Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/236

 This vice,  according  to  St.  Thomas,  in  the  first  place, darkens the  soul,  and  renders  it  unfit  for  spiritual  exercises, but  particularly  for  mental  prayer. As fasting prepares the  mind  for  the  contemplation  of  God  and  of eternal  goods,  so  intemperance  diverts  it  from  holy thoughts. St. John  Chrysostom  says  that  the  glutton, like an  overloaded  ship,  moves  with  difficulty,  and  that in the  first  tempest  of  temptation  he  is  in  danger  of being  lost. "Take," says  St.  Bernard,  "even  bread  with moderation,  lest  a  loaded  stomach  should  make  you weary  of  prayer." And again  he  says:  "If  you  compel a  person  who  takes  a  heavy  meal  to  watch,  you  will  extort from  him  wailing  rather  than  singing." Hence it  is the  duty  of  religious  to  eat  sparingly,  and  particularly  at supper:  for  in  the  evening  a  false  appetite  is  frequently created by  the  acid  that  is  produced  by  the  food  taken at dinner. Whoever satisfies  his  appetite  in  the  evening, is exposed  to  great  danger  of  excess;  and  in  consequence of  indigestion  will  frequently  feel  his  stomach overburdened in  the  morning,  and  his  head  so  stupid and confused  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  say  a  "Hail Mary." Do not  imagine  that  the  Almighty  will,  at  the time of  prayer,  infuse  his  consolations  into  the  souls  of those  who,  like  senseless  beasts,  seek  delight  in  the  indulgence of  the  appetite. " Divine  consolation,"  says St. Bernard,  "is  not  given  to  those  that  admit  any  other delight.":  Celestial  consolations  are  not  bestowed  on those  that  go  in  search  of  earthly  pleasures.

Besides, he  that  gratifies  the  taste  will  readily  indulge the other  senses;  for,  having  lost  the  spirit  of  recollec-