Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/25

 some, who  laboured  hard,  and  devoted  themselves  entirely  to  the service of  the  community,  but  who  applied  not  with  equal fervour to  prayer;  spiritual  reading,  and  interior  recollection. Now St.  Fulgentius  never  thought  so  much  of  these,  as  of others. He always  showed  a  far  greater  love  and  esteem  for those who,  though  unable,  by  reason  of  their  weak  and  sickly constitution, to  be  of  any  service  to  the  convent,  were  yet  devoted to  spiritual  things,  and  careful  to  advance  in  virtue. And doubtless  he  acted  right. For, if  we  are  not  humble  and submissive to  the  will  of  our  superiors,  what  will  it  avail  us  to have  talents,  and  other  good  qualities? If on  this  ground  we claim  greater  liberties  and  exemptions,  it  certainly  were  far better for  us  never  to  have  had  talents  at  all. The case  were different indeed,  if  in  the  account  which  is,  one  day,  to  be demanded  of  the  superior,  God  should  ask  him, — "  Were  his subjects  men  of  study  and  science?" But no!  these  are  the questions God  will  ask  him, — "  Have  those  committed  to  your charge  improved  themselves  in  the  science  of  saints?" " Have they  advanced  daily  in  virtue?" "Have they  been  employed according  to  their  talents,  without  suffering  their  exterior occupations  to  check  their  interior  advancement?" It is  this,  in the  opinion  of  a  very  holy  man  (Tho.-a-Kempis,  xiii.  c.  3),  for which every  particular  person  also  shall  be  accountable  to Almighty  God,  who,  on  the  day  of  judgment,  will  not  ask  us, what we  have  read,  but  what  we  have  done — nor  how  learnedly we have  spoken,  but  how  religiously  we  have  lived?

The sacred  text  relates,  that  our  blessed  Saviour  having  sent his disciples  to  preach,  they  returned  full  of  joy,  telling  him, "That even  the  devils  were  subject  to  them,  in  his  name." To whom our  Saviour  answered, — "  Rejoice  not  that  you  work miracles,  and  that  the  devils  are  subject  to  you;  but  rejoice  in this,  that  your  names  are  written  in  heaven." (Luke, x.  17,  20.) We ought,  then,  to  place  all  our  joy  and  happiness  in  acquiring the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for  without  that  all  the  rest  are nothing. "What will  it  avail  a  man  to  gain  the  whole  world, if  he  loseth  his  soul?" (Matt. xvi.  26.)

And if  we  say,  what  our  Saviour  himself  says,  that  these occupations which  tend  to  the  conversion  of  souls  ought  not  to make  us  forget  what  we  owe  to  our  own  salvation,  since  it were  useless  to  have  contributed  to  save  all  the  world,  if  we  do not  endeavour  to  save  ourselves — what  may  we  not,  with greater reason,  say  of  other  occupations? Certainly, it  is  un-