Page:Sermons for all the Sundays in the year.djvu/364

 would wish, they say, to become a saint; but still, with all their desires, they never advance a single step. St. Teresa used to say, that ” of these irresolute souls the devil is never afraid." Because, if they do not resolve sincerely to give themselves to God without reserve, they shall always continue in the same imperfections. But, on the other hand, the saint says, that God wishes only from us a true resolution to become saints; he himself will do the rest. If, then, we wish to love God with our whole heart, we must resolve to do without reserve what is most pleasing to him, and to begin at once to put our hands to the work. ” Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly." (Eccl. ix. 10.) What you can do Today do not put off till to-morrow; do it as soon as possible. A certain nun in the convent of Tori degli Speechi, in Rome, led a tepid life; but, being called by God, in a retreat, to his perfect love, she resolved to correspond immediately to the divine call, and said to her director, with a sincere resolution: ” Father, I wish to become a saint, and to become one immediately." And from that moment, with the aid of God’s grace, she lived and died a saint. We must, then, resolve to acquire the perfect love of God, and must immediately adopt the means of becoming saints. 10. The first means is, to detach the heart from all creatures, and to banish from the soul every affection which is not for God. The first question which the ancient fathers of the desert put to every one who sought admission into their society was: "Do you bring an empty heart, that the Holy Ghost may be able to fill it ?" If the world be not expelled from the heart, God cannot enter it. St. Teresa used to say: "Detach the heart from creatures; seek God, and you shall find him." St. Augustine writes, that the Romans worshipped thirty thousand gods; but, among these gods the Roman Senate refused to admit Jesus Christ. Because, said they, he is a proud God, who requires that he alone should be adored. This they had reason to say; for our God wishes to possess our whole souls. He is, as St. Jerome says, a jealous God. ” Zelotypus est Jesus." And therefore lie will have no rival in the affections of our heart. Hence, the Spouse in the Canticles is called