude4 ,hear ,christ saying3 8,i am come to cast fire on the earth2 and what will ,i but that it be kindled80 7,st4 ,luke xii1 #di74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly that this fire be enkindled in your heart and that you may help to spread it far and wide4 ,,point ,i4 ,that fire is ,divine ,charity4 ,it is poured forth into the hearts of men by the ,holy ,spirit who is given to us 7,rom4 v1 #e74 ,it makes us lead a supernatural life1 the life of children of ,god1 and in this sense a ,divine life4 ,as the vegetable life transforms the clod of earth into the fairest flower and the most luscious fruit2 as animal life turns the food into the wonderful organism of the human body2 so the life of grace gives to our acts a heavenly value4 ,by it sinners become saints1 true children of ,god4 ,christ shows intense earnestness in spreading this fire1 which is really ,his greatest work3 the most ,divine of all ,divine works is the salvation of souls4 ,the ,angels are ministering spirits to aid in this task4 ,all human efforts are children's play in comparison with this4 ,to save a soul is a grander achievement than to conquer an empire4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,this sublime work is done chiefly through the agency of men4 ,its great promoter was the ,god-man ,himself1 the ,son of ,god incarnate4 ,but ,he has deigned to associate to ,himself the ,apostles and their successors1 the bishops and priests of ,his ,church1 till the end of time2 to whom ,he has said3 8,going therefore teach ye all nations 444 and behold ,i am with you all days1 even to the consummation of the world0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxviii1 #ai1 #bj74 ,with these the ,lord has associated in a special manner1 through the mission of ,his ,church1 various apostolic ,orders of religious1 our own ,society in particular3 8,i have chosen you and have appointed you that you should go and should bring forth fruit1 and that your fruit should remain0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #af74 ,when ,christ first addressed these words to a few poor fishermen1 how unlikely it was that the promise should be fulfilled8 ,yet it has been most wonderfully verified4 ,so it will be in our case also if we trust in ,god4 ,yet two thirds of mankind are still pagans4 ,zeal is needed4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what must we do to spread the love of ,god8 ,we need not do any novel thing2 we must follow the beaten path1 travel along the highroad of our religious life4 ,age quod agis2 perform your daily duties2 but do everything well1 to the best of your power4 ,in particular realize in your conduct that1 #a4 ,you are to be the light of the world4 ,for this purpose you must form your intellect upon the teachings of ,christ4 ,master ,his views of time and eternity1 by earnest meditations1 sound readings1 recollection1 much prayer4 ,do not contract false views of life by following false guides1 reading worldly authors extensively1 imbibing their spirit4 ,the light that is in you1 your intimate convictions1 will necessarily shine around you1 through your language1 through your conduct4 ,if you are thoroughly religious1 real ,jesuits1 it will be the light of ,christ1 and will truly enlighten the portion of the world where ,providence will place you4 ,if your views are false1 you will not do ,god's work4 #b4 ,you are the salt of the earth2 incorrupt yourselves1 you must keep others from corruption4 ,this requires pure and holy affections of the heart1 soundness of the will4 ,if we ,jesuits1 with our training do not live innocent and holy lives1 what remedy can we find8 8,if the salt lose its savor1 wherewith shall it be salted8 ,it is good for nothing any more but to be cast out1 and to be trodden on by men0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #ac74 ,these words were spoken by ,christ in the ,sermon on the ,mount1 when ,he was laying down the platform of ,his campaign for the conquest of the world to the ,kingdom of ,his ,father4 ,we are soldiers in that campaign4 ,how worthy is our conduct of such a cause and such a ,king4 ,colloquy with our ,divine ,lord1 promising fidelity and zealous exertions in this lofty vocation4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin #ast ,prelude4 ,see the ,blessed ,virgin exalted in ,heaven1 surrounded by the ,saints and the ,blessed of our ,society4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg for an increase of devotion to her1 invoking her under the title of ,queen of the ,society of ,jesus4 ,,point ,i4 ,why is all the ,church so devoted to ,mary8 ,because ,god wishes to be honored by man especially in connection with the grandest exhibition of ,his love for man1 the mystery of the ,incarnation4 ,now in this mystery ,mary holds a most prominent place2 she is the key to the proper understanding of it4 ,besides1 as ,jesus was given to mankind through ,mary1 so through her ,he is given to individual souls4 ,therefore the ,church salutes her as 8,mother of ,divine ,grace02 and many holy writers say that every grace comes to all individual souls through her intercession4 ,how do we know that ,god is pleased with so great a devotion to ,mary8 #a4 ,from the constant teaching of the ,church1 which has applied to her such texts as these3 8,he that shall find me shall find life and shall have salvation from the ,lord0 7,prov4 viii1 #ce72 8,they that work by me shall not sin0 7,ecclus4 xxiv1 #cj72 etc4 #b4 ,from the ,doctors of the ,church1 who have exhausted all their resources of learning to inculcate this devotion4 ,such are ,sts4 ,augustine1 ,bernard1 ,liguori1 ,anthoninus1 ,bonaventure1 etc4 #c4 ,from the workings of the ,holy ,ghost1 who has fostered this devotion in the lives of numberless ,saints and of other highly favored servants of ,god1 as well as in the practice and prayers of the ,church itself1 and the unanimous teachings of her theologians4 #d4 ,from so many miracles performed through the invocation of the ,blessed ,virgin in every land4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what part has our ,society taken in fostering this devotion8 #a4 ,a most conspicuous part4 ,for instance ,st4 ,ignatius ascribes his conversion to the vision he had of her1 he made himself her ,knight at ,montserrat1 he makes us meditate on her and pray to her in our retreats4 #b4 ,in the life and death of ,st4 ,stanislaus1 ,st4 ,berchmans1 ,st4 ,alphonsus1 ,st4 ,francis ,hieronymo and1 in fact1 all her ,saints and her great men generally4 #c4 ,in her zeal to propagate devotions to ,mary by means of her ,sodalities1 her devotions of the month of ,mary1 and countless writings of her ablest men4 ,no one is considered as a worthy member of our ,order who has not a marked devotion to ,mary4 ,how do ,i strive to honor her8 ,is there any practice that ,i used to perform in her honor that ,i have gradually abandoned8 ,what improvement can ,i make in this respect8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,in what does devotion to ,mary chiefly consist8 ,it is an acquired habit1 the result of countless acts of ours in compliance with the grace of ,god4 ,such are3 #a4 ,the devout celebration of her festivals1 preparing for them by novenas and continuing them by the celebration of their octaves2 #b4 ,the daily recitation of the ,rosary1 or at least of the third part of it1 the ,beads1 of the ,litany of the ,blessed ,virgin and the ,office of her ,immaculate ,conception2 #c4 ,the wearing of her scapular of ,mount ,carmel1 and of medals blessed in her honor2 #d4 ,the recitation of set prayers to her at rising in the morning and retiring at night1 at the sound of the ,angelus bell1 morning1 noon and night2 #e4 ,fervent invocations during the day1 especially at the approach of temptations2 #f4 ,reading and meditation on her prerogatives2 #g4 ,conversing on the same1 or in any way promoting her devotion4 ,we can render no greater service to any one than to make him devout to the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,are we doing as much as we can in this respect8 ,colloquy with ,mary1 asking her guidance to learn to love her more and to lead many others to love her4 ,,triduum ,d ,,meditation ,i ,the ,purpose of ,this ,triduum #ast ,prelude4 ,vividly picture to yourself ,st4 ,john ,berchmans at his prayer4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg for copious grace to imitate his spirit of fervor4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider that in the sight of ,god men differ from one another only according to their interior dispositions3 ,omnis gloria filiae regis ab intus1 8,all the glory of the ,king's daughter is within0 7,ps4 #dd74 ,it matters nothing whether a person be rich or poor1 learned or ignorant1 man or woman1 old or young1 refined or uncultured1 etc4 ,we are apt to forget this and to trust in some natural superiority1 as the world does4 ,the ,lord said to ,his prophet ,samuel3 8,i do not judge according to the look of man2 for man seeth those things that appear1 but the ,lord beholdeth the heart0 7,i ,kings xvi1 #g74 ,the right view of ourselves will be one of the great disillusionments at death4 ,let us now strive to view ourselves as we are in ,god's sight4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider this truth in special examples1 comparing a ,st4 ,alphonsus ,rodriguez with an ordinary ,jesuit1 a ,brother1 a ,father or a ,scholastic4 ,how similar outside4 ,how different within4 ,compare a ,st4 ,john ,berchmans1 a ,st4 ,john ,francis ,regis with a ,passaglia1 a ,tyrrell1 etc41 a mere boy1 like ,st4 ,stanislaus1 with a veteran religious of the ordinary cast4 ,this interior proper disposition of which the ,psalmist sings is apt to promote devotion1 which ,st4 ,francis ,de ,sales describes as follows3 8,devotion is nothing else but that spiritual