Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/509

 and again  of  love  of  his  infinite  goodness;  now  thanking him  for  his  favors,  at  another  time  rejoicing  in  his glory; and  again  asking  counsel  in  our  doubts;  consoling ourselves always  in  the  possession  of  this  Sovereign Good within  us,  certain  that  no  created  power  can  deprive us  of  him,  and  that  he  will  never  depart  from  us unless  we  first  voluntarily  banish  him  from  our  hearts.

This was  the  little  cell  that  St.  Catharine  of  Sienna built within  her  heart,  in  which  she  lived  always  retired, always engaged  in  loving  colloquies  with  God;  thus  she defended herself  against  the  persecution  of  her  parents, who had  forbidden  her  to  retire  any  more  to  her  chamber for the  purpose  of  praying. And in  this  little  cell  the saint made  greater  progress  than  she  did  by  retiring  to her  room;  for  she  was  obliged  to  leave  her  chamber several times  in  the  day. This interior  cell  she  never left, but  remained  in  it  always  recollected  with  God. Hence St.  Teresa,  speaking  of  the  divine  presence  in  our interior, said:  "  I  believe  that  they  who  are  able  to  lock themselves  up  in  this  little  heaven  in  their  souls,  where he  who  created  them  is  always  present,  walk  in  an  excellent path,  because  they  make  great  progress  in  a short  time."

In a  word,  by  this  exercise  of  the  presence  of  God  the saints have  succeeded  in  acquiring  great  treasures  of merits. I set  the  Lord  always  in  my  sight,  says  the  royal prophet,  for  he  is  at  my  right  hand  that  I  be  not  moved.  I endeavor  to  consider  God  always  present,  and  observing all my  actions. Blessed Henry  Suso  applied  himself with so  much  attention  to  this  holy  exercise  that  he  performed all  his  actions  in  the  divine  presence,  and  thus continually conversed  with  God  by  tender  affections. St. Gertrude acquired  the  habit  of  this  exercise  so  perfectly, that  our  Lord  said  of  her  to  St.  Mechtilde:  "This