Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/53

 hinder him  from  attaining  the  proposed  object,  yet  at  most  he will  fail  only  in  something  of  counsel,  in  an  unimportant  rule, slight imperfection  or  venial  sin. But he  whose  object  is  only not to  offend  God  mortally,  will  doubtless  fall  into  some  mortal 6in, if  his  bow  is  even  in  the  slightest  degree  slackened,  and  if he  fails  to  point  at  the  object. It is  thus  that  seculars  fall  so repeatedly  into  most  grievous  sins,  and  good  religious  are  by the  mercy  of  God  preserved  from  them. And certainly  were there no  other  advantage  in  religion,  this  alone  would  suffice  to comfort  us,  and  should  urge  us  continually  to  thank  the  divine goodness for  having  called  us  thereunto. For to  conclude,  I hope,  that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  you  will  pass  your  whole  life here without  mortal  sin,  whereas  if  you  had  lived  in  the  world, perhaps you  would  pass  scarcely  one  year,  month,  or  week;  no, not even  one  day  or  hour  without  falling  into  it.

Hence you  may  easily  infer  what  danger  the  tepid  religious  is in,  who  scruples  not  the  breaking  of  his  rules,  and  who  is  not solicitous to  aspire  to  perfection. It is  very  difficult  for  him  to retain  these  sentiments,  without  being  exposed  to  the  danger  of committing  some  great  crime. But if  you  desire  to  improve  in virtue,  propose  to  yourself,  for  example,  to  acquire  humility  so  perfect, that  you  may  be  able  to  receive  contempts  and  injuries  with joy; and  after  all  this,  God  grant,  you  will  be  able  to  support  them with patience. Resolve with  yourself  to  make  an  entire  submission of your  will  and  understanding  to  everything  ordained  by  your superiors; and  God  grant  that,  even  after  this  resolution,  you  will not fail  in  the  duty  of  obedience,  and  in  the  exactness  it  requires. In fine,  resolve  to  be  perfectly  resigned  on  occasions  the  most arduous and  extraordinary;  and  you  will  do  not  a  little,  by  manifesting this  resignation,  when  even  the  most  easy  and  common trials occur.

It was  well  contrived  by  Almighty  God,  says  St. Austin (Lib. de  Perf.  torn,  vii.),  to  place  the  greatest  and  most  perfect  of  his commandments at  the  head  of  all  the  rest. " Thou  shalt  love  the Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole  heart,  with  thy  whole  soul,  with  thy whole  strength,  and  with  thy  whole  mind." (Luke, x.  27.)   This is the  greatest  and  first  commandment."  (Matt.  xxii.  38)  This is  the  end  for  which  the  rest  were  given  us,  according  to  the words  of  the  apostle:  "  The  end  of  the  precept  is  charity" (1  Tim.  i.  5);  and  the  excellence  of  this  commandment  is  such, that  the  fathers  and  divines  are  of  opinion,  it  is  only  in  the  other life  we  shall  be  able  to  fulfil  it  perfectly.    For  to  have  our  hearts