agility and vivacity by which charity works in us1 or we by her1 with alacrity and affection2 and as it is the business of charity to make us observe all ,god's commandments generally and without exception1 so it is the part of devotion to make us observe them cheerfully and with diligence4444 ,devotion is the pleasure of pleasures1 the queen of virtues1 and the perfection of charity4 ,if charity be milk1 devotion is the cream2 if charity be plant1 devotion is the flower2 if charity be a precious stone1 devotion is its lustre2 if charity be a rich balm1 devotion is its fragrance1 yea the odor of sweetness which comforts men and rejoices ,angels0 78,devout ,life10 chapter #a1 #b74 ,do ,i cultivate this disposition in my heart with proper earnestness8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider that the purpose of the triduum is to renew this devotion within our hearts1 its purity and its energy4 ,consider that ,god ,himself affords this opportunity1 and invites you to profit by it4 ,his grace is ready to help you4 ,what must you do during these three days8 ,our ,society lays the observances before you which you are expected to follow4 ,in her name ,father ,vincent ,caraffa says to you3 8,let each one1 leaving alone all literary studies 7except the work prescribed7 apply himself exclusively to the improvement of the spirit4 ,certain practices in particular are pointed out1 namely perfect silence as far as possible1 half an hour daily of truly devout reading1 half an hour likewise of earnest examination of conscience1 special meditations on the renewal of the spirit of piety1 a manifestation of conscience1 a confession of the faults committed since the last renovation and a public accusation of defects40 ,remember in all this the saying of ,st4 ,ignatius3 8,the more generous we shall show ourselves towards ,god1 the more generous we shall find ,god towards us1 and the more fit we shall daily be to receive in greater abundance ,his graces and spiritual gifts40 ,colloquy4 ,ask eagerly and confidently for the grace of making a fervent triduum4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,the ,interior ,spirit #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine ,christ speaks to you from the tabernacle1 offering to be your teacher in the spiritual life4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg of our dear ,lord to teach you in what consists the interior spirit which is to be renewed during the triduum4 ,,point ,i4 ,in what consists that interior spirit8 ,it is described in ,holy ,writ under the name of 8,wisdom10 and the entire book called 8,wisdom0 is occupied in praising and explaining it4 ,for instance1 its seventh chapter says3 8,i called upon ,god1 and the spirit of wisdom came upon me1 and ,i preferred her before kingdoms and thrones1 and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her4444 ,now all good things came to me together with her4444 ,she is an infinite treasure to men1 which they that use become the friends of ,god1 being commended for the gift of discipline0 7vii1 #g-ad74 ,wisdom is the virtue by which we direct our acts by the best means to the best end1 which is the end for which we were created1 the glory of ,god4 ,this is the spirit of our ,society1 8,all for the ,greater ,glory of ,god40 ,and this is the spirit which we must renew within us by the exercises of the triduum4 ,it regards the purpose or intention for which we act1 and therefore it is called 8the interior spirit40 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what is opposed to the interior spirit8 ,two classes of faults are opposed to this interior spirit1 #a4 ,those by which we seek sinful gratifications1 #b4 ,those which simply fail to direct our actions to our supernatural end4 ,supposing that we are careful to avoid all wilful sin1 let us consider how we can be wanting in the interior spirit4 ,there are various ways3 7a7 ,we may be actuated in many of our actions by the love of praise1 not seeking to please ,god but to please ourselves4 ,of course all that is done for a merely natural purpose is so much labor lost for eternity3 8,take heed that you do not your justice before men1 to be seen by them2 otherwise you shall not have a reward of your ,father who is in heaven 7,st4 ,matth4 vi1 #a74 ,thus a religious1 whether a ,father1 a ,scholastic or a ,brother1 may give great satisfaction to his superiors1 to his brethren and to outsiders1 and yet have little merit before ,god40 ,the country is full of able and energetic teachers1 for instance1 who work only for earthly rewards4 7b7 ,we may lead a life of mere impulsive energy1 getting interested in our work1 perhaps to the neglect of higher duties1 or we may be drawn by mere natural affections3 8,if you love them that love you1 what reward shall you have8 ,do not even the publicans this80 7ib4 v1 #df74 7c7 ,in many of our actions we may be doing mere routine work4 ,if we began the task with a good intention1 though we continue it without further thought of the same1 this is not mere routine1 but may be very meritorious4 ,the danger is that we may waste much time and energy by merely mechanical action without any supernatural intention4 ,do ,i strive earnestly to live for ,god1 ,a4,m4,d4,g48 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what means can ,i use for this purpose8 #a4 ,good daily meditations1 by which ,i keep supernatural motives before my mind4 #b4 ,careful examinations of conscience1 watching in particular the motives of my actions4 #c4 ,earnest prayer for light and grace steadily to advance in sanctity4 ,such prayer is suggested in various parts of the 8,book of ,wisdom10 to which we referred before2 for instance1 8,give me wisdom1 that sitteth by thy throne1 and cast me not off from among thy children4 ,for ,i am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid1 a weak man and of short time1 and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws4 ,for if one be perfect among the children of men1 yet if thy wisdom be not with him1 he shall be nothing regarded0 7ix1 #d-f74 ,colloquy4 ,an earnest petition for grace to renew and increase our interior spirit4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,the ,interior ,spirit ,is ,fostered by ,faith #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the words of ,christ3 8,amen1 amen1 ,i say unto you1 ,he that believeth in me hath everlasting life0 7,st4 ,john vi1 #dg74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly for an intense spirit of faith4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the value of faith in the sight of ,god4 #a4 ,it is one of the theological virtues1 which are infused into our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost3 and thus1 coming from ,god they have a ,divine efficacy4 ,therefore whatever action is prompted by faith has supernatural merit1 that is deserves an eternal reward4 ,hence the teaching of ,christ3 8,he that believeth in me hath everlasting life40 #b4 ,this value of faith is praised most highly by ,st4 ,paul1 who devotes to its praise the whole eleventh chapter of his ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 showing how all the ,saints of the ,old ,law were sanctified by their belief in the promised ,redeemer4 #c4 ,on the part of man1 faith is the sacrifice of his highest faculty1 his understanding1 to his sovereign ,lord4 ,by it we resign our own judgment to accept in its place the word of ,god4 #d4 ,it is also the exercise of the virtue of humility1 by which we acknowledge the weakness of our intellect4 ,now we know that 8,god resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble0 7,st4 ,james iv1 #f74 ,,point ,,ii4 ,see how faith sanctifies our daily life3 #a4 ,it keeps before us the ,divine presence wherever we be2 as a sponge plunged into the sea has water all around it and within the pores of its substance1 so we are in ,god2 8,for in him we live and move and be0 7,acts xvii1 #bh74 ,aie1 ,god is still more intimately present to us than the water is to the sponge1 for ,he penetrates every particle of our substance4 #b4 ,faith reveals to us the real presence of ,christ in the ,holy ,eucharist1 with body and soul1 humanity and ,divinity1 teaching us to adore ,him1 to offer ,him as our sacrifice and receive ,him as our food4 #c4 ,faith makes us recognize the voice of ,god in the words of our rules and the directions of our superiors1 and thus it makes the details of our religious life full of merit4 #d4 ,faith pierces the guise of misery and frailty1 and makes us recognize in every human being the hidden presence of ,him who will say at the judgment3 8,amen ,i say to you1 as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren1 you did it to me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxv1 #dj74 ,thus faith makes the religious life most meritorious4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,examine yourselves on the practical working of the spirit of faith in your daily life4 ,consider3 #a4 ,whether you strive earnestly to practise the presence of ,god1 by frequently remembering ,him and honoring ,him by some ejaculatory prayer2 for instance1 at the striking of the clock1 or at the signal to begin or end an exercise4 ,if in your own room1 offer each new task kneeling to your loving ,lord and ,his ,holy ,mother4 #b4 ,do you visit the ,blessed ,sacrament frequently and lovingly1 attend ,mass devoutly1 and receive ,holy ,communion daily1 with proper preparation and thanksgiving8 #c4 ,are you diligent in keeping your rules and docile to the directions of your superiors8 ,or do you criticise their orders1 thereby showing that you fail to recognize in them the voice of ,god8 #d4 ,do you treat all your brethren with generous charity1 seeing in them so many images of ,christ8 ,or do you take a merely human view of them1 being very