Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/95

 even sacrificed  his  life  in  a  sea  of  sorrows  and  contempt; and to  obtain  our  love,  he  has  gone  so  far  as  to  make himself our  food. To inflame  the  soul  with  the  fire  of divine  love,  these  truths  must  be  frequently  meditated. In my  meditation,  says  David,  a  fire  shall  flame  out.  When I contemplate  the  goodness  of  my  God,  the  flames  of charity  fill  my  whole  heart. St. Aloysius  used  to  say, that to  attain  eminent  sanctity  it  is  first  necessary  to arrive  at  a  high  degree  of  mental  prayer.

We should  frequently  renew  our  resolution  of  advancing in  divine  love. In this  renewal  you  will  be  greatly assisted by  considering,  each  day,  that  it  is  only  then you begin  to  walk  in  the  path  of  virtue. This was  the practice of  holy  David:  And  I  said,  now  have  I  begun. And this  was  the  dying  advice  of  St.  Anthony  to  his monks: "My  dear  children,  figure  to  yourselves  that each  day  is  the  day  on  which  you  begin  to  serve  God."

We should  search  out  continually  and  scrupulously the defects  of  the  soul. " Brethren,"  says  St.  Augustine, "examine yourselves  with  rigor;  be  always  displeased with  what  you  are,  if  you  desire  to  become  what  you  are not." To arrive  at  that  perfection  which  you  have  not attained, you  must  never  be  satisfied  with  the  virtue  you possess; "for,"  continues  the  saint,  "where  you  have been  pleased  with  yourself,  there  you  have  remained." Wherever you  are  content  with  the  degree  of  sanctity which you  have  acquired,  there  you  will  rest,  and,  taking complacency in  yourself,  you  will  lose  the  desire  of further  perfection. Hence the  holy  Doctor  adds,  what should terrify  every  tepid  soul,  who,  content  with  her present virtue,  has  but  little  desire  of  spiritual  advance-