Francois de Sales Philotea - Introduction to the Devout Life

8/13/2019 Francois de Sales Philotea - Introduction to the Devout Life

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Francis of Sales

(1567-1622)

INTRODUCTION

TO THE DEVOUT LIFE

Preface by the Author

DEAR reaer! " re#uest you to rea this Preface for your o$n satisfaction as $ell as%ine&

'he flo$er-irl lycera $as so s*ille in +aryin the arrane%ent an co%bination of

her flo$ers! that out of the sa%e *ins she ,rouce a reat +ariety of bou#uets so that

the ,ainter Pausias! .1/ $ho souht to ri+al the i+ersity of her art! $as brouht to a

stanstill! for he coul not +ary his ,aintin so enlessly as lycera +arie her

bou#uets& E+en so the 0oly S,irit of o is,oses an arranes the e+out teachin

$hich 0e i%,arts throuh the li,s an ,en of 0is ser+ants $ith such enless +ariety!

that! althouh the octrine is e+er one an the sa%e! their treat%ent of it is ifferent!

accorin to the +aryin %ins $hence that treat%ent flo$s& Assurely " neither esire!

nor ouht to $rite in this boo* anythin but $hat has been alreay sai by others before%e& " offer you the sa%e flo$ers! ear reaer! but the bou#uet $ill be so%e$hat

ifferent fro% theirs! because it is ifferently %ae u,&

Al%ost all those $ho ha+e $ritten concernin the e+out life ha+e ha chiefly in +ie$

,ersons $ho ha+e altoether #uitte the $orl or at any rate they ha+e tauht a %anner

of e+otion $hich $oul lea to such total retire%ent& ut %y obect is to teach those

$ho are li+in in to$ns! at court! in their o$n househols! an $hose callin oblies

the% to a social life! so far as e3ternals are concerne& Such ,ersons are a,t to reect all

atte%,t to lea a e+out life uner the ,lea of i%,ossibility i%ainin that li*e as no

ani%al ,resu%es to eat of the ,lant co%%only calle Pal%a 4hristi! so no one $ho is

i%%erse in the tie of te%,oral affairs ouht to ,resu%e to see* the ,al% of 4hristian

,iety&

An so " ha+e sho$n the% that! li*e as the %other-of-,earl li+es in the sea $ithout e+er

absorbin one ro, of salt $ater an as near the 4helionian "sles s,rins of s$eet

$ater start forth in the %ist of the ocean .2/ an as the fire%oth ./ ho+ers in the

fla%es $ithout burnin her $ins e+en so a true stefast soul %ay li+e in the $orl

untainte by $orlly breath! finin a $ell-s,rin of holy ,iety a%i the bitter $a+es of

society! an ho+erin a%i the fla%es of earthly lusts $ithout sinein the $ins of its

e+out life& f a truth this is not easy! an for that +ery reason " $oul ha+e 4hristians

besto$ %ore care an enery than heretofore on the atte%,t! an thus it is that! $hile

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conscious of %y o$n $ea*ness! " enea+our by this boo* to affor so%e hel, to those

$ho are unerta*in this noble $or* $ith a enerous heart&

"t is not ho$e+er! %y o$n choice or $ish $hich brins this "ntrouction before the

,ublic& A certain soul! abounin in u,rihtness an +irtue! so%e ti%e since concei+e areat esire! throuh o9s race! to as,ire %ore earnestly after a e+out life! an

cra+e %y ,ri+ate hel, $ith this +ie$& " $as boun to her by +arious ties! an ha lon

obser+e her re%ar*able ca,acity for this attain%ent! so " too* reat ,ains to teach her!

an ha+in le her throuh the +arious e3ercises suitable to her circu%stances an her

ai%! " let her *ee, $ritten recors thereof! to $hich she %iht ha+e recourse $hen

necessary& 'hese she co%%unicate to a learne an e+out Reliious! $ho! belie+in

that they %iht be ,rofitable to others! ure %e to ,ublish the%! in $hich he succeee

the %ore reaily that his frienshi, e3ercise reat influence u,on %y $ill! an his

u%ent reat authority o+er %y u%ent&

So! in orer to %a*e the $or* %ore useful an acce,table! " ha+e re+ie$e the ,a,ersan ,ut the% toether! ain se+eral %atters carryin out %y intentions but all this has

been one $ith scarce a %o%ent9s leisure& 4onse#uently you $ill fin +ery little

,recision in the $or*! but rather a collection of $ell intentione instructions! e3,laine

in clear intelliible $ors! at least that is $hat " ha+e souht to i+e& ut as to a

,olishe style! " ha+e not i+en that a thouht! ha+in so %uch else to o&

" ha+e aresse %y instructions to Philothea! .8/ as aa,tin $hat $as oriinally

$ritten for an ini+iual to the co%%on oo of souls& " ha+e %ae use of a na%e

suitable to all $ho see* after the e+out life! Philothea %eanin one $ho lo+es o&

Settin then before %e a soul! $ho throuh the e+out life see*s after the lo+e of o! "

ha+e arrane this "ntrouction in fi+e ,arts! in the first of $hich " see* by suestions

an e3ercises to turn Philothea9s %ere esire into a hearty resolution $hich she %a*es

after her eneral confession! by a eliberate ,rotest! follo$e by 0oly 4o%%union! in

$hich! i+in herself to her Sa+iour an recei+in 0i%! she is ha,,ily recei+e into 0is

0oly :o+e& After this! " lea her on by sho$in her t$o reat %eans of closer union

$ith 0is Di+ine ;aesty the Sacra%ents! by $hich that racious :or co%es to us! an

%ental ,rayer! by $hich 0e ra$s us to 0i%& 'his is the Secon Part&

"n the 'hir Part " set forth ho$ she shoul ,ractise certain +irtues %ost suitable to her

a+ance%ent! only $ellin on such s,ecial ,oints as she %iht not fin else$here! or

be able to %a*e out for herself& "n the Fourth Part " brin to liht the snares of so%e ofher ene%ies! an sho$ her ho$ to ,ass throuh the% safely an co%e forth unhurt& An

finally! in the Fifth Part! " lea her a,art to refresh herself an ta*e breath! an rene$ her

strenth! so that she %ay o on %ore bra+ely after$ars! an %a*e oo ,roress in the

e+out life&

'his is a ca+illin ae! an " foresee that %any $ill say that only Reliious an ,ersons

li+in a,art are fit to unerta*e the uiance of souls in such s,ecial e+out $ays that it

re#uires %ore ti%e than a isho, of so i%,ortant a iocese as %ine can s,are! an that it

%ust ta*e too %uch thouht fro% the i%,ortant uties $ith $hich " a% chare&

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ut! ear reaer! " re,ly $ith S& Denis that the tas* of leain souls to$ars ,erfection

a,,ertains abo+e all others to isho,s! an that because their rer is su,re%e a%on

%en! as the Sera,hi% a%on Anels! an therefore their leisure cannot be better s,ent&

'he ancient isho,s an Fathers of the Pri%iti+e 4hurch $ere! to say the least! as

e+ote to their uties as $e are! yet they i not refuse to unerta*e the ini+iualuiance of souls $hich souht their hel,! as $e see by their e,istles thereby i%itatin

the A,ostles! $ho! $hile rea,in the uni+ersal $orl-har+est! yet foun ti%e to ather

u, certain ini+iual shea+es $ith s,ecial an ,ersonal affection& elect lay> $ho% he lo+e in the faith?

" rant that the uiance of ini+iual souls is a labour! but it is a labour full of

consolation! e+en as that of har+esters an ra,e-atherers! $ho are ne+er so $ell,lease as $hen %ost hea+ily laen& "t is a labour $hich refreshes an in+iorates the

heart by the co%fort $hich it brins to those $ho bear it as is sai to be the case $ith

those $ho carry bunles of cinna%on in Arabia Feli3& "t is sai that $hen the tiress

fins one of her youn left behin by the hunter in orer to elay her $hile he carries

off the rest of her cubs! she ta*es it u,! ho$e+er bi! $ithout see%in o+er-$eihte!

an s,ees only the %ore s$iftly to her lair! %aternal lo+e lihtenin the loa& 0o$

%uch %ore reaily $ill the heart of a s,iritual father bear the buren of a soul he fins

cra+in after ,erfection carryin it in his boso% as a %other her babe! $ithout feelin

$eary of the ,recious buren?

ut un#uestionably it %ust be a really ,aternal heart that can o this! an therefore it is

that the A,ostles an their a,ostolic follo$ers are $ont to call their isci,les not %erely

their chilren! but! e+en %ore tenerly still! their >little chilren&>

ne thin %ore! ear reaer& "t is too true that " $ho $rite about the e+out life a% not

%yself e+out! but %ost certainly " a% not $ithout the $ish to beco%e so! an it is this

$ish $hich encouraes %e to teach you& A notable literary %an has sai that a oo $ay

to learn is to stuy! a better to listen! an the best to teach& An S& Auustine! $ritin to

the e+out Flora! .5/ says! that i+in is a clai% to recei+e! an teachin a $ay to learn&

Ale3aner cause the lo+ely 4a%,as,e! .6/ $ho $as so ear to hi%! to be ,ainte bythe reat A,elles! $ho! by int of conte%,latin her as he re$! so ra+e her features

in his heart an concei+e so reat a ,assion for her! that Ale3aner isco+ere it! an!

