Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/298

 each other. 3. When  either  excuses  the  other's  defects. 4. When  they  manifest  certain  little  jealousies. 5. When either feels  unhappy  at  being  separated  from  the  other. The attachment  is  not  pure  when  personal  beauty  or gracefulness  is  a  source  of  pleasure;  when  either  desires to be  esteemed  by  the  other,  or  when  either  is  unwilling that his  friend  should  receive  attention  from  others; when one  does  not  wish  that  others  should  observe, hear, or  speak  of  what  is  passing.

Father Peter  Consolini  of  the  Oratory  has  justly  remarked that  we  should  treat  with  holy  persons  of  a  different sex  as  with  the  souls  in  purgatory,  that  is,  at  a distance,  and  without  looking  at  them. Some religious have a  strong  desire  of  conversing  with  their  spiritual Father because  they  imagine  that  his  instructions  will stimulate their  fervor. But what  need  is  there  of  such conversations, of  such  long  and  familiar  discourses? Have they  not  an  abundant  supply  of  spiritual  books? Have they  not  spiritual  reading  at  table  and  at  prayer? Have they  not  the  benefit  of  sermons  in  the  church? Without any  of  these  the  reading  and  observance  of their  Rules  and  Constitutions  ought  to  be  sufficient  to make  them  saints.

What has  been  said  refers  to  outside  persons;  but  it  is necessary  to  remark  that  even  among  the  religious  themselves inordinate  attachments  may  be  found,  especially among those  who  are  young. "Young man,"  says  St. Basil,  "  avoid  familiarity  with  your  equals:  how  many young  persons  has  the  devil,  through  their  companions, drawn  into  hell  to  be  burned  with  eternal  fire." Many of them,  continues  the  saint,  were,  in  the  beginning  enticed into  a  certain  attachment  that  appeared  to  be charity,   but    that  afterwards  led    them   to  the   loss   of