Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/100

 soled and  encouraged  him  by  relating  the  conduct  of  a parent  who  commanded  his  son  to  clear  a  certain  portion of  land  from  thorns  and  briars. Disheartened by the  difficulty  of  the  task,  and  despairing  of  success,  the son neglected  altogether  the  duty  imposed  upon  him, and excused  himself  to  his  father,  saying  that  he  had not courage  to  undertake  such  labor. In answer  the father said  to  him:  My  son,  I  only  ask  you  to  cleanse, every day,  as  much  land  as  will  be  the  size  of  your  body. The son  began  to  work,  and  by  degrees  he  removed every useless  and  noxious  plant. This example  is  well adapted to  encourage  and  stimulate  us  in  our  progress to perfection. He that  always  cherishes  an  ardent  desire of advancement,  and  strives  continually  to  go  forward, will, with  the  divine  assistance,  obtain  the  perfection after which  he  aspires. St. Bernard  says  that  to  make constant exertions  to  advance  in  virtue  is  the  perfection that can  be  attained  in  this  life. " Continual  efforts  for perfection,"  says  the  saint,  "are  reputed  perfection.'" You must  be  careful  never  to  omit  your  usual  exercises, your meditations,  Communions,  or  mortifications. This rule must  be  particularly  observed  in  the  time  of  aridity. It is  then  that  God  tries  his  faithful  servants,  and  that they prove  their  fidelity  to  him,  by  discharging,  in  spite of their  darkness,  pains,  and  difficulties,  the  duties  which, amid the  abundance  of  his  celestial  consolations,  they were accustomed  to  perform.

VII. The last  and  most  efficacious  means  of  perfection is, to  have  continually  before  your  eyes  the  examples  of the  Sisters  who  are  most  distinguished  for  sanctity,  in order  to  imitate  the  virtues  which  they  practise. St. Anthony says,  as  the  bee  gathers  honey  from  every flower, so  a  religious  should  draw  lessons  of  perfection from the  good  examples  of  all  her  companions. She should emulate  the  modesty  of  one,  the  charity  and