,ityin the artist! a+e hi% her to $ife! e,ri+in hi%self for lo+e of A,elles of the

earest thin he ha in the $orl! in $hich! says Pliny! he is,laye the reatness of his

soul as %uch as in the %ihtiest +ictory& An so! frienly reaer! it see%s to %e that as a

isho,! o $ills %e to fra%e in the hearts of 0is chilren not %erely orinary

ooness! but yet %ore 0is o$n %ost ,recious e+otion an on %y ,art " unerta*e

$illinly to o so! as %uch out of obeience to the call of uty as in the ho,e that! $hile

fi3in the i%ae in others9 hearts! %y o$n %ay ha,ly concei+e a holy lo+e an that if

0is Di+ine ;aesty sees %e ee,ly in lo+e! 0e %ay i+e her to %e in an eternal

%arriae& 'he beautiful an chaste Rebecca! as she $atere "saac9s ca%els! $as estine

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to be his brie! an recei+e his olen earrins an bracelets! an so " rely on the

bounless ooness of %y o! that $hile " lea 0is belo+e la%bs to the $holeso%e

fountain of e+otion! 0e $ill ta*e %y soul to be 0is brie! i+in %e earrins of the

olen $ors of lo+e! an strenthenin %y ar%s to carry out its $or*s! $herein lies the

essence of all true e+otion! the $hich " ,ray 0is 0ea+enly ;aesty to rant to %e anto all the chilren of 0is 4hurch that 4hurch to $hich " $oul e+er sub%it all %y

$ritins! actions! $ors! $ill an thouhts&

A@@E4! S& ;aalene9s Day! 16B&

.1/ 1 Pausias of Sicyon (&4& 6B) see Plin& 0ist& @at& 333+& 11-8& A ,ortrait of

lycera! the youn flo$er-irl $ho% he lo+e! $ith a arlan of flo$ers! $as one of his

%aster,ieces& "t $as calle the Ste,hane-,locos .??????????????/! or arlan $reather!

an $as ,urchase by :& :ucullus at Athens for t$o talents&

.2/ 'hese islans are in the ;eiterranean Sea! in the ulf of :ycia&

./ ??????????

.8/ 'he aress to Philothea by na%e has been o%itte! as bein so%e$hat stiff an

stilte! an the ter% chil or auhter use instea! but the o%ission in no $ay alters the

sense or a,,lication of any sentence&

.5/ 'his is ,robably the ,erson %entione as >our %ost reliious auhter Flora> in S&

Auustine9s 'reatise >n care to be ha for the Dea>! aresse to his fello$ isho,

Paulinus& See :ibrary of the Fathers! S& Auustine9s Short 'reatises! ,& 517&2 Plin& 0ist&

@at& l& 33+& c& 1&

.6/ Plin& 0ist& @at& l& 33+& c& 1&

4@'E@'S&

Preface by the Author

+

PAR' "&

4C@SE:S A@D PRA4'"4ES SC"'A:E FR '0E SC:9S C"DA@4E FR;

'0E F"RS' ASP"RA'"@ AF'ER A DEC' :"FE ' '0E P"@'


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"& 'he @ee of a uie for those


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""& 0o$ to 0ear an Rea o9s


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""& f


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"& 'he Eternal :o+e of o for us

& eneral Affections $hich shoul result fro% these 4onsierations! an 4onclusion

of the E3ercise

"& 'he "%,ressions $hich shoul re%ain after this E3ercise

""& An Ans$er to '$o bections $hich %ay be %ae to this oo*"""& 'hree "%,ortant an Final 4ounsels

PAR' "& 4C@SE:S A@D PRA4'"4ES SC"'A:E FR '0E SC:9S C"DA@4E

FR; '0E F"RS' ASP"RA'"@ AF'ER A DEC' :"FE ' '0E P"@'


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attains its fullest ,erfection! in $hich it not only leas us to o $ell! but to act carefully!

iliently! an ,ro%,tly! then it is calle De+otion& 'he ostrich ne+er flies!--the hen

rises $ith ifficulty! an achie+es but a brief an rare fliht! but the eale! the o+e! an

the s$allo$! are continually on the $in! an soar hih--e+en so sinners o not rise

to$ars o! for all their %o+e%ents are earthly an earthboun& a lan $hich eateth u, the inhabitants thereof> .7/ that is! that the

cli%ate $as so unhealthy that the inhabitants coul not li+e lon! an that the ,eo,le

thereof $ere >%en of a reat stature!> $ho loo*e u,on the ne$-co%ers as %ere locusts

to be e+oure& "t is ust so! %y auhter! that the $orl runs o$n true e+otion!

,aintin e+out ,eo,le $ith loo%y! %elancholy as,ect! an affir%in that reliion%a*es the% is%al an un,leasant& ut e+en as =oshua an 4aleb ,roteste that not

only $as the Pro%ise :an a fair an ,leasant country! but that the "sraelites $oul

ta*e an easy an ,eaceful ,ossession thereof! so the 0oly S,irit tells us throuh 0is

Saints! an our :or has tol us $ith 0is $n :i,s! that a e+out life is +ery s$eet!

+ery ha,,y an +ery lo+eable&

'he $orl! loo*in on! sees that e+out ,ersons fast! $atch an ,ray! enure inury

,atiently! %inister to the sic* an ,oor! restrain their te%,er! chec* an subue their

,assions! eny the%sel+es in all sensual inulence! an o %any other thins $hich in

the%sel+es are har an ifficult& ut the $orl sees nothin of that in$ar! heartfelt

e+otion $hich %a*es all these actions ,leasant an easy&


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the %ountain thy%e--the uices it athers are bitter! but the bee turns the% all to

honey!--an so tells the $orllin! that thouh the e+out soul fins bitter herbs alon

its ,ath of e+otion! they are all turne to s$eetness an ,leasantness as it treas--an

the %artyrs ha+e counte fire! s$or! an rac* but as ,erfu%e flo$ers by reason of

their e+otion& An if e+otion can s$eeten such cruel tor%ents! an e+en eath itself!ho$ %uch %ore $ill it i+e a char% to orinary oo ees?


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isho, shoul see* to lea the solitary life of a 4arthusian? An if the father of a fa%ily

$ere as rearless in %a*in ,ro+ision for the future as a 4a,ucin! if the artisan s,ent

the ay in church li*e a Reliious! if the Reliious in+ol+e hi%self in all %anner of

business on his neihbour9s behalf as a isho, is calle u,on to o! $oul not such a

e+otion be riiculous! ill-reulate! an intolerable? @e+ertheless such a %ista*e isoften %ae! an the $orl! $hich cannot or $ill not iscri%inate bet$een real e+otion

an the iniscretion of those $ho fancy the%sel+es e+out! ru%bles an fins fault

$ith e+otion! $hich is really no$ise concerne in these errors& @o inee! %y chil!

the e+otion $hich is true hiners nothin! but on the contrary it ,erfects e+erythin

an that $hich runs counter to the rihtful +ocation of any one is! you %ay be sure! a

s,urious e+otion& Aristotle says that the bee suc*s honey fro% flo$ers $ithout

a%ain the%! lea+in the% as $hole an fresh as it foun the%--but true e+otion

oes better still! for it not only hiners no %anner of +ocation or uty! but! contrari$ise!

it aorns an beautifies all& 'hro$ ,recious stones into honey! an each $ill ro$ %ore

brilliant accorin to its se+eral colour--an in li*e %anner e+eryboy fulfils his s,ecial

callin better $hen subect to the influence of e+otion--fa%ily uties are lihter!%arrie lo+e truer! ser+ice to our Gin %ore faithful! e+ery *in of occu,ation %ore

acce,table an better ,erfor%e $here that is the uie&

"t is an error! nay %ore! a +ery heresy! to see* to banish the e+out life fro% the solier9s

uarroo%! the %echanic9s $or*sho,! the ,rince9s court! or the o%estic hearth& f

course a ,urely conte%,lati+e e+otion! such as is s,ecially ,ro,er to the reliious an

%onastic life! cannot be ,ractise in these outer +ocations! but there are +arious other

*ins of e+otion $ell-suite to lea those $hose callin is secular! alon the ,aths of

,erfection& 'he l 'esta%ent furnishes us e3a%,les in Abraha%! "saac an =acob!

Da+i! =ob! 'obias! Sarah! Rebecca an =uith an in the @e$ 'esta%ent $e rea of St&

=ose,h! :yia an 4ris,us! $ho le a ,erfectly e+out life in their traes--$e ha+e S&

Anne! ;artha! S& ;onica! A#uila an Priscilla! as e3a%,les of househol e+otion!

4ornelius! S& Sebastian! an S& ;aurice a%on soliers--4onstantine! S& 0elena! S&

:ouis! the lesse A%aaeus! .H/ an S& E$ar on the throne& An $e e+en fin

instances of so%e $ho fell a$ay in solitue!--usually so hel,ful to ,erfection!--so%e

$ho ha le a hiher life in the $orl! $hich see%s so antaonistic to it& S& reory

$ells on ho$ :ot! $ho ha *e,t hi%self ,ure in the city! fell in his %ountain solitue&

e sure that $heresoe+er our lot is cast $e %ay an %ust ai% at the ,erfect life&

.B/ en& i& 12&

.H/ "t is ,robable that S& Francis here %eans to inicate A%aeo "&! Du*e of Sa+oy!

$ho ie 1872&

40AP'ER "& 'he @ee of a uie for those $ho $oul enter u,on an a+ance in the

De+out :ife&

See* thee a %an $hich

%ay o $ith thee> .1/ an e+en so! auhter! " say to you! "f you $oul really trea

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the ,aths of the e+out life! see* so%e holy %an to uie an conuct you& 'his is the

,rece,t of ,rece,ts! says the e+out A+ila!--see* as you $ill you can ne+er so surely

isco+er o9s


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son in his %other& "n a $or! such a frienshi, shoul be stron an s$eet altoether

holy! sacre! i+ine an s,iritual& An $ith such an ai%! choose one a%on a thousan!