fond of some and cold towards others1 as worldlings treat one another8 ,do you endeavor to benefit and console all those in need or in sorrow8 ,the days of the renovation of spirit offer a golden opportunity to examine the motives of all our actions1 valuing them all according to the teachings of faith4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 begging for much light and grace to lead a life of lively faith1 and thus to be thoroughly renewed in spirit4 ,,meditation ,,iv ,the ,interior ,spirit ,is ,fostered by ,hope #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the words of the ,psalmist3 8,trust in the ,lord1 and do good4444 ,delight in the ,lord1 and ,he will give thee the requests of thy heart0 7,ps4 #cf74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for a lively confidence in the help of ,god to lead a holy and successful life4 ,,point ,i4 ,the virtue of hope inspires lofty aspirations4 ,all men must hope for such graces from ,god as will enable them to attain the ends to which they are called4 ,but as religious1 and as ,jesuits we are certainly called to attain perfection for ourselves and abundant fruit in the souls of others4 ,unless a ,jesuit aims at these two objects1 he falls below the mark of his vocation2 ,he is a spiritual abortion4 ,all other aims are trivial in comparison4 ,that we are called to this twofold success is declared by the second rule of the ,summary2 and therefore the words of ,christ are meant for us3 8,i have chosen you and have appointed you that you should go and should bring forth fruit1 and that your fruit should remain0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #af74 ,this lofty aim is the spirit of our vocation4 ,it is fostered by the virtue of hope4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the virtue of hope gives us confidence of success4 ,the sanctification of our own soul and of many others is certainly above the power of any man4 ,if therefore we had not the help of ,god for this purpose1 we could not attain this effect4 ,but with the help of ,god we can do wonders3 8,i can do all things in him who strengthened me0 7,phil4 iv1 #ac74 ,two sentiments must combine in me for the purpose3 an intimate conviction of my total inability to save souls1 and a firm confidence in the power and goodness of ,god to effect this result through my weakness3 8,the foolish things of the world hath ,god chosen1 that ,he may confound the strong2 and the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible hath ,god chosen1 and things that are not1 that he might bring to naught things that are2 that no flesh should glory in his sight0 7,i ,cor4 i1 #bg-bi74 ,the more humble our opinion of ourselves and the more lively our confidence in ,god1 the more earnest no doubt will be our efforts to sanctify ourselves and others1 and thus the more we shall foster in us the spirit of our vocation4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,to attain supernatural results we must trust in the use of supernatural means4 ,all the ,philosophy of the world cannot convert a ,pagan2 nor all theology a ,protestant1 nor all literature a sinner4 ,conversion and sanctification are the work of grace4 ,now grace is obtained by prayer1 by sacrifice1 self-immolation1 mortification4 ,this lesson our dear ,lord teaches us with much emphasis1 saying3 8,amen1 amen ,i say to you1 unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die1 itself remaineth alone2 but if it die1 it bringeth forth much fruit0 7,st4 ,john xii1 #bd1 #be74 ,the minister of ,god is like a grain of wheat2 as the wheat must be cast into the moist and hot furrow and corrupt before it can produce a new and fertile plant1 so ,god's minister must not spare himself1 but be mortified and suffer debasement before he can produce abundant fruit in souls4 ,still remember that study and work1 when done for supernatural motives1 become thereby supernatural means1 and are then as good as prayer1 and often better than prayer4 ,for whoever would neglect his appointed tasks to give extra time to prayer would not please the ,lord4 ,hard work in the service of ,god is our habitual duty2 through it we must sanctify ourselves and others4 ,one of the sayings attributed to ,st4 ,ignatius is3 8,work as if all your successes were going to depend on your own efforts2 and trust in ,god as if all depended on ,him1 nothing on yourself40 ,and of course where all depends on the infinite power and goodness of ,god1 we may expect abundant fruit4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 begging for a lively hope in ,his assistance4 ,,meditation ,v ,the ,interior ,spirit ,is ,fostered by ,charity #ast ,prelude4 ,see the glorified members of our ,society around ,jesus in ,heaven1 looking down on us with tender affection4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg for a liberal share of the spirit of love4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider that perfection consists in the love of ,god2 therefore whatever increases the love of ,god within us increases our perfection1 fosters our interior spirit4 ,to increase this love of ,god1 let us study its excellence3 it makes us really friends of ,christ1 who said to ,his ,apostles1 and says to all who strive to imitate their example3 8,i will not now call you servants1 for the servant knoweth not what his ,lord doth4 ,but ,i have called you friends1 because all things whatsoever ,i have heard of my ,father ,i have made known to you0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #ae74 ,has not ,christ given to the true ,jesuit an intimate knowledge of ,himself8 ,does ,he not treat us all as ,his true friends1 rather than servants8 ,the servant is simply expected to obey orders without knowing the why and the wherefore1 without understanding what it is all about4 ,to us ,christ has given1 through the ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius1 a clear insight into the entire plan of sanctification1 which even our ,brothers and our novices soon get to understand remarkably well4 ,should we not then highly appreciate this ,divine light and faithfully walk in its radiance8 ,,point ,,ii4 ,this friendship with ,god has various degrees of perfection3 #a4 ,the lowest degree of friendship is that which at least avoids all that would so offend a friend as to sever the friendship entirely1 and rather turn it into hatred4 ,in case of our friendship with ,god1 this severance is produced by any mortal sin4 ,of course a true ,jesuit commits no mortal sins4 ,any one who would commit such sins frequently has fallen below the normal standard of religious life4 #b4 ,the second degree of friendship excludes all that offends a friend deliberately1 with full knowledge and consent1 though in a matter of minor importance4 ,this is done by fully deliberate venial sin4 ,this degree of friendship with ,god should be the normal condition of every good religious4 #c4 ,the third degree of friendship strives to avoid all that may displease a friend in any matter whatever1 even when there is no question of giving offense4 ,such is the condition of fervent religious1 who observe all their rules with great exactness1 even those that do not bind under sin4 ,they do so generously through the spirit of love for their ,lord4 #d4 ,a fourth degree of friendship exists in those persons who are ever eager to give pleasures to their friends1 never sparing any trouble to do so4 ,examine what is your habitual1 or at least predominant disposition towards our good ,lord4 ,do you often offend ,him with full knowledge and will8 ,can you be more generous in doing what will please ,him8 ,what improvements can you make8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider how friendship is increased4 #a4 ,by thinking frequently of the good qualities of our friend1 of the favors he has done us1 of the warmth of his affection for us and the proofs he has given us of it4 ,therefore we meditate on the ,person1 the life and the sufferings of ,christ1 ,his ,blessed ,mother and the ,saints4 ,can ,i make my meditations more fervent and more loving8 ,for the same purpose we should read spiritual books and make ourselves familiar with devotional literature1 carry on spiritual conversations when it can be done with profit1 and collect notes of edifying matters for future use4 #b4 ,by emptying our hearts of all human attachments that ,god may fill them entirely4 ,the ,lord is a jealous lover4 ,perfect detachment from creatures is the condition of perfect love of ,god4 #c4 ,by making frequent acts of perfect resignation to the ,divine will4 ,for friendship between two persons consists mainly in union of wills4 ,colloquy4 ,ask earnestly for an increase of love of ,god1 and resolve to avoid all that may hinder it4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,the ,interior ,spirit ,is ,fostered by the ,holy ,ghost #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you hear ,christ say3 8,you shall receive the power of the ,holy ,ghost coming upon you0 7,acts i1 #e74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask earnestly that the ,holy ,ghost may effect in you a thorough renovation of spirit4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider what the ,holy ,ghost did for the ,apostles4 ,though they had been taught by ,christ for three years1 they had still understood ,his doctrine very imperfectly2 their affections were still earthly1 set on worldly greatness2 their dispositions were cowardly4 ,what did they need8 ,a copious infusion of light and strength4 ,we are in a similar situation4 ,they obtained this grace by earnest prayer3 8,all these were persevering with one mind in prayer0 7ib4 #ad74 ,in due time the effect followed3 8,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost0 7ib4 ii1 #d74 ,from that moment they understood all the doctrine