Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/497

 Margaret of  the  Cross,  Archduchess  of  Austria,  a  discalced  nun,  used  to  perform  the  most  laborious  offices of the  monastery,  and  would  say  that  labor  is  not  only useful but  necessary  for  nuns,  since  it  does  not  hinder them from  raising  the  heart  to  God. It is  related  that St. Bernard  one  day  saw  a  monk  who  while  he  worked did not  cease  to  pray. The saint  said  to  him:  "  My brother,  continue  to  do  always  what  you  do  at  present, and  be  of  good  cheer;  for  by  acting  in  this  manner  you shall  after  death  be  exempt  even  from  purgatory." The saint afterwards  practised  the  same,  as  we  read  in  his life. He did  not  neglect  his  external  works,  but  he  was at the  same  time  wholly  recollected  in  God. And thus every religious,  while  she  works  with  her  hands,  should not neglect  to  keep  her  heart  occupied  with  God;  otherwise, all  her  external  employments  shall  be  without spiritual fruit,  and  shall  be  full  of  imperfections. Hence the Spouse  of  the  Canticles  says  to  the  soul:  Place  me  as a  seal  upon  thy  heart,  as  a  seal  upon  thy  arm.  He  first  tells her to  place  him  as  a  seal  upon  her  heart,  and  afterwards upon her  arm;  because  if  she  has  not  God  in  the  heart she cannot  have  him  upon  the  arm;  that  is,  her  external works cannot  be  pleasing  to  him. But, on  the  other hand, St.  Teresa  says  that  "works  of  the  active  life, when  they  spring  from  divine  love,  are  the  highest  perfection."

Hence it  is  an  error  in  a  religious  to  wish  to  remain always in  solitude,  or  to  shun  all  external  occupations. But it  is  also  an  error  in  her  to  undertake  voluntarily  such a multiplicity  of  employments  that  she  afterwards  has not time  to  recollect  herself  with  God. My son,  meddle not  with  many  matters;  and  if  thou  be  rich  thou  shall  not  be