A+ila says--an " say a%on ten thousan! for there are fe$er than one $oul thin*

ca,able of this office& 0e %ust nees be full of lo+e! of $iso% an of iscretion for if

either of these three be $antin there is aner& ut once %ore " say! as* such hel, ofo! an $hen you ha+e foun it! bless 0is 0oly @a%e be stefast! see* no %ore! but

o on si%,ly! hu%bly an trustfully! for you are safe to %a*e a ,ros,erous ourney&

.1/ 'ob& +& &

.11/ >4onfesse-toi sou+ent! eslis un confesseur ioine! #ui soit ,ruho%%e! et #ui te

,uisse seure%ent enseiner a faire les choses #ui te seront necessaires&>

.12/ Ecclus& +i& 18&

.1/ Ecclus& +& 16&

.18/ Ecclus& +i& 17&

40AP'ER & 'he First Ste, %ust be Purifyin the Soul&

>'0E flo$ers a,,ear on the earth!> .15/ says the 0ea+enly rieroo%! an the ti%e

for ,runin an cuttin is co%e& An $hat! %y chil! are our hearts9 flo$ers sa+e our

oo esires? @o$! so soon as these bein to a,,ear! $e nee the ,runin-hoo* to cut

off all ea an su,erfluous $or*s fro% our conscience&


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i+e u, in es,air an fall bac* but! on the other han! there is an e3tre%e aner

surrounin those souls $ho! throuh the o,,osite te%,tation! are is,ose to i%aine

the%sel+es ,urifie fro% all i%,erfection at the +ery outset of their ,uration $ho

count the%sel+es as full-ro$n al%ost before they are born! an see* to fly before they

ha+e $ins& e sure! auhter! that these are in reat aner of a rela,se throuh ha+inleft their ,hysician too soon& >"t is but lost labour to rise u, early an late ta*e rest!>

unless the :or ,ros,er all $e o&

'he $or* of the soul9s ,urification neither %ay nor can en sa+e $ith life itself--o not

then let us be isheartene by our i%,erfections!--our +ery ,erfection lies in iliently

contenin aainst the%! an it is i%,ossible so to conten $ithout seein the%! or to

o+erco%e $ithout %eetin the% face toe face& ur +ictory oes not consist in bein

insensible to the%! but in not consentin to the%& @o$ to be afflicte by our

i%,erfections is certainly not to consent thereto! an for the furtherance of hu%ility it is

neeful that $e so%eti%es fin oursel+es $orste in this s,iritual battle! $herein!

ho$e+er! $e shall ne+er be con#uere until $e lose either life or courae& ;oreo+er!i%,erfections an +enial sins cannot estroy our s,iritual life! $hich is only to be lost

throuh %ortal sin conse#uently $e ha+e only nee to $atch $ell that they o not

i%,eril our courae& Da+i continually as*s the :or to strenthen his heart aainst

co$arice an iscourae%ent an it is our ,ri+ilee in this $ar that $e are certain to

+an#uish so lon as $e are $illin to fiht&

.15/ 4ant& ii& 12&

.16/ Deut& 33i& 12&

40AP'ER "& 'he First Purification! na%ely! fro% ;ortal Sin&

'0E first ,urification to be %ae is fro% sin--the %eans $hereby to %a*e it! the

sacra%ent of ,enance& See* the best confessor $ithin your reach! use one of the %any

little boo*s $ritten in orer to hel, the e3a%ination of conscience& .17/ Rea so%e such

boo* carefully! e3a%inin ,oint by ,oint $herein you ha+e sinne! fro% the first use of

your reason to the ,resent ti%e& An if you %istrust your %e%ory! $rite o$n the result

of your e3a%ination& 0a+in thus souht out the e+il s,ots in your conscience! stri+e to

etest the%! an to reect the% $ith the reatest abhorrence an contrition of $hichyour heart is ca,able--bearin in %in these four thins--that by sin you ha+e lost

o9s race! reecte your share in Paraise! acce,te the ,ains of 0ell! an renounce

o9s Eternal :o+e& ou see! %y chil! that " a% no$ s,ea*in of a eneral confession

of your $hole life! $hich! $hile " rant it is not al$ays necessary! " yet belie+e $ill be

foun %ost hel,ful in the beinnin of your ,ursuit after holiness! an therefore "

earnestly a+ise you to %a*e it& @ot unfre#uently the orinary confessions of ,ersons

leain an e+eryay life are full of reat faults! an that because they %a*e little or no

,re,aration! an ha+e not the neeful contrition& $in to this eficiency such ,eo,le

o to confession $ith a tacit intention of returnin to their ol sins! inas%uch as they

$ill not a+oi the occasions of sin! or ta*e the necessary %easures for a%en%ent of

life! an in all such cases a eneral confession is re#uire to steay an fi3 the soul& ut!

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further%ore! a eneral confession forces us to a clearer self*no$lee! *inles a

$holeso%e sha%e for our ,ast life! an rouses ratitue for o9s ;ercy!


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re%in us of those ,ersons $ho! $ithout bein actually ill! are ,ale an sic*ly! lanui

in all they o! eatin $ithout a,,etite! slee,in $ithout refresh%ent! lauhin $ithout

%irth! rain the%sel+es about rather than $al*in bris*ly& Such souls as " ha+e

escribe lose all the race of their oo ees! $hich are ,robably fe$ an feeble!

throuh their s,iritual lanuor&

40AP'ER """& 0o$ to effect this Secon Purification&

'0E first inuce%ent to attain this secon ,urification is a *een an li+ely a,,rehension

of the reat e+ils resultin fro% sin! by %eans of $hich $e ac#uire a ee,! hearty

contrition& For ust as contrition! (so far as it is real!) ho$e+er sliht! $hen oine to the

+irtue of the Sacra%ents! ,ures a$ay sin so! $hen it beco%es stron an urent! it

,ures a$ay all the affections $hich clin aroun habits of sin& A %oerate! sliht

hatre %a*es %en isli*e its obect an a+oi his society but $hen a +iolent! %ortal

hatre e3ists! they not only abhor an shun the ,erson $ho e3cites it! but they loathehi%! they cannot enure the a,,roach of his relations or conne3ions! nor e+en his

li*eness or anythin that concerns hi%& =ust so $hen a ,enitent only hates sin throuh a

$ea*ly althouh real contrition! he $ill resol+e to a+oi o+ert acts of sin but $hen his

contrition is stron an hearty! he $ill not %erely abhor sin! but e+ery affection! e+ery

lin* an tenency to sin& 'herefore! %y auhter! it beho+es us to *inle our contrition

an re,entance as %uch as $e ,ossibly can! so that it %ay reach e+en to the +ery

s%allest a,,earance of sin& 'hus it $as that the ;aalen! $hen con+erte! so entirely

lost all taste for her ,ast sin an its ,leasures! that she ne+er aain cast bac* one thouht

u,on the% an Da+i eclare that he hate not only sin itself! but e+ery ,ath an $ay

$hich le thereto& 'his it is $hich is that >rene$in of the soul> $hich the sa%e Pro,het

co%,ares to the eale9s strenth& .1B/

@o$! in orer to attain this fear an this contrition! you %ust use the follo$in

%eitations carefully for if you ,ractise the% stefastly! they (by o9s race) $ill root

out both sin an its affections fro% your heart& "t is to that en that " ha+e ,re,are

the% o you use the% one after another! in the orer in $hich they co%e! only ta*in

one each ay! an usin that as early as ,ossible! for the %ornin is the best ti%e for all

s,iritual e3ercises--an then you $ill ,oner an ru%inate it throuh the ay& "f you

ha+e not as yet been tauht ho$ to %eitate! you $ill fin instructions to that ,ur,ose in

the Secon Part&

.1B/ Ps& ciii& 5! ible +ersion&

40AP'ER "& F"RS' ;ED"'A'"@&

f 4reation&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in the Presence of o& 2& As* 0i% to ins,ire your heart&

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4onsierations&

1& 4onsier that but a fe$ years since you $ere not born into the $orl! an your soul

$as as yet non-e3istent&


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& Pray& o! strenthen %e in these affections an resolutions& Dear :or! "

co%%en %e! an all those " lo+e! to 'hy ne+erfailin ;ercy& CR FA'0ER! etc&

At the en of your %eitation liner a $hile! an ather! so to say! a little s,iritual

bou#uet fro% the thouhts you ha+e $elt u,on! the s$eet ,erfu%e $hereof %ayrefresh you throuh the ay&

40AP'ER & SE4@D ;ED"'A'"@

f the En for $hich $e $ere 4reate&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself before o& 2& As* 0i% to ins,ire your heart&

4onsierations&

1& o i not brin you into the $orl because 0e ha any nee of you! useless as you

are but solely that 0e %iht sho$ forth 0is ooness in you! i+in you 0is race an

lory& An to this en 0e a+e you unerstanin that you %iht *no$ 0i%! %e%ory

that you %iht thin* of 0i%! a $ill that you %iht lo+e 0i%! i%aination that you

%iht realise 0is %ercies! siht that you %iht behol the %ar+els of 0is $or*s! s,eech

that you %iht ,raise 0i%! an so on $ith all your other faculties&

2& ein create an ,lace in the $orl for this intent! all contrary actions shoul be

shunne an reecte! as also you shoul a+oi as ile an su,erfluous $hate+er oes

not ,ro%ote it&

2& 4onsier ho$ unha,,y they are $ho o not thin* of all this!--$ho li+e as thouh they

$ere create only to buil an ,lant! to hea, u, riches an a%use the%sel+es $ith

trifles&

Affections an Resolutions&

1& 0u%ble yourself in that hitherto you ha+e so little thouht u,on all this& Alas! %y

o! of $hat $as " thin*in $hen " i not thin* of 'hee? $hat i " re%e%ber $hen "forot 'hee? $hat i " lo+e $hen " lo+e 'hee not? Alas! $hen " ouht to ha+e been

feein on the truth! " $as but fillin %yself $ith +anity! an ser+in the $orl! $hich

$as %ae to ser+e %e&

2& Abhor your ,ast life& " renounce ye! +ain thouhts an useless coitations! fri+olous

an hateful %e%ories " renounce all $orthless frienshi,s! all un,rofitable efforts! an

%iserably unrateful self-inulence! all ,itiful co%,liances&

& 'urn to o& 'hou! %y o an Sa+iour shalt henceforth be the sole obect of %y

thouhts no %ore $ill " i+e %y %in to ieas $hich are is,leasin to 'hee& All the

ays of %y life " $ill $ell u,on the reatness of 'hy ooness! so lo+inly ,oure out

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u,on %e& 'hou shalt be henceforth the eliht of %y heart! the restin-,lace of all %y

affections& Fro% this ti%e forth " $ill forsa*e an abhor the +ain ,leasures an

a%use%ents! the e%,ty ,ursuits $hich ha+e absorbe %y ti%e--the un,rofitable ties

$hich ha+e boun %y heart " $ill loosen henceforth! an to that en " $ill use such an

such re%eies&

4onclusion&

1& 'han* o!


