Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/299

 peace and  of  the  perfection  of  their  state. "Love," says Blessed  Angela  of  Foligno,  "includes  every  evil  as well  as  every  good.  I  do  not  speak  of  criminal  love, which  every  one  knows  should  be  avoided,  but  of  the love  that  one  friend  entertains  for  another;  and  that may  degenerate  into  an  irregular  affection.  Frequent conversations  along  with  the  manifestation  of  mutual regard  produce  too  close  a  union  of  their  hearts,  render their  friendship  noxious;  and  by  strengthening  their  attachment, obscure  the  light  of  reason.  Each  yields  to the  will  of  the  other,  and  thus  both  are  led  into  the  neglect of  duty."

It is,  moreover,  to  be  remarked,  that  if  the  friendships with outside  persons  cause  more  scandal,  the  friendships that  exist  at  home  among  the  religious  themselves are more  dangerous,  either  because  they  are  more  difficult to  remove,  or  because  the  occasion  is  more  proximate. Would to  God  that  the  religious  in  the  house  of the  Lord  may  never  have  the  misfortune  to  commit  a grave  fault  against  chastity! Isaias regards  such  a one  as  already  lost. He says:  In  the  land  of  the  saints he  hath  done  wicked  things,  and  he  shall  not  see  the  glory  of  the Lord.  Hence  those  nuns  who  have  charge  of  the  education of  young  pupils  must  always  be  watchful  in  regard to  their  conduct,  and  should  not  scruple  to  suspect the worst. When they  perceive  any  attachment  or familiarity  between  two  young  persons  they  must  separate them  at  once,  and  not  permit  them  to  go  together, and they  should  continually  keep  their  eyes  upon  them lest any  evil  should  happen. They should  also  from time to  time  exhort  them  in  general  to  avoid,  as  they