Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/488

 too, is  a  disorderly  soul,  who,  in  order  to  extinguish  the remorse caused  by  her  irregularities,  seeks  after  the noise and  bustle  of  the  world. On the  other  hand,  religious who  live  with  a  tranquil  conscience  cannot  but love solitude;  and  when  they  find  themselves  out  of  it, they feel  like  fish  out  of  water— they  enjoy  no  peace, and are,  as  it  were,  in  a  violent  state. It is  true  that man loves  society;  but  what  society  preferable  to  the society of  God? Ah! to withdraw  from  creatures  and to converse  in  solitude  with  our  Creator  brings  neither bitterness nor  tediousness. Of this  the  Wise  Man  assures us:  For  her  conversation  hath  no  bitterness,  nor  her company  any  tediousness,  but  joy  and  gladness.  The  Venerable Father  Vincent  Carafa,  General  of  the  Society  of Jesus  (as  has  been  said  in  another  place),  said  that  he desired  nothing  in  this  world,  and  that  were  he  to  desire anything, he  would  wish  only  for  a  little  grotto,  along with a  morsel  of  bread,  and  a  spiritual  book,  in  order  to live  there  always  in  solitude.

It is  not  true  that  a  life  of  solitude  is  a  life  of  melancholy: it  is  a  foretaste  and  beginning  of  the  life  of  the saints in  bliss,  who  are  filled  with  an  immense  joy  in  the sole occupation  of  loving  and  praising  their  God. Thus St. Jerome  said,  that  flying  from  Rome  he  went  to  shut himself up  in  the  cave  of  Bethlehem,  in  order  to  enjoy solitude. Hence he  afterwards  wrote:  "To  me  solitude is  a  paradise." The saints  in  solitude  appear  to  be alone,  but  they  are  not  alone. St. Bernard  said:  "I  am never  less  alone  than  when  I  find  myself  alone;"  for  I am  then  in  the  company  of  my  Lord,  who  gives  me  more content than  I  could  derive  from  the  conversation  of  all creatures. They appear  to  be  in  sadness,  but  they  are