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2& 4onsier your e+il tenencies! an ho$ far you ha+e follo$e the%& 'hese t$o

,oints $ill sho$ you that your sins are %ore in nu%ber than the hairs of your hea! or

the san on the seashore&

& A,art fro% sin! consier your inratitue to$ars o! $hich is in itself a sinenfolin all the others! an ain to their enor%ity consier the ifts $hich o has

i+en you! an $hich you ha+e turne aainst the i+er es,ecially the ins,irations you

ha+e nelecte! an the ,ro%,tins to oo $hich you ha+e frustrate& Re+ie$ the

%any Sacra%ents you ha+e recei+e! an see $here are their fruits&


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Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in the Presence of o& 2& As* 0is race& & Su,,ose yourself to be

on your eathbe! in the last e3tre%ity! $ithout the s%allest ho,e of reco+ery&

4onsierations&

1& 4onsier the uncertainty as to the ay of your eath& ne ay your soul $ill #uit this

boy--$ill it be in su%%er or $inter? in to$n or country? by ay or by niht? $ill it be

suenly or $ith $arnin? $ill it be o$in to sic*ness or an accient? $ill you ha+e

ti%e to %a*e your last confession or not? $ill your confessor or s,iritual father be at

han or $ill he not? Alas! of all these thins $e *no$ absolutely nothin all that $e o

*no$ is that ie $e shall! an for the %ost ,art sooner than $e e3,ect&

2& 4onsier that then the $orl is at en as far as you are concerne! there $ill be no%ore of it for you! it $ill be altoether o+erthro$n for you! since all ,leasures! +anities!

$orlly oys! e%,ty elihts $ill be as a %ere fantastic +ision to you&


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clea+e to you only $ith a holy frienshi, $hich %ay last for e+er $hy shoul " clin to

you $ith a tie $hich %ust nees be bro*en?

" $ill ,re,are for the hour of eath an ta*e e+ery ,recaution for its ,eaceful arri+al "

$ill thorouhly e3a%ine into the state of %y conscience! an ,ut in orer $hate+er is$antin&

4onclusion&

'han* o for ins,irin you $ith these resolutions offer the% to 0is ;aesty intreat

0i% ane$ to rant you a ha,,y eath by the ;erits of 0is Dear Son9s Death& As* the

,rayers of the lesse irin an the Saints& CR FA'0ER! etc&

ather a bou#uet of %yrrh&

40AP'ER "& S"'0 ;ED"'A'"@&

n =u%ent&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in the Presence of o& 2& "ntreat 0i% to ins,ire you&

4onsierations&

1& De,art fro% ;e! ye curse! into e+erlastin fire! ,re,are for

the e+il an his anels&> D$ell u,on these a$ful $ors& >o!> 0e says--for e+er

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iscarin these $retche sinners! banishin the% for e+er fro% 0is Presence& 0e calls

the% >curse> %y soul! $hat a curse a curse in+ol+in all other %aleictions! all

,ossible e+il! an irre+ocable curse! incluin all ti%e an eternity cone%nin the% to

e+erlastin fire& 'hin* $hat that eternity of sufferin i%,lies&

6& 'hen consier the sentence of the oo& >4o%e!> the =ue says-- blesse lo+in

$or $ith $hich o ra$s us to 0i%self an recei+es us in 0is oso%& >lesse of

;y Father>-- blessin abo+e all blessinsJ >inherit the Gino% ,re,are for you

fro% the beinnin of the $orl&> %y o! an that Gino% $ill *no$ no enJ


1& 're%ble! %y soul! at the thouht& o! $ho $ill be %y stay in that hour $hen the

,illars of the earth are sha*en?

2& Abhor your sins! $hich alone can cause you to be lost $hen that fearful ay co%es&Surely " $ill ue %yself no$! that " be not ue--" $ill e3a%ine %y conscience!

accuse! cone%n! ,unish %yself! that the =ue %ay not cone%n %e then& " $ill

confess %y faults! an follo$ the counsels i+en %e&

4onclusion&

'han* o for ha+in i+en you %eans of safety in that terrible Day! an ti%e for

re,entance& ffer 0i% your heart! an as* for race to use it $ell& CR FA'0ER! etc&

ather your bou#uet&

40AP'ER & SEE@'0 ;ED"'A'"@&

f 0ell&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in o9s Presence&2& 0u%ble yourself! an as* 0is Ai&& Picture to

yourself a ar* city! ree*in $ith the fla%es of sul,hur an bri%stone! inhabite by

citiIens $ho cannot et forth&

4onsierations&

1& E+en so the lost are ,lune in their infernal abyss--sufferin inescribable torture in

e+ery sense an e+ery %e%ber an that because ha+in use their %e%bers an senses

for sin! it is ust that throuh the% they shoul suffer no$& 'hose eyes $hich elihte

in i%,ure +icious sihts! no$ behol e+ils the ears $hich too* ,leasure in unholy

$ors! no$ are eafene $ith yells of es,air--an so on $ith the other senses& 2&

eyon all these sufferins! there is one reater still! the ,ri+ation an ,ain of loss of

o9s lory! $hich is for e+er enie to their +ision& "f Absalo% care not to be

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release fro% e3ile! if he %iht not see his father9s face! .1H/ ho$ %uch sorer $ill it be

to be e,ri+e for e+er of the blesse +ision of o?

& 4onsier ho$ insu,,ortable the ,ains of 0ell $ill be by reason of their eternal

uration& "f the irritatin bite of an insect! or the restlessness of fe+er! %a*es an orinaryniht see% so lon an teious! ho$ terrible $ill the enless niht of eternity be! $here

nouht $ill be foun sa+e es,air! blas,he%y an furyJ


1& Rea the Pro,het9s escri,tions of the terrors of the :or! .2/ an as* your soul

$hether it can face the%--$hether you can bear to lose your o for e+er?

2& 4onfess that you ha+e re,eately eser+e to o so& Resol+e henceforth to act

ifferently! an to rescue yourself fro% this abyss& Resol+e on istinct efinite acts by

$hich you %ay a+oi sin! an thereby eternal eath&

i+e than*s! offer yourself! ,ray&

.1H/ 2 Sa%& 3i+& 2&

.2/ "sa& 333iii& 18& >

40AP'ER "& E"0'0 ;ED"'A'"@&

n Paraise&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in the Presence of o&2& "n+o*e 0is Ai&

4onsierations&

1& Re,resent to yourself a lo+ely cal% niht! $hen the hea+ens are briht $ithinnu%erable stars a to the beauty of such a niht the ut%ost beauty of a lorious

su%%er9s ay!--the sun9s brihtness not hinerin the clear shinin of %oon or stars! an

then be sure that it all falls i%%easurably short of the lory of Paraise& briht an

blesse country! s$eet an ,recious ,laceJ

2& 4onsier the beauty an ,erfection of the countless inhabitants of that blesse

country--the %illions an %illions of anels! 4herubi% an Sera,hi% the lorious

co%,any of A,ostles! %artyrs! confessors! +irins! an saints& blesse co%,any! any

one sinle %e%ber of $hich sur,asses all the lory of this $orl! $hat $ill it be to

behol the% all! to sin $ith the% the s$eet Son of the :a%b? 'hey reoice $ith a

,er,etual oy! they share a bliss uns,ea*able! an unchaneable elihts&

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& 4onsier ho$ they enoy the Presence of o! lesse art 'hou for e+er! Dear an

Precious :or an Reee%er!


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bet$een 0ell an Paraise! an that both the one an the other are o,en to recei+e you!

accorin to your o$n choice&

2& 4onsier that the choice you %a*e in this life $ill last for e+er in the ne3t&

& 4onsier too! that $hile both are o,en to recei+e you accorin to your choice! yet

o! belo+e one! co%e unto ;e! an oy for e+er in the eternal blesseness of

;y :o+eJ> ehol 0is %other yearnin o+er you $ith %aternal tenerness--> 4ourae!

%y chil! o not es,ise the ooness of %y Son! or %y earnest ,rayers for thy

sal+ation&> ehol the Saints! $ho ha+e left you their e3a%,le! the %illions of holysouls $ho lon after you! esirin earnestly that you %ay one ay be for e+er oine to

the% in their son of ,raise! urin u,on you that the roa to 0ea+en is not so har to

fin as the $orl $oul ha+e you thin*& >Press on bolly! ear frien!>--they cry&

>

'he 4hoice&

1& 0ell! " abhor thee no$ an for e+er " abhor thy riefs an tor%ents! thine enless

%isery! the unceasin blas,he%ies an %aleictions $hich thou ,ourest out u,on %y

o--an turnin to thee! blesse Paraise! eternal lory! unfain ha,,iness! "

choose thee for e+er as %y aboe! thy lorious %ansions! thy ,recious an abiin

tabernacles& %y o! " bless 'hy ;ercy $hich i+es %e the ,o$er to choose--

=esus! Sa+iour! " acce,t 'hine Eternal :o+e! an ,raise 'hee for the ,ro%ise 'hou hast

i+en %e of a ,lace ,re,are for %e in that blesse @e$ =erusale%! $here " shall lo+e

an bless 'hee for e+er&

2& D$ell lo+inly u,on the e3a%,le set before you by the lesse irin an the Saints!

an stri+e to follo$ $here they ,oint you& i+e yourself u, to your uarian Anel! that

he %ay be your uie! an ir u, your courae ane$ to %a*e this choice&

40AP'ER """& 'E@'0 ;ED"'A'"@&

0o$ the Soul chooses the De+out :ife&

Pre,aration&

1& P:A4E yourself in the Presence of o&2& 0u%ble yourself before 0i%! an as* 0is

Ai&

4onsierations&

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1& nce %ore i%aine yourself in an o,en ,lain! alone $ith your uarian Anel! an

re,resent to yourself on the left han the De+il sittin on a hih an %ihty throne!

