Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/490

 and that  God  wishes  from  you. Thus David  found  it, even in  the  midst  of  the  great  concerns  of  a  kingdom,  and therefore he  said:  Lo, I  have  gone  far  off,  flying  away;  and I  abode  in  the  wilderness.  St.  Philip  Neri  desired  to  retire into a  desert,  but  God  gave  him  to  understand  that  he should  not  leave  Rome,  but  that  he  should  live  there  as in  a  desert. The Lord  wishes  the  same  from  religious, whom he  desires  to  be  his  true  spouses;  he  wishes  them to be  enclosed  in  gardens,  that  in  them  he  may  be  able to find  his  delights. My sister — my  spouse  is  a  garden  enclosed. But  Gilbert  well  remarks:  "He  knows  not  how to  be  a  garden  that  does  not  wish  to  be  enclosed." The nun  who  is  unwilling  to  be  enclosed,  that  is,  careful not to  bring  into  her  heart  the  thoughts  and  dangers  of the  world  by  frequent  intercourse  with  worldlings,  cannot be  the  garden  of  Jesus  Christ.

"Live therefore  as  a  solitary,"  says  St. Bernard, "  retire  not  merely  in  body,  but  in  spirit." Even when you are  with  the  sisters  at  work,  or  at  the  common  recreation, endeavor  not  to  leave  your  solitude;  be  careful to keep  yourself  as  much  as  possible  recollected  with God; and  if  you  cannot  withdraw  in  body  from  conversation, withdraw  at  least  in  affection  and  intention, by intending  to  remain  there  only  because  it  is  God's will  that  you  should  remain. Since you  must  sometimes have intercourse  with  creatures,  you  ought  to  act  like  a tender  woman,  who,  being  accustomed  to  remain  always in a  close  room,  far  from  the  society  of  men,  endeavors, when obliged  to  go  into  the  street,  to  return  as  quickly as possible  in  order  to  escape  the  cold  and  bustle. It is thus  that  holy  religious  act   when    by  duty  or  charity