correctly2 and1 after being scourged before the council1 8,they indeed went from the presence of the council1 rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of ,jesus0 7ib4 v1 #da74 ,this was only the beginning of their heroic lives4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider what the ,holy ,ghost does in the ,church to-day4 ,the work of sanctification of the faithful1 begun by the descent of the ,holy ,ghost upon the ,apostles1 was to be continued till the end of time1 and is so continued in us4 ,just as ,he has given us sanctifying grace in ,baptism1 and has constantly increased the same in a multitude of various ways up to the present day1 so ,he is determined to continue this ,divine work in our hearts1 and to lead us to the practice of all the virtues proper to our state of life4 ,in particular ,he wishes to bestow on us the ,seven ,gifts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the very name of 8,gift0 shows that we are not expected to acquire those excellent qualities by our own exertions4 ,they may be compared to the sails attached to a boat1 or to the steam or electricity propelling a machine4 ,it is thus the ,holy ,ghost makes the practice of virtue easy for those who implore ,his assistance4 ,have we not all experienced this in many ways8 ,in particular in embracing the religious state8 ,what ,god has begun in us ,he will not desist from1 provided in the future as in the past we co-operate with ,his graces4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what co-operation does the ,holy ,ghost expect from us8 ,we have seen that the sanctification of the soul comes chiefly from the ,holy ,ghost4 ,yet ,he ordinarily requires our co-operation4 ,in what does this consist8 #a4 ,in complying with the inspirations of ,his grace4 ,this supposes that we carefully avoid all wilful sins4 ,by mortal sins we would drive ,him entirely from our souls2 by deliberate venial sins we oppose ,his work1 turning to creatures and attaching ourselves to them1 thus opposing ,his efforts to unite our will with ,god's1 in which union sanctity consists4 ,by indeliberate venial sins also we resist ,his influence1 but to a less degree4 ,yet we must also strive to diminish their frequency4 ,then acting on the promptings of grace1 we shall perform a multitude of virtuous acts1 by which the ,holy ,spirit will advance us to ever higher sanctity4 #b4 ,our co-operation consists in the second place in the fervor of our prayers1 that is in all manner of direct intercourse with ,god by any of our spiritual exercises1 or by aspirations after ,god or ,his gifts1 uttered in the midst of distracting occupations4 ,for these direct dealings with ,god are the ordinary means which ,he provides for the supply of light and strength to the soul1 enabling it to lead a fervent and faithful life4 ,our prayers become all the more efficient in this regard when they are combined with the sacramental graces derived from confession1 ,holy ,communion1 the ,holy ,mass or visits to the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,am ,i thus faithfully and fervently co-operating with the influence of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,what can be improved8 ,colloquy with the ,holy ,ghost1 asking what efforts ,he desires on our part1 and grace to make those efforts4 ,,triduum ,e ,,meditation ,i ,preparation for the ,triduum #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see the graveyard of the ,novitiate4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to view all things as those buried there view them at present4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the vast amount of good done by those buried there1 the fruit produced in countless souls by their labors in missions1 churches1 colleges1 parochial schools1 retreats given1 sermons delivered1 confessions heard1 the last sacraments administered1 the sick visited1 youths prepared for the priesthood and the religious life1 etc41 etc4 ,all these results are still spreading farther and wider1 like the ripples on a pond and last from generation to generation4 ,and by their faithful observance of rules1 the labors borne1 the sufferings endured1 the penance practiced1 their acts of charity1 humility1 piety1 etc41 they have also accumulated immense rewards for themselves4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider the heavenly reward now enjoyed by their souls in company with the ,saints and the ,blessed1 with ,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph4 ,how light appear to them now their former sacrifices4 ,how fully they now realize the meaning of these words of ,st4 ,paul3 8,the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 that shall be revealed in us0 7,rom4 viii1 #ah74 ,think also of the multitudes of souls who are now in bliss with them1 and who owe their salvation to the labors and prayers of those of our brethren whose remains lie in this sacred ground4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,consider how little is known now of their individual endowments4 ,to most of the present generation of our younger members few of the names upon those tombstones recall any former memories4 ,all that is now appreciated by their successors is the grand cause for which they lived and died4 ,their bodily forms1 their more or less extensive knowledge1 their wit1 their poetic power1 their eloquence1 their taste for music1 their talent for mathematics1 even the distinguished offices they held1 the great services they rendered to the ,society and to the ,church at large1 all1 or at least most of this is forgotten by the present generation4 ,and so will be the distinctions which you may acquire during your lifetime to the generations to come4 ,only that which pleases the eye of ,god is of real and lasting value4 ,reflect whether you are not too much in love with temporal distinctions4 ,resolve to make a thorough self-examination during the three days before you1 weighing all concerns in the balance of eternity4 ,colloquy4 ,ask light and grace to make an excellent retreat4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,the ,field ,ripe for the ,harvest #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you hear ,christ say3 8,pray ye the ,lord of the harvest that he send forth laborers into his harvest0 7,st4 ,matth4 ix1 #ch74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to renew your spirit of zeal for souls4 ,,point ,i4 ,the salvation of souls is the most earnest desire of the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus4 ,it was the purpose for which ,he came down to earth1 which was ever before ,him during ,his private life1 ,his preaching1 ,his sufferings and ,his death2 and it is still the object of ,his intercession for us in ,heaven4 ,for ,he realizes1 better than any one else1 the immense interests at stake in saving souls4 ,this is the reason of ,his infinite self-humiliation1 ,his boundless self-sacrifice4 ,this grand work ,he wishes to be continued by ,his ministers1 to whom ,he says3 8,feed my lambs1 feed my sheep40 ,to do this work ,he has ever since inspired ,his dearest friends3 the ,apostles1 all missionaries and pastors1 numberless ,saints in all ages and all lands4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,this eagerness is as earnest with ,him to-day as it ever was4 ,it is so in particular for this land of ours1 where the fields are certainly white for the harvest4 ,and for this work ,christ has chosen you3 8,you have not chosen me1 but ,i have chosen you2 and have appointed you that you should go and bring forth fruit1 and your fruit should remain0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #af74 ,it would be a deplorable blindness in us if we failed to understand the importance of the work before us1 and not only a sad but a guilty listlessness if we were to set our minds on selfish trifles1 and not profit by the golden opportunity offered us to do ,god's work and labor generously at the salvation of souls every day of our lives4 ,of course you cannot at the present stage of your religious life1 go forth and preach and give missions and bring non-,catholics into the fold1 nor are you urged to do things extraordinary4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what can you do in your present circumstances to lead zealous lives8 ,what does ,god desire of you8 #a4 ,you must acquire thoroughly the spirit of our institute4 ,you are still in the stage of formation to this spirit4 ,christ had called ,his first disciples with the words3 8,come after me1 and ,i will make you fishers of men0 7,st4 ,mark i1 #ag74 ,so ,he has called you for the same purpose4 ,yet ,he did not send them at once to preach2 ,he kept them in training1 instructing and directing them4 ,so ,he is doing with you4 ,do not pretend to know better than those put over you2 do not criticise and murmur at any time2 but pray much to obtain fully the spirit of our ,society4 ,do so particularly during this meditation and this whole triduum4 #b4 ,do the tasks entrusted to you with much zeal and devotedness4 ,all the labor in which any ,jesuit is employed by his superiors bears1 in some way or other1 on the salvation of souls4 ,do all your tasks in that spirit4 ,the military recruit1 while in training in the barracks1 is already serving his country4 ,his duty is to do it well4 ,you are in the service of ,christ the ,king4 ,for ,his sake do all to the best of your power4 ,if ,he intrusts to you some care of your neighbor1 as ,he did to ,his ,apostles and the seventy-two disciples during their time of training1 remember it is ,god's work you are doing1 as aids to ,christ1 for the salvation of precious souls4 ,do it all carefully1 faithfully1 making generously the sacrifices involved in the performance of your duties4 #c4 ,pray for ,god's help and ,his blessings on your