Page:Catholic Magazine And Review, Volume 3 and Volume 4, 1833.djvu/206

192 which looks forward with eagearnesseagerness [sic] to the day when you will come forth to be worthy ministers of the gospel. If, on the contrary, you disregard them, you will remove far from you the blessing of heaven, your vocation and salvation will be placed in imminent danger: nay, nothing else can be expected, but that you will run headlong into vice, and in the end incur the loss, both of body and soul."

"1. Let each of you frequently ask himself, with St. Bernard, for what purpose am I come hither? Is it for the sake of amusement and pastime, or to indulge in my own ease? No: it is in order to devote myself to study, to inure myself to labour, and to acquire that knowledge and those virtues, which will qualify me to maintain and extend our holy faith, and procure the glory of God and my own salvation.

"2. Consecrate, therefore, yourselves without reserve to the service of Jesus Christ and of his spouse, the church. Be ever ready cheerfully to follow the impulse of providence. Keep yourselves, as much as possible, in the divine presence and never allow your imaginations to dwell on vain and sinful thoughts. Be attentive and devout at your prayers, your meditations and your other spiritual exercises: but especially assist with the most lively sentiments of faith, piety and devotion, at the tremendous sacrifice of the Mass. Approach often and with great fervour to those abundant sources of remedies for all spiritual wounds, of our progress in virtue and of interior peace, the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Dread nothing so much as profaning them by approaching to them unworthily. The perpetration of so horrid a sacrilege would plunge you, as it did Judas, into an abyss of evils, and would imprint on your souls the sure character of eternal reprobation. Unfold, without the least disguise, the secrets of your hearts to your director. Be assiduous in reading spiritual books, and listening to the exhortations and instructions, which are given you by your superiors. Every day enter seriously into yourselves, and examine before God the state of your conscience. Have special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, by continually reciting prayers in honour of her, begging her intercession, and imitating her virtues, particularly her humility, obedience,