Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/97

 "Bernard, for  what  purpose  hast  thou  come?" Every religious should  continually  ask  herself  the  same  question: I  have  left  the  world  and  all  its  riches  and  pleasures, to  live  in  the  cloister,  and  to  become  a  saint;  what progress do  I  make? I do  not  advance  in  sanctity;  no,  but by my  tepidity  I  expose  myself  to  the  danger  of  eternal perdition. It will  be  useful  to  introduce,  in  this  place,  the example of  the  Venerable  Sister  Hyacinth  Mariscotti, who at  first  led  a  very  tepid  life,  in  the  convent  of  St. Bernardine,  in  Viterbo. She confessed  to  Father  Bianchetti,  a  Franciscan,  who  came  to  the  convent  as  extraordinary confessor. That holy  man  thus  addressed  her: " Are  you  a  nun?  Are  you  not  aware  that  paradise  is not  prepared  for  vain  and  proud  religious?" "Then," she replied,  "  have  I  left  the  world  to  cast  myself  into hell?" "Yes," rejoined  the  Father,  "  that  is  the  place which  is  destined  for  religious  who  live  like  seculars." Reflecting on  these  words  of  the  holy  man,  Sister  Hyacinth was  struck  with  remorse;  and,  bewailing  her  past life, she  made  her  confession  with  tearful  eyes,  and  began from  that  moment  to  walk  resolutely  in  the  way  of perfection. Oh! how salutary  is  the  thought  of  having abandoned the  world  to  become  a  saint! It awakens  the tepidity of  the  religious,  and  encourages  her  to  advance continually in  holiness,  and  to  surmount  every  obstacle to her  ascent  up  to  the  mountain  of  God. Whenever, then, O  spouse  of  Jesus,  you  meet  with  difficulties  in  the practice of  obedience,  say  in  your  heart:  I  have  not  entered religion  to  do  my  own  will;  if  I  wished  to  follow my own  inclinations,  I  should  have  remained  in  the world; but  I  have  come  here  to  do  the  will  of  God,  by obedience  to  my  Superiors,  and  this  I  desire  to  do  in spite  of  all  difficulties. Whenever you  experience  the inconveniences   of    poverty,   say:    I    have    not    left    the