Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/491

 they are  forced  to  converse  with  the  sisters  or  with externs; they  suffer  a  species  of  martyrdom,  partly  on account  of  their  repugnance  to  hold  intercourse  with creatures, and  partly  through  fear  of  committing  some fault, and  therefore  they  seek  to  abridge  the  conversation as  much  as  possible.

When external  occupations  last  for  a  long  time,  it  is very  difficult  to  escape  defects. Even when  they  were employed in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  Jesus  Christ wished the  holy  apostles  to  retire  from  time  to  time  into a solitary  place,  in  order  to  give  some  repose  to  the spirit. Come apart  into  a  desert  place,  and  rest  a  little. Yes; for  in  external  occupations,  even  of  a  spiritual nature, the  soul  falls  into  distractions,  disquietudes, coldness of  divine  love,  and  imperfections;  hence  repose is always  necessary  to  remove  the  stains  contracted,  and to acquire  strength  to  walk  better  for  the  future. It is  not necessary, then,  to  remain  always  in  solitude;  but,  as  St. Laurence  Justinian  has  written,  we  ought  to  procure  it whenever  we  can,  and  when  we  cannot,  we  ought  to  love it. Hence, when  a  religious  is  obliged  to  interrupt  her retirement in  order  to  serve  the  Community,  or  to  relieve the  necessity  of  a  sister,  she  must  do  it  with  liberty of soul,  without  disturbing  herself:  otherwise  she  will show attachment  to  solitude,  which  is  a  great  defect. But in  going  to  treat  with  creatures  her  object  must not  be  to  amuse  herself  by  their  conversation,  but  to practise  obedience  or  charity. Then, as  soon  as  the occupation is  over,  she  ought  instantly  to  retire  to  her beloved solitude.

Hitherto we  have  spoken  of  the  solitude  of  the  body; we must  now  say  something  on  the  solitude  of  the  heart,