Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/353

 munity. Oh! how delightful  is  it  to  see  in  a  convent of nuns  each  praise,  assist,  and  serve  the  others,  and  all love the  others  with  a  true  sisterly  affection. Nuns are called sisters,  because  they  are  such  not  by  blood,  but by charity,  which  should  unite  them  in  love  more closely than  all  the  ties  of  flesh  and  blood. " The  nun who  has  not  charity,"  says  St.  Jane  Frances  de  Chantal, "is a  religious  in  name,  but  not  in  reality.  She  is  a sister  in  dress,  not  in  affection." Hence because  they knew that  where  there  is  no  union  there  is  no  God, almost all  the  founders  and  foundresses  of  religious Orders have  with  their  last  breath  recommended  the practice of  holy  charity  to  their  spiritual  children.

"When," says  St.  Augustine,  "you  see  the  stones  of any  fabric  well   bound   to  the  timber,  you  enter  with security,  and  apprehend   no   danger." But were   the stones detached  from  the  wood,  you  should  shudder  at the  very  thought  of  approaching  the  building. Happy the   religious    house    in   which   all   are   united   by   holy charity; but  miserable  is   the  monastery  in  which  disunion and  party-spirit  prevail. " Yes,"  says  St.  Jerome, " such  a  monastery  is  not  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  but the  abode  of  Lucifer;  it  is  a  house  not  of  salvation,  but of  perdition." Of  what  use  are  riches   and  magnificence, a  splendid  church  and  a  beautiful  garden,  to  a monastery  from  which  union  and  charity  are  banished? Such a  monastery  is  a  hell,  where,  to  prevent  the  advancement of  the  rivals,  each  party  decries  the  other. Suspicions and  aversions  are   always  on   the   increase: they fill  the  minds,  are  poured  out  in  conversation,  and occupy the  thoughts  of  the  religious  at  mental  prayer, at Mass,  and  at  Communion. Hence we  may  exclaim, O miserable  prayers,  miserable  Masses,  miserable  Com-