labors and on the labors of your brethren4 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier ascribed his wonderful success in pagan lands to the prayers of his brethren in ,europe2 and no doubt the missionaries of the present day are likewise assisted by the prayers of the whole ,society4 ,this is the very ,spirit of the ,apostleship of ,prayer1 the zealous exercise of which is sufficient to make you all apostles of the ,lord4 ,colloquy4 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me do for the great work of saving souls8 ,speak1 ,o ,lord2 ,thy servant heareth4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,fraternal ,charity #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you hear ,christ saying3 8,by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another0 7,st4 ,john xiii1 #ce74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask grace to realize fully the importance of practising fraternal charity4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider our strict obligation to observe fraternal charity4 #a4 ,without it there is no sanctifying grace in the soul4 ,st4 ,john writes3 8,we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren4 ,he that loveth not abideth in death4 ,he that hateth his brother is a murderer0 7,st4 ,john iii1 #ad-ae74 #b4 ,christ has chosen this commandment as distinctly ,his own3 8,a new commandment ,i give unto you4 ,love one another as ,i have loved you0 7,st4 ,john xiii1 #cd71 and again3 8,this is my commandment that you love one another as ,i have loved you0 7ib4 xv1 #ab74 #c4 ,he makes its observance the distinctive mark of ,his disciples3 8,by this shall all men know that you are my disciples1 if you have love one for another0 7ib4 xiii1 #cd74 #d4 ,without a delicate fraternal charity many religious communities would contain some very unhappy members4 ,and our ,society in particular has always shown the greatest solicitude to protect and foster this virtue4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,how may fraternal charity be violated8 ,among religious1 violations of charity are not so often committed by actions as they are among seculars1 but they are not seldom committed by word or thought4 ,st4 ,james writes3 8,in many things we all offend4 ,if any man offendeth not in word1 the same is a perfect man0 7iii1 #b71 and again3 8,the tongue no man can tame1 an unquiet evil1 a deadly poison0 7ib4 #h74 ,by calling it a deadly poison1 he clearly indicates that the tongue is often the cause of grievous wrong4 ,now wilfully to inflict a grievous wrong on a neighbor is a grievous sin4 ,but even when the wrong done is of less moment1 it is always sinful to some extent4 ,charity is violated in many ways4 #a4 ,by needlessly saying in the hearing of another words that give him pain2 and that whether he be our equal or our inferior1 and still more if he be our superior4 #b4 ,by needlessly making known another's secret faults4 #c4 ,by imputing to another a fault he has not committed2 this is called calumny1 or slander1 and is a twofold sin1 adding the violation of truth to that of charity4 #d4 ,by putting an unfavorable interpretation on a neighbor's conduct1 expressing it in words4 #e4 ,by condemning him in our minds only1 beyond the evidence of the facts2 such a judgment is rash1 even if it be not false4 #f4 ,by needlessly suspecting evil of which there is no good proof4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how we should practise fraternal ,charity4 ,we must earnestly make up our minds1 and act on the conviction all our lives1 that the practice of charity is not a mere devotion1 highly recommended but not essential for the attainment of solid virtue4 ,st4 ,peter writes3 8,before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves0 7,i ,pet4 iv1 #h74 ,our ,divine ,lord in ,his vivid description of the ,last ,judgment lays the chief stress on the duty of charity1 and says3 8,as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren1 you did it to me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xxv1 #dj74 ,again ,he says3 8,love your enemies1 do good to those who hate you1 bless them that curse you1 and pray for them that calumniate you4444 ,as you would that men should do to you1 do you also to them in like manner0 7,st4 ,luke vi1 #bg-ca74 ,and ,he has made our generous disposition to forgive others the condition of our own pardon1 teaching us to pray in the ,our ,father3 8,forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them who trespass against us40 ,through ,st4 ,peter ,he tells us that3 8,charity covers a multitude of sins40 ,and what is better still1 charity prevents us from committing a multitude of sins4 ,if you can accustom yourself never to say an unkind word of or to another1 nor think evil of any one1 you are on the highroad to sanctity4 ,colloquy4 ,beg of our dear ,lord the grace of a generous1 delicate and universal charity4 ,,meditation ,,iv ,the ,spirit of ,sacrifice #ast ,prelude4 ,behold the scene on ,calvary1 as ,jesus exclaims3 8,it is consummated40 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask eagerly for the spirit of sacrifice4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider that all our blessings have been the result of sacrifices4 ,when ,adam had ruined our race by selfish indulgence1 the ,son of ,god restored us to favor by the most tremendous spirit of sacrifice4 ,his blessings to mankind were propagated from land to land and from age to age by men distinguished for the spirit of sacrifice2 the ,apostles1 the ,martyrs1 the missionaries1 the founders of religious ,orders1 the saintly bishops and priests1 to the present day4 ,if we wish to take our share of this glorious task of saving souls1 it can only be done by making sacrifices4 ,the minister of ,christ who shirks the toils and the privations of his vocation produces little fruit3 8,unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die1 itself remaineth alone2 but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit4444 ,if any man minister to me1 let him follow me0 7,st4 ,john xii1 #bd-bf74 ,,point ,,ii4 ,the spirit of sacrifice is necessary for our salvation and sanctification4 #a4 ,for our salvation4 ,for a person who is not accustomed to refuse himself many1 even lawful1 indulgences is very likely to fall into temptations and grievous sins4 ,therefore ,holy ,job said3 8,i made a covenant with my eyes that ,i would not so much as think upon a virgin0 7xxxi1 #a74 ,on the other hand1 ,solomon said of himself3 8,whatsoever my eyes desired1 ,i refused them not2 and ,i withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure1 and delighting itself in the things which ,i had prepared0 7,eccles4 ii1 #aj74 ,the result was that ,solomon1 8the wise man0 by excellence1 the special favorite of ,god at first1 fell afterwards into most grievous sins3 8,and when he was now old his heart was turned away by women to follow strange gods 444 he worshipped ,astarthe 44 and ,moloch10 etc4 7#c ,kings xi1 #d-h72 and it is not certain that he saved his soul4 ,history and constant experience teach1 by frequent examples1 that the spirit of sacrifice is necessary to secure our salvation4 ,and our ,divine ,lord declares in express terms that 8,the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence1 and the violent bear it away0 7,st4 ,matth4 xi1 #ab74 #b4 ,this violence1 or the spirit of sacrifice1 is still more necessary to work out our sanctification4 ,for this is to be achieved by the imitation of ,christ1 who says3 8,if any one will come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross and follow me0 7,st4 ,matth4 xvi1 #bd74 ,and it is an axiom of the spiritual life that one advances in virtue in proportion to the violence he does to himself4 ,therefore the religious life1 which is the school of perfection1 calls at every step for generous sacrifices in the observance of that multitude of rules whose very purpose is the sanctification of the soul by the spirit and the practice of sacrifice4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how should we practise the spirit of sacrifice8 #a4 ,by carefully observing all our rules4 ,this observance of the rules implies a multitude of self-sacrifices2 so that ,st4 ,john ,berchmans declared that the common life was his greatest mortification2 and the oration of this ,saint's ,office exalts him for his fidelity in the service of ,god4 #b4 ,by hard labor in performing the duties imposed on us1 especially when these are of an unpleasant kind2 for then they require more sacrifice4 #c4 ,by rendering all the services we can1 even when they are not imposed on us1 making ourselves as useful as possible4 ,it is a common saying that what is every man's business is no one's business1 and thus many services are neglected4 ,but a good religious rather says3 this ought to be done1 and no one in particular is appointed to do it2 so ,i must do it4 #d4 ,by making all sacrifices cheerfully3 8,for ,god loveth a cheerful giver0 7#b ,cor4 ix1 #g74 ,colloquy4 ,ask earnestly for a cheerful spirit of sacrifice4 ,,meditation ,v ,become ,men of ,prayer #ast ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ rapt in prayer3 8,he passed the whole night in the prayer of ,god0 7,st4 ,luke1 vi1 #ab74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,earnestly ask the grace of becoming a man of prayer4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the importance of praying well4 #a4 ,our life is1 or at least ought to be1 so very supernatural that it needs an uncommon amount of grace to lead it properly4 ,now the ordinary condition that ,god requires to impart ,his grace is prayer1 not so much long prayer as good prayer4 ,if we pray well1 we shall undoubtedly receive much grace4 #b4 ,our days are filled up with distracting occupations1 so that long hours pass in worldly