surroune by a +ast troo, of $orlly %en! $ho bo$ bareheae before hi%! oin

ho%ae to hi% by the +arious sins they co%%it& Stuy the countenances of the%iserable courtiers of that %ost abo%inable *in--so%e rain $ith fury! en+y an

,assion! so%e %urerous in their hatre--others ,ale an haar in their cra+in after

$ealth! or %aly ,ursuin e+ery +ain an ,rofitless ,leasure--others sun* an lost in

+ile! i%,ure affections& See ho$ all ali*e are hateful! restless! $il see ho$ they

es,ise one another! an only ,reten to an unreal self-see*in lo+e& Such is the

%iserable rein of the abhorre 'yrant&

2& n the other han! behol =esus 4hrist 4rucifie! callin these unha,,y $retches to

co%e to 0i%! an intercein for the% $ith all the :o+e of 0is Precious 0eart& ehol

the co%,any of e+out souls an their uarian Anels! conte%,late the beauty of this

reliious Gino%&


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'hee no$ an e+er for %y Gin! an $ith in+iolable fielity " $oul offer %y

irre+ocable ser+ice! an sub%it %yself to 'hy holy la$s an orinances&

& lesse irin ;other of o! you shall be %y e3a%,le! " $ill follo$ you $ith all

re+erence an res,ect&

%y oo Anel! brin %e to this hea+enly co%,any! lea+e %e not until " ha+e reache

the%! $ith $ho% " $ill sin for e+er! in testi%ony of %y choice! >lory be to =esus! %y

:orJ>

40AP'ER "& 0o$ to %a*e a eneral 4onfession&

SC40 %eitations as these! %y auhter! $ill hel, you! an ha+in %ae the%! o on

bra+ely in the s,irit of hu%ility to %a*e your eneral confession--but " entreat you! be

not trouble by any sort of fearfulness& 'he scor,ion $ho stins us is +eno%ous! but$hen his oil has been istille! it is the best re%ey for his bite--e+en so sin is

sha%eful $hen $e co%%it it! but $hen reuce to re,entance an confession! it

beco%es salutary an honourable& 4ontrition an confession are in the%sel+es so lo+ely

an s$eet-sa+oure! that they efface the uliness an is,erse the ill sa+our of sin&

Si%on the le,er calle ;aalene a sinner! .21/ but our :or turne the iscourse to the

,erfu%e of her oint%ent an the reatness of her lo+e& "f $e are really hu%ble! %y

auhter! our sins $ill be infinitely is,leasin to us! because they offen o--but it

$ill be $elco%e an s$eet to accuse oursel+es thereof because in so oin $e honour

o an there is al$ays so%e$hat soothin in fully tellin the ,hysician all etails of

our ,ain&

"t is truly o to .22/ 'hen ta*e the follo$in ,rotest! as a su%%ary of your contrition!

ha+in carefully stuie an %eitate u,on it beforehan rea it throuh $ith as

earnest an intention as you can %a*e&

.21/ S& ;ar* 3i+& an S& :u*e +ii& H&

.22/ S& :u*e 3& 16&

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40AP'ER & A hearty Protest %ae $ith the obect of confir%in the Soul9s

resolution to ser+e o! as a conclusion to its acts of Penitence&

"! '0E unersine!--in the Presence of o an of all the co%,any of 0ea+en! ha+inconsiere the "nfinite ;ercy of 0is 0ea+enly ooness to$ars %e! a %ost %iserable!

un$orthy creature! $ho% 0e has create! ,reser+e! sustaine! eli+ere fro% so %any

aners! an fille $ith so %any blessins ha+in abo+e all consiere the

inco%,rehensible %ercy an lo+in-*inness $ith $hich this %ost oo o has borne

$ith %e in %y sinfulness! leain %e so tenerly to re,entance! an $aitin so ,atiently

for %e till this--(,resent) year of %y life! not$ithstanin all %y inratitue! isloyalty

an faithlessness! by $hich " ha+e elaye turnin to 0i%! an es,isin 0is race!

ha+e offene 0i% ane$ an further! re%e%berin that in %y a,tis% " $as sole%nly

an ha,,ily eicate to o as 0is chil! an that in efiance of the ,rofession then

%ae in %y na%e! " ha+e so often %iserably ,rofane %y ifts! turnin the% aainst

o9s Di+ine ;aesty--"! no$ co%in to %yself ,rostrate in heart an soul before the'hrone of 0is =ustice! ac*no$lee an confess that " a% uly accuse an con+icte

of treason aainst 0is ;aesty! an uilty of the Death an Passion of =esus 4hrist! by

reason of the sins " ha+e co%%itte! for $hich 0e ie! bearin the re,roach of the

4ross so that " eser+e nothin else sa+e eternal a%nation&

ut turnin to the 'hrone of "nfinite ;ercy of this Eternal o! etestin the sins of %y

,ast life $ith all %y heart an all %y strenth! " hu%bly esire an as* race! ,aron!

an %ercy! $ith entire absolution fro% %y sin! in +irtue of the Death an Passion of that

sa%e :or an Reee%er! on


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40AP'ER "& 4onclusion of this First Purification&

0A"@ %ae this resolution! $ait attenti+ely! an o,en the ears of your heart! that

you %ay in s,irit hear the absolution $hich the :or of your soul! sittin on the throne

of 0is ;ercy! $ill s,ea* in 0ea+en before the Saints an Anels $hen 0is Priestabsol+es you here belo$ in 0is @a%e& e sure that all that co%,any of blesse ones

reoice in your oy! an sin a son of untol laness! e%bracin you an acce,tin

you as cleanse an sanctifie& f a truth! %y auhter! this is a %ar+ellous ee! an a

%ost blesse barain for you! inas%uch as i+in yourself to 0is Di+ine ;aesty! you

ain 0i%! an sa+e yourself for eternal life& @o %ore re%ains to o! sa+e to ta*e the ,en

an heartily sin your ,rotest! an then hasten to the Altar! $here o on 0is sie $ill

sin an seal your absolution! an 0is ,ro%ise of Paraise! i+in 0i%self to you in 0is

Sacra%ent! as a sacre seal ,lace u,on your rene$e heart& An thus! ear chil! your

soul $ill be cleanse fro% sin! an fro% all its affections& ut foras%uch as these

affections are easily re*inle! than*s to our infir%ity an concu,iscence ($hich %aybe

%ortifie! but $hich can ne+er be altoether e3tinuishe $hile $e li+e)! " $ill i+eyou certain counsels by the ,ractice of $hich you %ay henceforth a+oi %ortal sin! an

the affections ,ertainin thereto& An as these counsels $ill also hel, you to attain a yet

%ore ,erfect ,urification! before i+in the%! " $oul say so%e$hat concernin that

absolute ,erfection to $hich " see* to lea you&

40AP'ER ""& 'he @ecessity of Purin a$ay all tenency to enial Sins&

AS ayliht $a3es! $e! aIin into a %irror! see %ore ,lainly the soils an stains u,on

our face an e+en so as the interior liht of the 0oly S,irit enlihtens our conscience!

$e see %ore istinctly the sins! inclinations an i%,erfections $hich hiner our

,roress to$ars real e+otion& An the selfsa%e liht $hich sho$s us these blots an

stains! *inles in us the esire to be cleanse an ,ure therefro%& ou $ill fin then!

%y chil! that besies the %ortal sins an their affections fro% $hich your soul has

alreay been ,ure! you are beset by sunry inclinations an tenencies to +enial sin

%in! " o not say you $ill fin +enial sins! but the inclination an tenency to the%&

@o$! one is #uite ifferent fro% the other&


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o,en the oor to te%,tations--an althouh they %ay not estroy the soul! at least they

brin on +ery serious isease& >Dea flies cause the oint%ent to sen forth a stin*in

sa+our!> says the


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ha+e you cleanse your heart fro% all such tastes! re%e%berin that $hile the acts

the%sel+es are not necessarily inco%,atible $ith a e+out life! all eliht in the% %ust

be har%ful&

40AP'ER "& All E+il "nclinations %ust be ,ure a$ay&

FCR'0ER;RE! %y auhter! $e ha+e certain natural inclinations! $hich are not

strictly s,ea*in either %ortal or +enial sins! but rather i%,erfections an the acts in

$hich they ta*e sha,e! failins an eficiencies& 'hus S& =ero%e says that S& Paula ha

so stron a tenency to e3cessi+e sorro$! that $hen she lost her husban an chilren

she nearly ie of rief that $as not a sin! but an i%,erfection! since it i not e,en

u,on her $ish an $ill& So%e ,eo,le are naturally easy! so%e o,,ositions so%e are

inis,ose to acce,t other %en9s o,inions! so%e naturally is,ose to be cross! so%e to

be affectionate--in short! there is harly any one in $ho% so%e such i%,erfections o

not e3ist& @o$! althouh they be natural an instincti+e in each ,erson! they %ay bere%eie an correcte! or e+en eraicate! by culti+atin the re+erse is,osition& An

this! %y chil! %ust be one& areners ha+e foun ho$ to %a*e the bitter al%on tree

bear s$eet fruit! by raftin the uice of the latter u,on it! $hy shoul $e not ,ure out

our ,er+erse is,ositions an infuse such as are oo? 'here is no is,osition so oo

but it %ay be %ae ba by int of +icious habits! an neither is there any natural

is,osition so ,er+erse but that it %ay be con#uere an o+erco%e by o9s race

,ri%arily! an then by our earnest ilient enea+our& " shall therefore no$ ,rocee to

i+e you counsels an suest ,ractices by $hich you %ay ,urify your soul fro% all

anerous affections an i%,erfections! an fro% all tenencies to +enial sin! thereby

strenthenin yourself %ore an %ore aainst %ortal sin& ;ay o i+e you race to

use the%&

PAR' ""& 4@'A"@"@ SC@DR 4C@SE:S AS ' CP:"F'"@ '0E SC: '

D "@ PRAER A@D '0E CSE F '0E SA4RA;E@'S&

40AP'ER "& 'he @ecessity of Prayer&

1& PRAER o,ens the unerstanin to the brihtness of Di+ine :iht! an the $ill tothe $ar%th of 0ea+enly :o+e--nothin can so effectually ,urify the %in fro% its %any

inorances! or the $ill fro% its ,er+erse affections& "t is as a healin $ater $hich causes

the roots of our oo esires to sen forth fresh shoots! $hich $ashes a$ay the soul9s

i%,erfections! an allays the thirst of ,assion&

2& ut es,ecially " co%%en earnest %ental ,rayer to you! %ore ,articularly such as

bears u,on the :ife an Passion of our :or& "f you conte%,late 0i% fre#uently in

%eitation! your $hole soul $ill be fille $ith 0i%! you $ill ro$ in 0is :i*eness! an

your actions $ill be %oule on 0is& 0e is the :iht of the $orl therefore in 0i%! by

0i%! an for 0i% $e shall be enlihtene an illu%inate 0e is the 'ree of :ife!

beneath the shao$ of $hich $e %ust fin rest--0e is the :i+in Fountain of =acob9s

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$ell! $herein $e %ay $ash a$ay e+ery stain& 4hilren learn to s,ea* by hearin their

%other tal*! an sta%%erin forth their chilish souns in i%itation an so if $e clea+e

to the Sa+ior in %eitation! listenin to 0is $ors! $atchin 0is actions an intentions!

