Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/90

 from virtue  to  virtue. Such has  been  the  practice  of the  saints,  and  especially  of  St.  Andrew  Avellino,  who even bound  himself  by  vow  "  to  advance  continually  in the  way  of  Christian  perfection."'  St.  Teresa  used  to say,  that  "  God  rewards,  even  in  this  life,  every  good  desire." It was  by  good  desires  that  the  saints  arrived  in a  short  time  at  a  sublime  degree  of  sanctity. Being made perfect  in  a  short  space,  he  fulfilled  a  long  time. It  was thus that  St.  Aloysius,  who  lived  but  twenty-five  years, acquired such  perfection,  that  St.  Mary  Magdalene  de Pazzi,  who  saw  him  in  bliss,  declared  that  his  glory  appeared equal  to  that  of  most  of  the  saints. In the  vision he  said  to  her:  My  eminent  sanctity  was  the  fruit  of an  ardent  desire,  which  I  cherished  during  my  life,  of  loving God  as  much  as  he  deserved  to  be  loved:  and  being unable to  love  him  with  that  infinite  love  which  he  merits, I  suffered  on  earth  a  continual  martyrdom  of  love, for which  I  am  now  raised  to  that  transcendent  glory which I  enjoy.

The works  of  St.  Teresa  contain,  besides  those  that have been  already  adduced,  many  beautiful  passages  on this  subject. " Our  thoughts,"  says  the  saint,  "  should be  aspiring:  from  great  desires  all  our  good  shall  come." In another  place  she  says:  "We  must  not  lower  our desires,  but  should  trust  in  God,  that  by  continual  exertion we  shall,  by  his  grace,  arrive  at  sanctity  and felicity  of  the  saints." Again she  says:  "  The  divine Majesty  takes  complacency  in  generous  souls  who  are diffident  in  themselves." This great  saint  asserted  that in all  her  experience  she  never  knew  a  timid  Christian to attain  as  much  virtue  in  many  years  as  certain  courageous souls  acquire  in  a  few  days. The reading  of  the Lives of  the  saints  contributes  greatly  to  infuse  courage into the  soul.