cares or with profane objects of thought1 whose natural tendency is to engross our hearts with worldly affections1 and turn them from the ,creator to the creature4 ,prayer1 fervent prayer1 is the most efficient means to counteract this tendency4 ,without it we soon lose sight of our highest interests and commit at least venial sins4 #c4 ,the good we shall do to the souls of others depends chiefly on prayer2 for as ,st4 ,ignatius teaches us1 it is from the interior that force must flow to the exterior for the end proposed to us 7,summary1 rule #af74 ,,point ,,ii4 ,what aids have we to become men of prayer8 #a4 ,we have the ,holy ,ghost1 who helps us to pray1 crying in our hearts 8,abba1 ,father0 7,gal4 iv1 #f74 ,he is certainly ever ready to help us to become men of prayer2 for we ,jesuits are called to this1 since it is our vocation to teach others how to pray1 and thus to form spiritual men4 #b4 ,we possess a most perfect system of prayer1 given us through ,st4 ,ignatius in his ,spiritual ,exercises4 ,this has been a most rich and inexhaustible source of spirituality1 as is shown in the works of our writers1 and the lives of our ,fathers1 ,scholastics and ,brothers through all the periods of our history4 #c4 ,all we need to become men of prayer ourselves is diligent application to its practice4 ,to obtain distinguished success in any art or science we need special diligence and a sort of enthusiasm in the practice of that pursuit4 ,he who earnestly wishes to become a man of prayer1--and we ought all to desire this1--should make it his special ambition to perform all his spiritual exercises to the best of his power1 and constantly to ask the ,lord for the gift of prayer4 ,what is my conduct in this respect8 ,am ,i really in earnest to acquire that science of the ,saints8 ,what improvements am ,i going to make in this matter8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what hinders us from being men of prayer8 ,not our duties1 as is the case with most worldlings4 ,for1 although1 as we have stated before1 our outward duties are apt1 to some extent1 to turn our minds and hearts from ,god to creatures1 enough time for prayer is left us to repair our spiritual strength day by day1 provided we perform our meditations1 examinations of conscience1 etc41 with becoming fervor4 ,in fact1 our outward labors1 if animated by the proper intention1 which our spiritual exercises constantly inspire1 will be helpful to bring us nearer to ,god1 just as bodily labor helps the food to promote bodily health4 ,but what hinders us from becoming men of prayer is3 #a4 ,indolence1 which manifests itself in various ways4 ,we may not prepare the points of meditation over night with proper diligence1 or neglect to call them to mind before falling asleep and again at rising in the morning4 ,we may fail to rise promptly and neglect the morning visit to the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,we may assume a listless posture during meditation and at other times of prayer1 etc4 #b4 ,inordinate passions2 such as ambition1 vain glory1 sensual attachments to persons1 etc41 which keep the imagination and the heart busy with other things during the time of prayer4 #c4 ,neglect of direct conversation with ,god while ,he is giving us an audience4 ,prayer supposes that we speak to ,him1 by acts of adoration1 humility1 thanksgiving1 petition1 contrition1 intercession1 etc4 ,we need not say many things but yet we should speak earnestly all along the time of the exercise1 often repeating the same sentiments4 ,colloquy4 ,ask for an increase of fidelity and fervor in prayer4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,the ,vine and the ,branches #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine that ,christ speaks to you from the altar1 and says3 8,i am the vine1 you the branches2 he that abideth in me and ,i in ,him1 the same beareth much fruit0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #e74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,beg to acquire an intimate union with ,christ4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider how powerless we are of ourselves to save our souls1 and those of other men4 ,for ,christ says3 8,as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself1 unless it abide in the vine1 so neither can you unless you abide in me0 7,ib4 xv1 #d74 ,the dogma is this3 we can do nothing profitable for ,heaven1 unless we possess sanctifying grace and be helped by actual grace4 ,now both of these come to us from ,christ1 who is like the vine that sends forth its sap into the branches and thus gives life and fertility4 ,so too we cannot save the souls of others by human learning or skill1 unless ,christ co-operates with us by ,his grace4 ,otherwise we are but like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals4 ,if we do not constantly foster this union with ,god1 we waste much labor1 as we shall1 no doubt1 find at our death we have often done4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider on the other hand how powerful we are when assisted by the grace of ,god4 ,for ,christ says3 8,he that abideth in me and ,i in him1 the same beareth much fruit40 ,how so8 ,by the ,divine power which then makes use of us to do its peculiar work of sanctification for ourselves and others4 ,christ adds3 8,in this is my ,father glorified1 that you bring forth very much fruit0 7ib4 xv1 #h74 8,i have chosen you and have appointed you1 that you should go and should bring forth fruit and your fruit should remain0 7ib4 v1 #af74 ,our labors thus become ,his labors1 as the sap of the vine produces the fruit in the branches4 ,besides1 when our will is one with ,christ's will1 our prayers become most powerful1 as ,he adds1 saying3 8,if you abide in me and my words abide in you1 you shall ask whatever you will1 and it shall be done unto you0 7ib4 xv1 #g74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how do we strengthen this supernatural union with ,christ8 ,he has deigned to tell us this also1 saying3 8,if you keep my commandments1 you shall abide in my love2 as ,i also have kept my ,father's commandments1 and do abide in his love0 7xv1 #aj74 ,how consoling all this doctrine is6 ,he adds again3 8,you are my friends if you do the things that ,i command you0 7xv1 #ad74 ,all we need do then to achieve the most glorious results for our salvation and that of others is to be obedient to ,his voice4 ,,point ,,iv4 ,consider the absolute necessity of this union with ,christ4 ,for ,he assures us of this1 saying3 8,if any one abide not in me1 he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither2 and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire1 and he burneth40 ,this is the lot of all who die in mortal sin1 no matter how holy they may have been before4 ,read the #aeth chapter of ,ezechiel4 ,colloquy4 ,o ,jesus1 may this triduum unite me more firmly with ,thee4 ,what wilt ,thou have me do8 ,,triduum ,f ,,meditation ,i ,on the ,vows #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine the scene of your first vows--the ceremony is very simple1 the meaning very solemn4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask a full appreciation of the meaning4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider the choice made by ,jesus4 #a4 ,while on earth ,jesus chose ,his ,apostles3 8,come ye after me1 and ,i will make you to be fishers of men0 7,st4 ,matth4 iv1 #ai72 meaning3 ,i will make you my co-laborers in the grandest of all works2 8,i have chosen you1 that you should go and that you should bring forth fruit1 and your fruit should remain0 7,st4 ,john xv1 #af71 fruit for eternity4 ,the ,apostles could not then realize the honor offered them4 #b4 ,christ meant to make their hearts like to ,his own in holiness1 filling them with love for ,god and men1 generosity1 humility1 mildness1 fidelity1 etc4 #c4 ,he meant to make them ornaments of ,heaven1 the twelve great constellations of the celestial ,paradise4 ,then consider that the same ,blessed ,saviour has chosen you for the same three purposes4 ,acts of thanks1 self-abasement3 8,i1 although most unworthy1 prostrate before the feet of thy ,divine majesty1 etc40 ,,point ,,ii4 ,consider what were your sentiments at the time of your first vows4 ,they were most earnest and sincere4 ,you were of age1 you knew the real meaning1 you had been tried1 you had full liberty to accept ,christ's offers or to refuse them1 you were enlightened by the grace of ,god and supported by ,his aid4 ,yours were solemn words3 8,i do vow before the most sacred ,virgin ,mary1 and the whole court of ,heaven1 to ,thy ,divine ,majesty1 perpetual ,poverty1 ,chastity and ,obedience1 etc40 ,these vows effected a solemn consecration of your person1 made you sacred1 like chalices1 their violation a sacrilege4 ,these days are to prepare in you proper sentiments to renew this pledge of a sacred ,knighthood1 like ,st4 ,ignatius's night watch of arms at ,mont ,serrat1 really espousals with the ,son of ,god4 ,the breaking of such a contract is horrible before ,god and men4 ,an unfaithful religious is like a false coin--apparently gold1 really brass4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,have we been faithful8 ,there can be no doubt of our original sincerity4 ,our self-immolation was sincere and generous2 ,god supported us4 ,have we been living up to the lofty ideals with which we started out8 ,thousands before us have done so2 thousands are doing so to-day2 thousands are being prepared by the ,holy ,spirit to do the same4 ,these days are assigned us by our ,society to examine carefully how we stand4 ,if we find defects1 we are now to correct them4 ,we must begin the task by a careful self-examination4 ,this is a visit1 not of a ,father ,provincial or ,father ,general1 but of the ,holy ,ghost ,himself to the hearts of all4 ,no doubt you are faithful in many things2 see whether you are faithful in all things4 ,imagine the ,holy ,spirit addresses you in the words spoken in the ,apocalypse to the ,bishop of ,ephesus1 saying3 8,i know thy works and thy labor1 and thy patience1 and how thou canst not bear them that are evil4444 ,and thou hast patience1 and hast endured for my name1 and hast not fainted4 ,but ,i have somewhat against thee40 ,then consider whether you find really in your conduct something that needs special looking after during these three days4 ,colloquy1 according to the sentiments thus excited in your mind4 ,,meditation ,,ii ,the ,vow of ,chastity #ast ,prelude4 ,see ,christ in ,heaven surrounded by a bright crowd of intimate friends 7,apoc4 vii1 #i74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for the most delicate purity of heart4 ,,point ,i4 ,chastity is a most precious treasure4 ,it was bestowed on ,adam and ,eve in ,paradise3 8,they were both naked1 to wit ,adam and ,eve1 and they were not ashamed0 7,gen4 ii1 #be74 ,on the other hand1 when 8,all flesh had corrupted its way0 7,gen4 vi1 #ab7 the ,deluge showed the indignation of ,god2 and1 soon after1 to punish impurity1 8,the ,lord rained upon ,sodom and ,gomorha brimstone and fire 444 and he destroyed these cities0 7,gen4 xix1 #bd1 #be74 ,when the ,son of ,god was about to come down and become a child of this sin-stained race1 ,he prepared for ,himself a temple of purity in the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,his favorite friends were chaste virginal souls1 ,st4 ,joseph1 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,st4 ,john the ,apostle2 and ,his other ,apostles too left their wives and all things to follow ,him4 ,one of ,his first teachings was3 8,blessed are the clean of heart0 7,st4 ,matth4 v1 #h74 ,to teach the sanctity becoming the human body1 it is anointed with sacred oil at ,baptism and ,confirmation1 fed with the ,divine ,bread at ,holy ,communion1 incensed at ,solemn ,mass and at burial1 and laid in consecrated ground to rise again in glory4 ,how we ought to respect this vessel of election6 ,,point ,,ii4 ,we have been selected from among thousands to constitute the virgin band of ,christ's intimate friends4 ,these are ,divine nuptials of ,jesus with the consecrated virgin soul1 united together into closest union4 ,to this holiness impurity is diametrically opposed4 ,as adultery is the grossest sin against the sacred bond of matrimony1 so is impurity the most degrading vice against the religious state2 and as in ,st4 ,matthew's ,gospel 7xix1 #i7 marital infidelity is a just cause for rejection of the guilty party1 so ,jesus rejects the impure4 ,the ,book of ,wisdom also declares that 8,wisdom will not dwell in a body subject to sins0 7i1 #d74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,means to protect and perfect purity4 #a4 ,prayer4 ,the ,book of ,wisdom says3 8,as ,i knew that ,i could not otherwise be continent except ,god gave it1 and this also was a point of wisdom to know whose gift it was1 ,i went to the ,lord and besought him0 7viii1 #ba74 ,this is one strong reason why religious should do so much more praying than seculars1 that they are vowed to a life of perpetual purity4 ,in particular there is need in this matter of habitual recourse to prayer at every assault of temptation4 #b4 ,the practice of mortification2 for to the spirit of impurity apply the words of ,christ3 8,this kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting0 7,st4 ,mark ix1 #bh74 #c4 ,modesty of all the senses1 especially of the eyes3 8,i made a covenant with my eyes1 that ,i would not so much as think upon a virgin10 said ,holy ,job 7xxxi1 #a71 clearly indicating that the source of evil thoughts lies chiefly in the objects presented to the eyes4 #d4 ,avoiding the occasions of temptations2 for1 while many other passions are best subdued by direct resistance to their promptings1 that of lust must be overcome by flight4 ,therefore ,ecclesiasticus warns us that 8he that loveth danger shall perish in it0 7iii1 #bg74 ,few servants of ,god had shown such heroic proofs of fidelity to duty amid multiplied and protracted trials as had ,king ,david2 and yet the imprudence with which he exposed himself to an impure temptation made him in a few days an adulterer1 a tyrant and a murderer1 and filled his remaining years of life with bitter sufferings4 ,we must carefully consider in every retreat how faithfully we make use of these various protections of angelic chastity2 for 8,we have this treasure in earthen vessels0 7#b ,cor4 iv1 #g74 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord and ,his ,holy ,mother4 ,,meditation ,,iii ,the ,vow of ,obedience #ast ,prelude4 ,behold ,christ learning a trade from ,st4 ,joseph4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for high appreciation of obedience4 ,,point ,i4 ,consider that all human beings must obey4 ,a wise ,god must establish order in all ,his works2 hence the maxim3 8,order is ,heaven's first law40 ,the material universe obeys the law of gravitation1 the moral universe obeys the law of subordination of wills of inferiors to superiors1 that is the law of obedience4 ,common sense teaches all mankind that children must obey their parents1 servants their masters1 subjects their lords1 etc4 ,when ,god came to share your nature1 ,he put ,himself to obey1 and carried this virtue to the highest perfection1 8becoming obedient unto death1 even to the death of the cross0 7,phil4 ii1 #h74 ,in positive legislation ,god has made this law universal4 ,the ,fourth ,commandment directly enforces it 7,ex4 xx1 #ab74 ,the law of ,deuteronomy is still more forcible1 saying3 8,he that will be proud and refuse to obey the commandment of the priest who ministereth at the time to the ,lord thy ,god1 and the decree of the judge1 that man shall die1 and thou shalt take away the evil from ,israel0 7xvii1 #ab72 and laying down the law for sacred services1 ,god inflicted a sudden and disgraceful death on two young priests for using common instead of sacred fire 7,levit4 x1 #a-c74 ,he wished to set an example for all future ages4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,obedience is the characteristic virtue of our ,society4 ,at the time of the ,protestant ,reformation there was a widespread spirit of rebellion against the authority of ,god2 independence replaced obedience4 ,the ,holy ,ghost then inspired ,st4 ,ignatius to institute a religious ,order whose characteristic virtue should be that of obedience4 ,he had been a brave soldier1 and he wished to assemble a band of men1 a company obeying orders with the promptness1 punctuality and generosity of soldiers ever in active warfare4 8,especially ,i desire10 he writes1 8to see you most perfect in the virtue of obedience40 ,his letter on ,obedience is the greatest masterpiece written on this matter1 and his ,institute is the most perfect exhibition of this virtue in action4 ,it is1 in fact1 a close imitation of the obedient life of the ,god ,incarnate4 ,none but very obedient men are true ,jesuits4 ,father ,franciosi1 in his work 8,the ,spirit of ,st4 ,ignatius10 has collected thirty pages of eulogies pronounced by the ,saint on this his favorite virtue 7pp4 #fa to #ib74 ,he calls it 8the noblest and most beautiful virtue10 8the sweetest sacrifice1 most pleasing to the ,divine ,majesty10 8a kind of martyrdom40 ,he writes3 8,obedience ennobles and elevates man greatly above his condition1 causing him to put off self and to put on ,god1 the sovereign good1 who is accustomed to fill the soul so much the more as ,he finds it less occupied with self-will2 so that those who have reached this state may truly1 provided they obey from the bottom of their hearts1 say with the ,apostle3 #8,i live1 now not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4'0 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how perfect ought our obedience to be8 ,i4 ,in the execution1 it must be prompt1 leaving even a letter unfinished2 exact1 rendered with military precision2 generous1 shirking no difficulty2 universal in all things commanded and even at a mere sign of a superior's will without an express command2 without show of reluctance1 as a corpse is moved or an old man's staff employed4 #b4 ,in the will1 which is exchanged for the will of the superior1 so that there can be no conflict of wills4 #c4 ,in the judgment1 8as far as a devout will can bend the understanding10 says ,st4 ,ignatius1 which can always be done when there is no compelling evidence to the contrary4 ,hence never any criticism1 but such docility as the child ,jesus showed when taught by ,st4 ,joseph the rules of his trade without suggesting any improvement4 ,colloquy with our dear ,lord1 asking for perfect obedience4 ,,meditation ,,iv ,on ,strength of ,character #ast ,prelude4 ,recall the words of ,st4 ,paul3 8,be not overcome by evil1 but overcome evil by good0 7,rom4 xii1 #ba74 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask to improve in vigor of character4 ,,point ,i4 ,what is strength of character8 ,it is power of the will to control one's own actions1 independently of one's inclinations and of the opinions of men4 ,a weak character is led by mere feelings4 ,these must be brought under control1 conquered by the strength of the will and made to obey the dictate of reason4 ,for this purpose we must resist our inclinations3 8,vince teipsum10 8,conquer thyself02 8,tantum profeceris quantum tibi vim intuleris10 8,your progress will be proportioned to your self-victories10 are undoubted maxims4 ,and ,christ says in the ,apocalypse3 8,to him that shall overcome ,i will give to sit with me in my throne0 7iii1 #ba74 ,what must we overcome8 ,whatever we find during the triduum to be disorderly in our daily conduct4 ,examine your rising at the first signal1 your morning