$e shall learn in ti%e! throuh 0is race! to s,ea*! act an $ill li*e 0i%self& elie+e

%e! %y auhter! there is no $ay to o sa+e throuh this oor& =ust as the lass of a%irror $oul i+e no reflection sa+e for the %etal behin it! so neither coul $e here

belo$ conte%,late the ohea! $ere it not unite to the Sacre 0u%anity of our

Sa+iour!


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H& "f it shoul ha,,en that your %ornin oes by $ithout the usual %eitation! either

o$in to a ,ressure of business! or fro% any other cause! ($hich interru,tions you

shoul try to ,re+ent as far as ,ossible!) try to re,air the loss in the afternoon! but not

i%%eiately after a %eal! or you $ill ,erha,s be ro$sy! $hich is ba both for your

%eitation an your health& ut if you are unable all ay to %a*e u, for the o%ission!you %ust re%ey it as far as %ay be by eaculatory ,rayer! an by reain so%e

s,iritual boo*! toether $ith an act of ,enitence for the nelect! toether $ith a stefast

resolution to o better the ne3t ay&

.28/ S& ona+entura! :ouis of renaa! an Da Ponte9s $or*s are still a+ailable an are

a%irable hel,s to %eitation& A%on %ore %oern $or*s %iht be sueste "saac

o is inee here&>

'he secon $ay of ,lacin yourself in this Sacre Presence is to call to %in that o is

not only ,resent in the ,lace $here you are! but that 0e is +ery s,ecially ,resent in your

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heart an %in! $hich 0e *inles an ins,ires $ith 0is 0oly Presence! abiin there as

0eart of your heart! S,irit of your s,irit& =ust as the soul ani%ates the $hole boy! an

e+ery %e%ber thereof! but abies es,ecially in the heart! so o! $hile ,resent

e+ery$here! yet %a*es 0is s,ecial aboe $ith our s,irit& 'herefore Da+i calls 0i%

>the Strenth of %y heart> .27/ an S& Paul sai that in 0i% >$e li+e an %o+e anha+e our bein&> .2B/ D$ell u,on this thouht until you ha+e *inle a reat re+erence

$ithin your heart for o


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*ee, 'hy :a$ yea! " shall *ee, it $ith %y $hole heart&> .2/ >" a% 'hy ser+ant!

rant %e unerstanin&> ./ D$ell too u,on the thouht of your uarian Anel! an

of the Saints connecte $ith the s,ecial %ystery you are consierin! as the lesse

irin! S& =ohn! the ;aalene! the oo thief! etc&! if you are %eitatin in the Passion!

so that you %ay share in their e+out feelins an intention!--an in the sa%e $ay $ithother subects&

./ Ps& li& 11&

.1/ Ps& 33+& 8&

.2/ Ps& c3i3& 8&

./ Ps& c3i3& 125&

40AP'ER "& 'he 'hir Point of Pre,aration! re,resentin the ;ystery to be

%eitate to our "%aination&

F::


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orinary %ethos of thouht $hich ha+e not the :o+e of o or ro$th in holiness for

their obect! but so%e other en! such as the ac#uisition of learnin or ,o$er of

aru%ent& So! $hen you ha+e! as " sai! li%ite the efforts of your %in $ithin ue

bouns!--$hether by the i%aination! if the subect be %aterial! or by ,ro,ositions! if it

be a s,iritual subect!--you $ill bein to for% reflections or consierations after the,attern of the %eitations " ha+e alreay s*etche for you& An if your %in fins

sufficient %atter! liht an fruit $herein to rest in any one consieration! $ell u,on it!

e+en as the bee! $hich ho+ers o+er one flo$er so lon as it affors honey& ut if you o

not fin $here$ith to fee your %in! after a certain reasonable effort! then o on to

another consieration!--only be #uiet an si%,le! an o not be eaer or hurrie&

40AP'ER "& 'he 'hir Part of ;eitation! Affections an Resolutions&

;ED"'A'"@ e3cites oo esires in the $ill! or sensiti+e ,art of the soul!--such as

lo+e of o an of our neihbour! a cra+in for the lory of Paraise! Ieal for thesal+ation of others! i%itation of our :or9s E3a%,le! co%,assion! than*si+in! fear of

o9s $rath an of u%ent! hatre of sin! trust in o9s ooness an ;ercy! sha%e

for our ,ast life an in all such affections you shoul ,our out your soul as %uch as

,ossible& "f you $ant hel, in this! turn to so%e si%,le boo* of e+otions! the "%itation

of 4hrist! the S,iritual 4o%bat! or $hate+er you fin %ost hel,ful to your ini+iual

$ants&

ut! %y auhter! you %ust not sto, short in eneral affections! $ithout turnin the%

into s,ecial resolutions for your o$n correction an a%en%ent& For instance!

%eitatin on ur Dear :or9s First " $ill not be anere

any %ore by the annoyin thins sai of %e by such or such a neihbour! nor by the

slihts offere %e by such an one but rather " $ill o such an such thins in orer to

soften an conciliate the%&> "n this $ay! %y auhter! you $ill soon correct your faults!

$hereas %ere eneral resolutions $oul ta*e but a slo$ an uncertain effect&

40AP'ER ""& 'he 4onclusion an S,iritual ou#uet&

'0E %eitation shoul be conclue by three acts! %ae $ith the ut%ost hu%ility&First! an act of than*si+in--than*in o for the affections an resolutions $ith

$hich 0e has ins,ire you! an for the ;ercy an ooness 0e has %ae *no$n to you

in the %ystery you ha+e been %eitatin& Seconly! an act of oblation! by $hich you

offer your affections an resolutions to o! in union $ith 0is $n ooness an

;ercy! an the Death an ;erits of 0is Son& 'he thir act is one of ,etition! in $hich

you as* o to i+e you a share in the ;erits of 0is Dear Son! an a blessin on your

affections an resolutions! to the en that you %ay be able to ,ut the% in ,ractice& ou

$ill further ,ray for the 4hurch! an all her ;inisters! your relations! friens! an all

others! usin the ur Father as the %ost co%,rehensi+e an necessary of ,rayers&

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esies all this! " bae you ather a little bou#uet of e+otion! an $hat " %ean is this&


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an i+e the% ,lace in ,reference to all other consierations& 'he only obect in ,lacin

the affections after the ,oints of consieration in %eitation! is to %a*e the ifferent

,arts of %eitation clearer! for it is a eneral rule that $hen affections arise they are

ne+er to be chec*e! but al$ays encourae to flo$ freely& An this a,,lies also to the

acts of than*si+in! of oblation an ,etition! $hich %ust not be restraine either!althouh it is $ell to re,eat or rene$ the% at the close of your %eitation& ut your

resolutions %ust be %ae after the affections! an #uite at the en of your %eitation!

an that all the %ore because in these you %ust enter u,on orinary fa%iliar subects

an thins $hich $oul be liable to cause istractions if they $ere intrue a%on your

s,iritual affections&

A%i your affections an resolutions it is $ell occasionally to %a*e use of collo#uies!

an to s,ea* so%eti%es to your :or! so%eti%es to your uarian Anel! or to those

,ersons $ho are concerne in the %ystery you are %eitatin! to the Saints! to yourself!

your o$n heart! to sinners! an e+en to the inani%ate creation aroun! as Da+i so often

oes in the Psal%s! as $ell as other Saints in their %eitations an ,rayers&

40AP'ER "& 4oncernin Dryness in ;eitation&

S0C:D it ha,,en so%eti%es! %y auhter! that you ha+e no taste for or consolation

in your %eitation! " entreat you not to be trouble! but see* relief in +ocal ,rayer!

be%oan yourself to our :or! confess your un$orthiness! i%,lore 0is Ai! *iss 0is

"%ae! if it be besie you! an say in the $ors of =acob! >" $ill not let 'hee o! e3ce,t

'hou bless %e> or $ith the 4anaanitish $o%an! >es! :or! " a% as a o before 'hee!

but the os eat of the cru%bs $hich fall fro% their %aster9s table&>

r you can ta*e a boo*! an rea attenti+ely till such ti%e as your %in is cal%e an

#uic*ene or so%eti%es you %ay fin hel, fro% e3ternal actions! such as ,rostratin

yourself folin your hans u,on your breast! *issin your 4rucifi3!--that is! su,,osin

you are alone& ut if! after all this! you are still unrelie+e! o not be isturbe at your

ryness! ho$e+er reat it be! but continue stri+in after a e+out attitue in o9s Siht&


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As to the e3a%ination of conscience! $hich $e all shoul %a*e before oin to be!

