Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/31

 this feigned  reserve  entirely  vanishing,  she  resumed  her  former manners, spent  her  time  in  idle  conversations,  and  thought  of nothing  but  of  amusing  herself  with  some  seculars  who  were pensioners in  the  same  monastery. Just as  the  bow,  though  bent, when the  string  is  loosened  quickly  restores  itself  to  its  natural form, in  like  manner  the  impressions  made  on  this  young  lady's mind  were  quickly  effaced,  as  they  had  been  made  by  an  external cause, whose  source  lay  not  in  her  heart.

The affair  of  Christian  perfection  is  not  a  business  to  be  done by constraint;  it  is  the  heart  which  must  undertake  it. Speaking to  the  young  man  in  the  gospel,  our  Saviour  tells  him, "If thou  wilt  be  perfect"  (Matt.  xix.  21) ;  in  order  to  show  us that  the  root  of  perfection  is  in  our  will. For if  we  have  not a sincere  desire  of  becoming  perfect,  all  the  care  and  attention  of our  superiors  will  avail  nothing. Here we  can  find  the  answer to the  question  put  by  St.  Bonaventure,  when  he  asks:  Why was one  superior  sufficient  formerly  for  one  thousand  religious, nay for  four  or  five  thousand,  who,  according  to  St.  Jerom  and St. Austin,  lived  under  one  abbot;  and  now-a-days  one  superior is  scarce  sufficient  for  ten^  religious,  nay  even  for  a smaller  number. (Bon. Rel.  Per.  T.  I.  c.  39.)  The  reason  is, because formerly  the  religious  cherished  an  ardent  desire  of perfection,  and  this  fire  kindling  in  their  hearts,  they  applied themselves, with  all  possible  zeal,  to  their  spiritual  advancement. " The  just,"  says  the  Wise  Man,  "  shall  shine,  and  shall  spread  like sparks  of  fire  among  reeds." (Wis. iii.  7.)  By  this  metaphor,  the Holy Ghost  explains  very  clearly,  with  what  ease  and  speed  just men advance  in  the  paths,  of  virtue,  when  their  hearts  are  once inflamed with  this  divine  fire. ''They shall  spread  like  sparks  of fire  among  reeds."  Imagine  to  yourselves  how  quick  the  flame rushes  among  reeds,  when  they  are  set  on  fire,  and  you  will  conceive how  the  just  advance  in  virtue,  when  their  hearts  are  once inflamed.  This  was  the  case  with  the  ancient  hermits,  who,  for this  reason,  were  so  far  from  having  need  of  a  superior  to  spur them  on  in  their  duties,  that  they  needed  one  to  moderate  their zeal.  But  if  we  feel  not  these  desires  in  our  hearts,  so  far  from one  superior  being  sufficient  for  ten  religious,  ten  superiors,  notwithstanding their  united  efforts,  would  not  make  one  religious man  perfect  against  his  will.  For  what  will  it  avail  to  visit  his chamber;  to  see  that  he  makes  his  meditation  and  prayer  at  the time  appointed?  The  visit  being  past,  cannot  he  amuse  himself as he  pleases? And even  whilst  he  is  on  his  knees,  cannot  he