Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/498

 free from  sin.     Son,  says  the  Lord,  do  not  burden  yourself with  so  many  concerns;  for  if  you  wish  to  attend  to them  all,  you  may  indeed  succeed,  but  not  without  sin. There are  others  who,  when  they  undertake  any  business apply,  themselves  so  closely  to  it  that  they  render themselves unable  to  think  of  anything  else. What has been   undertaken   should   be   done   with    diligence,   but with tranquillity  and  without  passion,  so  that  the  soul may have  liberty  to  turn   to  God  from    time   to  time. You should  labor;  but  you  who  are  a  religious  should  not work like  a  secular,  toiling  night  and  day  in  order  to accumulate  money. And for  what  purpose? In order to make  presents,  or  to  gratify  vanity  or  caprice. It is necessary  to  work,  but  to  work  like  a  religious:  hence attend first  to  the  business  of  the  soul;  and  afterwards to that  of  the  body,  employing  yourself  in  external  exercises, with  a  pure  intention  either  of  practising  obedience or of  assisting  the  Community,  or  of  relieving  your  own pressing wants,  and  of    avoiding  idleness;    but  always without  avidity  or   solicitude,  which    may   hinder  you from raising  the  heart  to  God. St. Antonine  says  that in every  external  occupation,  however  urgent,  we  must always keep  a  secret  little  corner  within,  in  which  we may  take  refuge  and   turn   to  God  when   we  find  ourselves oppressed  and  overwhelmed  with  business. Hence it is  of  great  importance  to  take  care  in  the  beginning as well  as  in  the  progress  of  our  work  to  raise  the  heart several times  to  God  by  an  act  of  love,  of  oblation,  of resignation,  or  by  a  petition  for  his  graces. Why, for example, can  you  not,  when  employed  in  embroidering or in  sewing,  make  at  every  moment  an  act  of  the  love of God,  or  of  oblation  of   yourself? I  conclude   this point. Fervent nuns  in  all   their  works  are  recollected in spirit,  unite  themselves  more  closely  to  God,  and  al-