you *no$ the rules

1& 'han* o for ha+in ,reser+e you throuh the ay ,ast&

2& E3a%ine ho$ you ha+e conucte yourself throuh the ay! in orer to $hich recall

$here an $ith $ho% you ha+e been! an $hat you ha+e one&

& "f you ha+e one anythin oo! offer than*s to o if you ha+e one a%iss in

thouht! $or! or ee! as* fori+eness of 0is Di+ine ;aesty! resol+in to confess the

fault $hen o,,ortunity offers! an to be ilient in oin better&

8& 'hen co%%en your boy an soul! the 4hurch! your relations an friens! to o&

As* that the Saints an Anels %ay *ee, $atch o+er you! an $ith o9s lessin o to

the rest 0e has a,,ointe for you& @either this ,ractice nor that of the %ornin shoul

e+er be o%itte by your %ornin ,rayer you o,en your soul9s $ino$s to the sunshineof Rihteousness! an by your e+enin e+otions you close the% aainst the shaes of

hell&

40AP'ER ""& n S,iritual Retire%ent&

'0"S is a %atter! ear auhter! to $hich " a% +ery an3ious to $in your attention! for in

it lies one of the surest %eans of s,iritual ,roress& Stri+e as often as ,ossible throuh

the ay to ,lace yourself in o9s Presence by so%e one of the %ethos alreay

sueste& 4onsier $hat o oes! an $hat you are oin--you $ill see 0is Eyes

e+er fi3e u,on you in :o+e inco%,arable& > %y o!> you $ill cry out! >$hy cannot

" al$ays be loo*in u,on 'hee! e+en as 'hou loo*est on %e? $hy o " thin* so little

about 'hee? %y soul! thy only restin-,lace is o! an yet ho$ often ost thou

$aner?> 'he birs ha+e nests in lofty trees! an the sta his refue in the thic* co+erts!

$here he can shelter fro% the sun9s burnin heat an ust so! %y auhter! our hearts

ouht aily to choose so%e restin-,lace! either ;ount 4al+ary! or the Sacre 'hou! :or! art %y Refue! %y 4astle! %y Stay!

%y Shelter in the stor% an in the heat of the ay&>

e sure then! %y chil! that $hile e3ternally occu,ie $ith business an social uties!

you fre#uently retire $ithin the solitue of your o$n heart& 'hat solitue nee not be in

any $ay hinere by the cro$s $hich surroun you--they surroun your boy! not

your soul! an your heart re%ains alone in the Sole Presence of o& 'his is $hat Da+i

souht after a%i his %anifol labours--the Psal%s are full of such e3,ressions as

>:or! " a% e+er $ith 'hee& 'he :or is al$ays at %y riht han& " lift u, %ine eyes to

'hee! 'hou

'here are fe$ social uties of sufficient i%,ortance to ,re+ent an occasional retire%ent

of the heart into this sacre solitue&


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thouht of %a*in a little interior oratory in her %in! into $hich she coul retire in

heart! an so enoy a holy solitue a%i her out$ar uties& An hencefor$ar! $hen

the $orl assaulte her! she $as able to be inifferent! because! so she sai! she coul

retire $ithin her secret oratory! an fin co%fort $ith her 0ea+enly rieroo%& So she

counselle her s,iritual auhters to %a*e a retire%ent $ithin their heart! in $hich to$ell& Do you in li*e %anner let your heart $ithra$ to such an in$ar retire%ent!

$here! a,art fro% all %en! you can lay it bare! an treat face to face $ith o! e+en as

Da+i says that he $atche li*e a >,elican in the $ilerness! or an o$l in the esert! or a

s,arro$ sittin alone u,on the houseto,&> .8/ 'hese $ors ha+e a sense beyon their

literal %eanin! or Gin Da+i9s habit of retire%ent for conte%,lation--an $e %ay

fin in the% three e3cellent *ins of retreats in $hich to see* solitue after the Sa+iour9s

E3a%,le! Sic 4hristus ile3it nos&> >'hus

hath 4hrist lo+e us&> An so Saint 'ho%as in his Eucharistic 0y%n >Aoro 'e

e+ote!>-->Pie Pelicane! =esu Do%ine! ;e i%%unu% %una! 'uo sausuineJ>

40AP'ER """& As,irations! Eaculatory Prayer an 0oly 'houhts&


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nearness an inti%acy $ith o your $hole soul $ill i%bibe the ,erfu%e of 0is

Perfections& @either is this a ifficult ,ractice!--it %ay be inter$o+en $ith all our uties

an occu,ations! $ithout hinerin any for neither the s,iritual retreat of $hich " ha+e

s,o*en! nor these in$ar u,liftins of the heart! cause %ore than a +ery brief

istraction! $hich! so far fro% bein any hinrance! $ill rather ,ro%ote $hate+er youha+e in han& :or! sa+e %e! for the $aters are one o+er %y soul

eli+er %e fro% the reat ee,! all 'hy $a+es an stor%s are one o+er %e> for he $as

hi%self then in trouble by reason of the unoly usur,ation of his See by ;a3i%us&

.6/ An

if this $orl can affor so %uch ratification to %ere earthly lo+ers of +anity! $hat %ust

there be in store hereafter for those $ho lo+e the truth?

>"f thus 'hy lo$er $or*s are fair!--"f thus 'hy lories il the s,anf ruine earth an

uilty %an!--0o$ lorious %ust the %ansions be

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ou %ay lauh forsooth! but to the ,oor hunte beast it isno lauhin %atter e+en so the soul $hich has been le astray in all %anner of sin fins

a host of ene%ies $aitin at its last hour to e+our it! an terrifie! *no$s not $here to

see* a refue! an if it can fin none! its ene%ies lauh an reoice&> An so he $ent on

his $ay! sihin&

4onstantine the reat $rote $ith reat res,ect to S& Anthony! at $hich his reliious

e3,resse their sur,rise& >Do you %ar+el!> he sai! >that a *in shoul $rite to an

orinary %an? ;ar+el rather that o shoul ha+e $ritten 0is :a$ for %en! an yet

%ore that 0e shoul ha+e s,o*en $ith the% Face to face throuh 0is Son&> See!> sai he to his co%,anion!

>ho$ entle the ,oor shee, is a%on the oats! e+en as $as ur :or a%on thePharisees> an seein a boar e+our a little la%b! >Poor little one!> he e3clai%e!

$ee,in! >ho$ +i+ily is %y Sa+iour9s Death set forth in theeJ>

A reat %an of our o$n ay! Francis oria! then Du*e of 4ania! $as $ont to inule

in %any e+out i%ainations as he $as huntin& >" use to ,oner!> he sai! >ho$ the

falcon returns to one9s $rist! an lets one hoo its eyes or chain it to the ,erch! an yet

%en are so ,er+erse in refusin to turn at o9s call&> St& asil the reat says that the

rose a%i its thorns ,reaches a lesson to %en& >All that is ,leasant in this life> (so it tells

us %ortals) >is %inle $ith saness--no oy is altoether ,ure--all enoy%ent is liable

to be %arre by rerets! %arriae is saene by $io$hoo! chilren brin an3iety!

lory often turns to sha%e! nelect follo$s u,on honour! $eariness on ,leasure!

sic*ness on health& 'ruly the rose is a lo+ely flo$er!> the Saint oes on to say! >but it

%o+es %e to saness! re%inin %e as it oes that for %y sin the earth $as cone%ne

to brin forth thorns&>

Another e+out soul! aIin u,on a broo* $herein the starlit s*y of a cal% su%%er9s

niht $as reflecte! e3clai%s! > %y o! $hen 'hou callest %e to $ell in 'hy

hea+enly tabernacles! these stars $ill be beneath %y feet an e+en as those stars are

no$ reflecte here belo$! so are $e 'hy creatures reflecte abo+e in the li+in $aters

of 'hy Di+ine :o+e&> So another crie out! beholin a ra,i ri+er as it flo$e! >E+en

thus %y soul $ill *no$ no rest until it ,lune into that Di+ine Sea $hence it ca%eforthJ> S& Frances! as she *nelt to ,ray besie the ban*s of a ,leasant strea%let! crie out

in ecstasy! >'he race of %y Dear :or flo$s softly an s$eetly e+en as these

refreshin $aters> An another saintly soul! loo*in u,on the bloo%in orchars! crie

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'hus it is! %y auhter! that oo thouhts an holy as,irations %ay be ra$n fro% all

that surrouns us in our orinary life& erily!> says Saint reory @aIianIen!

>" a% $ont to turn all thins to %y s,iritual ,rofit&>

Rea the ,ious e,ita,h $ritten for S& Paula by S& =ero%e it is %ar+ellous therein to see

ho$ she concei+e s,iritual thouhts an as,irations at e+ery turn&

@o$! in the ,ractice of this s,iritual retreat an of these eaculatory ,rayers the reat

$or* of e+otion lies it can su,,ly all other eficiencies! but there is harly any %eans

of %a*in u, $here this is lac*in&


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4anticles > .8/

& Stri+e then to your ut%ost to be ,resent e+ery ay at this holy 4elebration! in orer

that $ith the ,riest you %ay offer the Sacrifice of your Reee%er on behalf of yourselfan the $hole 4hurch to o the Father& Saint 4hrysosto% says that the Anels cro$

aroun it in aoration! an if $e are foun toether $ith the%! unite in one intention!

