Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/480

 What rapid  progress  in  divine  love  does  the  religious make who  resolves  never  to  go  to  the  grate! When you, dear  sister,  go  to  the  parlor,  be  careful  at  least  to conduct  yourself  like  a  religious. In your  intercourse with seculars  you  should  not  only  guard  with  great  care against all  affectionate  expressions,  but  should  also  be very  grave  and  reserved  in  the  parlor. St. Mary  Magdalene de  Pazzi  wished  her  nuns  to  be  "  like  the  wild deer"— these  are  her  very  words. And the  Venerable Sister Hyacinth  Marescotti  used  to  say:  "  The  courtesy  of nuns  consists  in  being  discourteous  by  cutting  short  all long  discourses  in  the  parlor." This applies,  ordinarily speaking, to  long  discouress  even  with  spiritual  persons. Mother Anne  of  Jesus,  a  Discalced  Carmelite,  said:  "A nun  acquires  more  fervor  in  the  choir  or  in  the  cell  than by  the  longest  conferences  in  the  parlor.  Show  all  respect to  directors,  but  you  should  treat  with  them  only through  necessity;  despatch  your  business  with  them  in a  few  words."

Should you  ever  happen  to  hear  in  the  parlor  an  indecent word,  go  away  immediately;  or,  at  least,  cast down your  eyes,  and  change  the  discourse,  or  give  no answer. In a  monastery  of  the  Venerable  Sister  Seraphina  de  Carpi  two  women  began  to  speak  about  a  certain marriage:  the  attendant  at  the  turn  heard  the  voice of Sister  Seraphina  (who  was  dead)  saying,  "  Chase away,  chase  away  these  women." And whenever  it  is  in your  power,  endeavor  to  change  all  discourses  that savor of  the  world. St. Frances  of  Rome  received  a buffet  from  an  angel  because  she  did  not  change  the conversation of  certain  ladies  who  spoke  of  worldly vanities. You should  be  still  more  careful  to  observe silence with  your  sisters  in  the  monastery:  for  the  occasion of  breaking  silence  with  them  is  more  continual. Hence it  is  necessary  to  mortify  curiosity. The Abbot John used  to  say:  "  Let  him  who  wishes  to  restrain  the