Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/226

 nard used  to  say,  that  to  fix  the  eyes  upon  the  earth contributes to  keep  the  heart  in  heaven. "Where," says St. Gregory, "  Christ  is,  there  modesty  is  found." Wherever Jesus  Christ  dwells  by  love,  there  modesty  is practised. However, I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  eyes should never  be  raised  or  never  fixed  on  any  object. No; but they  ought  to  be  directed  only  to  what  inspires  devotion, to  sacred  images,  and  to  the  beauty  of  creation, which elevate  the  soul  to  the  contemplation  of  the  divinity. Except in  looking  at  such  objects,  a  religious should in  general  keep  the  eyes  cast  down,  and  particular  in  places  where  they  may  fall  upon  dangerous  objects. In conversing  with  men,  she  should  never  roll the eyes  about  to  look  at  them,  and  much  less  to  look  at them  a  second  time.

To practise  modesty  of  the  eyes  is  the  duty  of  a  religious, not  only  because  it  is  necessary  for  her  own  improvement in  virtue,  but  also  because  it  is  necessary  for the edification  of  others. God only  knows  the  human heart: man  sees  only  the  exterior  actions,  and  by  them he is  edified  or  scandalized. A man,  says  the  Holy Ghost, is  known  by  his  look.  By  the  countenance  the interior is  known. Hence, like  St.  John  the  Baptist,  a religious  should  be  a  burning  and  shining  light.  She ought to  be  a  torch  burning  with  charity,  and  shining resplendent by  her  modesty,  to  all  who  behold  her. To religious the  following  words  of  the  Apostle  are  particularly applicable:  We  are  made  a  spectacle  to  the  world,  and to  angels,  and  to  men.  And  again:  Let  your  modesty  be known  to  all  men:  the  Lord  is  nigh.     Religious  are  attent-