Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/50

 Suffer nothing  to  escape  without  endeavouring  to  derive  some  advantage from  it. An angry  word  is  said  to  you;  you  are  commanded to  do  something  against  your  will;  an  opportunity  of humbling  yourself  is  offered — from  all  these  things,  if  made  proper use of,  you  will  derive  considerable  advantage. We ought  to  seek after occasions  of  this  nature,  and  purchase  them  at  any  price:  and as a  merchant  never  lies  down  with  more  satisfaction  than  after  the day on  which  he  made  several  good  and  advantageous  bargains; so a  religious  ought  to  think  that  he  never  succeeds  better  in  his profession, and  ought  never  to  go  to  bed  with  more  comfort,  than after the  day  whereon  he  met  with  many  occasions  of  exercising his humility  and  patience. A merchant  is  no  ways  troubled  at the  losses  of  another,  nor  is  he  angry  with  him  upon  this  account, but thinks  and  often  reflects  with  joy  on  his  own  particular  gain: in like  manner,  a  religious  ought  never  examine  whether  another did well  or  ill  in  giving  him  the  mortification  he  received,  nor  be angry  with  him  for  it,  but  he  ought  to  rejoice  at  the  particular  advantage he  derived  therefrom. If we  acted  in  this  manner,  we would  not  so  readily  lose  our  peace  of  mind  on  such  occasions. For when  those  very  things  which  of  their  own  nature  are  capable of depriving  us  of  it,  and  exciting  discontent  in  us,  are  the  only things we  seek  after  and  desire,  what  can  happen,  that  can  ever disturb our  peace,  or  cause  us  any  affliction  of  mind?

Consider, moreover,  with  what  great  care  and  industry  the merchant applies  to  everything  which  can  promote  his  own interest; how  he  thinks  of  nothing  else,  and  how  ardently  he undertakes  any  affair  wherein  there  is  the  least  appearance  or hope  of  gain:  whether  he  is  at  table;  whether  he  lies  down  or gets  up;  whether  he  is  asleep  or  awake;  in  fine,  wheresoever he is,  or  whatsoever  he  does,  that  affair  alone  engages  his thoughts and  allows  him  not  to  enjoy  repose. In the  same manner we  must  proceed  in  the  affair  of  our  salvation,  having our mind  and  heart  entirely  engaged  with  it;  and  we  should  be ever  attentive  to  derive  some  spiritual  profit  from  every  even the least  occasion  that  presents  itself. This is  the  thought which should  always  accompany  us,  at  table,  at  our  going  to bed,  and  getting  up;  in  all  our  actions  and  in  all  our  exercises, at all  times,  and  in  all  places  during  our  whole  life. This is our  only  business. If we  do  this  well,  we  need  desire  nothing more, and  in  fact,  it  is  not  worth  our  while  to  trouble  ourselves even for  a  moment  about  everything  else. To all  this  St. Bonaventure  (B.  II.  Rel.  Prof.  c.  i.)  adds,  that  as  a  good