visit1 meditation1 hearing of ,mass1 reception of ,holy ,communion1 and all the successive actions of the day4 ,resolve to correct what is faulty1 to supply what is wanting1 etc4 ,mere wishes are worthless2 you must set to work4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,whence comes strength of character8 #a4 ,it is of course1 like every precious power1 a gift of ,god3 8,every best gift1 and every perfect gift is from above1 coming down from the ,father of light0 7,st4 ,james i1 #ag74 ,like all other gifts of ,god1 it can be increased by earnest and persevering prayer4 ,many are fond of frequently repeating the petition3 8,lord1 grant me the grace of doing what ,thou commandest1 and then command what ,thou wilt40 #b4 ,but it is not all a gift of ,god4 ,our will is free2 nothing is so truly our own as our will4 ,even ,god will not control it4 ,being an immaterial power1 it is not affected by sickness nor old age1 as is evident from the heroism of the ,martyrs4 #c4 ,a person's character may undergo great changes4 ,thus we read of ,st4 ,francis of ,sales that his gentleness of temper was the result of strenuous and continuous efforts4 ,in ,st4 ,ignatius 8,unalterable calmness was the result of his vigorous perseverance in combatting the irascibility to which his constitution much inclined him0 7,franciosi1 ,spir4 of ,st4 ,ign41 p4 #adi74 #d4 ,often men of strong passions make most progress in virtue1 as ,st4 ,ignatius found in ,peter ,ribadineira and ,edmund ,auger1 who triumphed over great defects of character 7,ib41 p4 #ada74 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how is strength of character increased or diminished8 ,this is chiefly effected by the successive acts of our free will4 ,every virtuous act strengthens our power of doing such virtuous acts again1 and every yielding to our passions strengthens those passions1 and in the same proportion weakens our power of resistance to their promptings4 ,for habits are formed by the repetition of acts1 and habits become like a second nature4 ,we are all bundles of habits2 the habits determine the cast of character4 ,it is proper for each one to examine during the triduum whether he is now different from what he was at former times2 for instance1 at the completion of his novitiate or his entrance on more active duties--better or worse4 ,we cannot long remain just the same4 ,the religious life is like rowing against the current of a river3 if we cease rowing1 we are carried back4 ,what is my present condition of fidelity to duty1 of zeal1 charity1 obedience1 piety1 etc48 ,colloquy1 as the occasion suggests4 ,,meditation ,v ,on ,co-operation with ,grace #ast ,prelude4 ,imagine you see the thousands of happy souls in ,heaven who worked out their salvation in our ,society while on earth4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for abundant grace to follow in their footsteps4 ,,point ,i4 ,what manner of men were they on earth8 ,they were very much like ourselves4 ,they had the same human passions to control1 the same rules to observe1 the same labors to perform1 the same sacrifices to make1 etc4 ,and to help them along they had the same aids that we have3 the same loving ,lord1 who had called them from amid the dangers of the world1 as ,he has called us2 the same training by the ,spiritual ,exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius1 the same holy ,sacraments1 the same everything2 not of course in the same proportion for every individual soul2 but enough of grace for all to live up to our grand vocation1 and in due time to be with our blessed brethren in ,heaven1 as we are now their associates in the ,society of ,jesus on earth4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,to what do those happy souls owe their success8 ,the same grace of ,god in their case and in ours being presupposed1 they owed their success to their faithful co-operation4 ,the grace of ,god is in the matter of sanctification1 what the spring is in a watch4 ,all the movements of the wheels and the hands come from the spring2 when that breaks all the other parts come to a perfect standstill4 ,the powers of our body and soul are like the wheels of the watch which must work along with the spring to indicate the correct time4 ,and of them one is free1 namely our will4 ,when our free will co-operates with grace1 we lead holy lives4 ,the spring of ,god's grace never fails2 the only fear of failure regards our own free will4 ,now the purpose of this triduum is to examine how faithfully our will is seconding the promptings of grace4 ,in this meditation we must ask ,god's light to understand the real condition of our soul1 and next examine our conduct with care1 to see whether our lives are up to the standard of faithful and fervent religious4 ,how is ,god pleased with us8 ,how are our superiors and our brethren in religion satisfied8 ,has any one a right to complain of us8 ,what improvement can we make8 ,,point ,,iii4 ,how can we obtain an increase of grace8 ,by prayer and faithful co-operation4 #a4 ,prayer is the universal means by which all blessings can be obtained3 8,ask and you shall receive1 that your joy may be full0 7,st4 ,john xvi1 #bd74 ,but of course we must pray fervently and perseveringly2 careless prayer leads to tepidity and loss of grace1 rather than its increase4 ,how fervently have ,i been praying of late8 #b4 ,co-operation with graces given me is the most efficient means of obtaining a further supply of grace4 ,and in proportion as graces abound the service of ,god is facilitated1 and thus again further graces are secured3 ,facile equitat quem gratia ,dei portat1 8he rides along with ease who is carried up by the grace of ,god10 is a familiar axiom4 ,on the other hand1 the want of co-operation with the grace given us makes us unworthy of a future liberal supply of ,god's help1 and gradually leads a soul into tepidity1 with all its serious consequences4 ,we may be much encouraged to improve ourselves in these two means of sanctification1 namely prayer and co-operation with grace1 by frequently recalling to mind the examples set us by the ,saints of our ,society4 ,these two means made them ,saints and the same means will make us ,saints1 if we employ them with the same earnestness and perseverance as they did4 ,pray like the ,saints1 co-operate with the grace of ,god as the ,saints habitually did1 and you will soon be holy yourselves4 ,colloquy with ,jesus and ,mary1 to obtain great progress in the imitation of the ,saints4 ,,meditation ,,vi ,the ,perfection of ,our ,actions #ast ,prelude4 ,behold our ,divine ,lord as a youth occupied in humble labor4 #bnd ,prelude4 ,ask for light and strength of will to do all things well4 ,,point ,i4 ,the life of ,christ is summed up in the words1 8,he hath done all things well10 ,bene omnia fecit 7,st4 ,mark vii1 #cg74 ,for ,jesuits these words contain a most safe1 most effective and most comprehensive rule of action4 ,this follows from the fact that our life is directly intended to be a close imitation of the life of ,christ ,himself4 ,such was certainly the grand ideal of our founder1 ,st4 ,ignatius4 ,the perfection he teaches is the imitation of ,christ2 and the entire life of ,christ is described in this statement1 8,he did all things well40 ,any one of ,ours who aims steadily at this practise is on the highroad to perfection2 and one who does so throughout his life is a real saint4 ,to such persons applies the saying of ,father ,isidore ,boudreaux1 ,s4,j41 which is quoted in our ,menology3 8,the good novice makes the good scholastic and the good scholastic makes the good priest40 ,without this aim the pursuit of perfection is an illusion4 ,,point ,,ii4 ,in this pursuit of sanctity we have no time to lose4 ,see how much was done in a short time by our young ,saints1 ,aloysius1 ,stanislaus1 ,berchmans1 and really by all our great models4 ,for instance1 ,st4 ,francis had only ten years given him to accomplish his grand success in ,india and ,japan4 ,very many of the ,saints fulfilled a long space in a short time2 a ,st4 ,catherine of ,sienna1 who benefited the ,church so conspicuously1 died at the age of #cc years4 ,the career of any of you may be much briefer than you expect2 but no matter how brief it be1 it will be a very successful one if you do all things well4 ,,point ,,iii4 ,what is required to do all things well8 ,it requires3 #a4 ,a good motive on all occasions2 for the end specifies the act1 determines its moral nature4 ,in all your actions seek purely ,god's glory1 the good of souls1 the will of ,god1 or any purpose that the faith proposes to us4 8,whether you eat or drink1 or whatever else you do1 do all to the glory of ,god10 wrote ,st4 ,paul 7,i ,cor4 x1 #ca74 ,it is not so much the offering of our actions to ,god that is here recommended1 but rather the aiming in all we do at a supernatural effect4 ,this higher aim renders our acts pleasing to ,god and meritorious for ourselves4 #b4 ,attention to the least details of what you do1 striving to impart to it the highest perfection you can4 ,thus the perfection of any work of art depends1 not on the general outline only1 but rather on the beauty imparted to every portion of the production1 be it a painting1 a statue1 a literary composition1 etc4 #c4 ,careful avoidance of all negligent or defective work4 ,for indulgence in carelessness not only spoils the task actually in hand1 but also renders us less disposed to act well on subsequent occasions4 ,every moral fault we commit fosters an evil habit4 ,let me examine with care with what perfection ,i have lately been accustomed to perform my actions1 and resolve to amend all that needs correction4 ,colloquy1 according to the present condition of my soul4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,triduums ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores 7italics74