$e cannot but be %ost fa+ourably influence by such society& ;oreo+er! all the

hea+enly choirs of the 4hurch triu%,hant! as $ell as those of the 4hurch %ilitant! are

oine to our Dear :or in this i+ine act! so that $ith 0i%! in 0i%! an by 0i%! they

%ay $in the fa+our of o the Father! an obtain 0is ;ercy for us& 0o$ reat the

blessin to %y soul to contribute its share to$ars the attain%ent of so racious a iftJ

8& "f any i%,erati+e hinrance ,re+ents your ,resence at this so+erein sacrifice of

4hrist9s %ost true Presence! at least be sure to ta*e ,art in it s,iritually& "f you cannot o

to 4hurch! choose so%e %ornin hour in $hich to unite your intention to that of the$hole 4hristian $orl! an %a*e the sa%e interior acts of e+otion $here+er you are

that you $oul %a*e if you $ere really ,resent at the 4elebration of the 0oly Eucharist

in 4hurch&

5& "n orer to oin in this rihtly! $hether actually or %entally! you %ust i+e hee to

se+eral thins (1) "n the beinnin! an before the ,riest oes u, to the Altar! %a*e

your ,re,aration $ith his--,lacin yourself in o9s Presence! confessin your

un$orthiness! an as*in fori+eness& (2) Cntil the os,el! $ell si%,ly an enerally

u,on the 4o%in an the :ife of our :or in this $orl& () Fro% the os,el to the en

of the 4ree! $ell u,on our Dear :or9s teachin! an rene$ your resolution to li+e

an ie in the faith of the 0oly 4atholic 4hurch& (8) Fro% thence! fi3 your heart on the

%ysteries of the


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FCR'0ER;RE! %y auhter! you shoul enea+our to assist at the ffices! 0ours!

es,ers! etc&! as far as you are able! es,ecially on Sunays an Festi+als! ays $hich are

eicate to o! $herein $e ouht to stri+e to o %ore for 0is 0onour an lory than

on others& ou $ill reatly increase the fer+our of your e+otion by so oin! e+en asi S& Auustine! $ho tells us in his 4onfessions! that in the early ays of his

con+ersion he $as touche to the #uic*! an his heart o+erflo$e in ha,,y tears! $hen

he too* ,art in the ffices of the 4hurch& .81/ ;oreo+er (let %e say it here once for all)!

there is al$ays %ore ,rofit an %ore consolation in the ,ublic ffices of the 4hurch

than in ,ri+ate acts of e+otion! o ha+in $ille to i+e the ,reference to co%%union

in ,rayer o+er all ini+iual action& e reay to ta*e ,art in any confraternities an

associations you %ay fin in the ,lace $here you are calle to $ell! es,ecially such as

are %ost fruitful an eifyin& 'his $ill be ,leasin to o for althouh confraternities

are not oraine! they are reco%%ene by the 4hurch! $hich rants +arious ,ri+ilees

to those $ho are unite thereby& An it is al$ays a $or* of lo+e to oin $ith others an

ta*e ,art in their oo $or*s& An althouh it %ay be ,ossible that you can use e#ually,rofitable e+otions by yourself as in co%%on $ith others!--,erha,s e+en you %ay li*e

oin so best!--ne+ertheless o is %ore lorifie $hen $e unite $ith our brethren an

neihbours an oin our offerins to theirs&

" say the sa%e concernin all ,ublic ser+ices an ,rayers! in $hich! as far as ,ossible!

each one of us is boun to contribute the best e3a%,le $e can for our neihbour9s

eification! an our hearty esire for o9s lory an the eneral oo of all %en&

.81/ >@or $as " sate in those ays $ith the $onrous s$eetness of consierin the

e,th of 'hy counsels concernin the sal+ation of %an*in& 0o$ i " $ee,! in 'hy

hy%ns an canticles! touche to the #uic* by the +oices of 'hy s$eet-attune church

'he +oices flo$e into %ine ears! an the truth istille into %y heart! $hence the

affections of %y e+otion o+erflo$e! an tears ran o$n! an ha,,y $as " therein&>--

conf& b*& i3& 18&

40AP'ER "& 0o$ the Saints are unite to us&

"@AS;C40 as o continually sens us ins,irations by %eans of 0is Anels! $e %ay

fitly sen bac* our as,irations throuh the sa%e channel& 'he souls of the holy ea!restin in Paraise! $ho are! as our :or 0i%self has tol us! >as the Anels in 0ea+en!>

.82/ are also unite to us in their ,rayers& ;y chil! let us laly oin our hearts $ith

these hea+enly blesse ones for e+en as the ne$ly-flee nihtinale learns to sin

fro% the eler birs! so by our sacre co%%unin $ith the Saints $e shall learn better

to ,ray an sin the ,raises of the :or& Da+i is continually unitin his ,rayers $ith

those of all the Saints an Anels&

0onour! re+ere an res,ect the lesse irin ;ary $ith a +ery s,ecial lo+e she is the

;other of our So+erein :or! an so $e are her chilren& :et us thin* of her $ith all

the lo+e an confience of affectionate chilren let us esire her lo+e! an stri+e $ith

true filial hearts to i%itate her races&

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See* to be fa%iliar $ith the Anels learn to realise that they are continually ,resent!

althouh in+isible& S,ecially lo+e an re+ere the uarian Anel of the Diocese in

$hich you li+e! those of the friens $ho surroun you! an your o$n& 4o%%une $ith

the% fre#uently! oin in their sons of ,raise! an see* their ,rotection an hel, in allyou o! s,iritual or te%,oral&

'hat ,ious %an Peter Faber! the first co%,anion of Saint "natius! an the first ,riest!

first ,reacher an first theoloical teacher of the 4o%,any of the =esuits! $ho $as a

nati+e of our Diocese! .8/ once ,assin throuh this country on his $ay fro% er%any!

($here he ha been labourin for o9s lory!) tol ho$ reat co%fort he ha foun as

he $ent a%on ,laces infeste $ith heresy in co%%unin $ith the uarian Anels

thereof! $hose hel, ha often ,reser+e hi% fro% aner! an softene hearts to recei+e

the faith& 0e s,o*e $ith such earnestness! that a lay $ho! $hen #uite youn! hear

hi%! $as so i%,resse! that she re,eate his $ors to %e only four years ao! si3ty

years after their utterance! $ith the ut%ost feelin& " ha the ha,,iness only last year ofconsecratin an altar in the ,lace $here it ,lease o to i+e that blesse %an birth!

the little +illae of illaret! a%i the $ilest of our %ountains&

ou $ill o $ell to choose out for yourself so%e ini+iual Saint! $hose life s,ecially

to stuy an i%itate! an $hose ,rayers %ay be %ore ,articularly offere on your

behalf& 'he Saint bearin your o$n ba,tis%al na%e $oul see% to be naturally

assine to you&

.82/ S& ;ar* 3ii& 25&

.8/ Faber $as a Sa+oyar&

40AP'ER ""& 0o$ to 0ear an Rea o9s .88/ Re%e%ber that our :or

recei+es our $ors of ,rayer accorin to the $ay in $hich $e recei+e 0is $ors inteachin&

ou shoul al$ays ha+e so%e oo e+out boo* at han! such as the $ritins of S&

ona+entura! erson! Denis the 4arthusian! losius! renaa! Stella! Arias! Pinella! Da

Ponte! A+ila! the S,iritual 4o%bat! the 4onfessions of S& Auustine! S& =ero%e9s

E,istles! or the li*e an aily rea so%e s%all ,ortion attenti+ely! as thouh you $ere

reain letters sent by the Saints fro% Paraise to teach you the $ay thither! an

encourae you to follo$ the%& Rea the :i+es of the Saints too! $hich are as a %irror to

you of 4hristian life! an try to i%itate their actions accorin to your circu%stances

for althouh %any thins $hich the Saints i %ay not be ,racticable for those $ho li+e

in the $orl! they %ay be follo$e %ore or less& 'hus! in our s,iritual retreats $e

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i%itate the solitue of the first her%it! S& Paul in the ,ractice of ,o+erty $e i%itate S&

Francis! an so on& f course so%e :i+es thro$ %uch %ore liht u,on our aily course

than others! such as the :ife of Saint 'heresa! $hich is %ost a%irable! the first =esuits!

Saint 4harles orro%eo! Archbisho, of ;ilan! S& :ouis! S& ernar! S& Francis! an

such li*e& thers are %ore the subects of our a%irin $oner than of i%itation! suchas S& ;ary of Ey,t! S& Si%eon Stylites! S& 4atherine of enoa! an S& 4atherine of

Sienna! S& Anela! etc&! althouh these shoul ten to *inle a reat lo+e of o in our

hearts&

.88/ S& :u*e ii& 51&

40AP'ER """& 0o$ to recei+e "ns,irations&

ins,irations " %ean all ra$ins! feelins! interior re,roaches! lihts an intuitions!$ith $hich o %o+es us! ,re+entin our hearts by 0is Fatherly lo+e an care! an

a$a*enin! e3citin! urin! an attractin the% to ooness! to 0ea+enly lo+e! to oo

resolutions! in short! to $hate+er tens to our eternal $elfare& 'his it is of $hich $e

rea in the 4anticles! $hen the rieroo% *noc*s at the oor! a$a*ens 0is belo+e!

calls u,on her! see*s her! bis her eat of 0is honey! ather the fruit an flo$ers of 0is

aren! an let 0i% hear her +oice! $hich is s$eet to 0i%& .85/

:et %e %a*e use of an illustration of %y %eanin& "n contractin a %arriae! the brie

%ust be a ,arty to three se,arate acts first! the brieroo% is ,ro,ose to her seconly!

she entertains the ,ro,osal an thirly! she i+es her consent& =ust so $hen o intens

to ,erfor% so%e act of lo+e in us! by us! an $ith us 0e first suests it by 0is

ins,iration seconly! $e recei+e that ins,iration an thirly! $e consent to it for! li*e

as $e fall into sin by three ste,s! te%,tation! electation! an consent! so there are three

ste,s $hereby $e ascen to +irtue ins,iration! as o,,ose to te%,tation electation in

o9s ins,iration! as o,,ose to that of te%,tation an consent to the one instea of to

the other& s$are in ;y $rath that they

shoul not enter into ;y rest&> .86/ An (to recur to %y first illustration) one $ho has

lon been e+ote to his lay-lo+e! $oul feel reatly inure if! after all! she $oul notconsent to the alliance he see*s&

'he eliht $e ta*e in o9s ins,irations is an i%,ortant ste, aine to$ars 0is lory!

an $e bein at once to ,lease 0i% thereby for althouh such electation is not the

sa%e thin as a full consent! it sho$s a stron tenency thereto an if it is a oo an

,rofitable sin $hen $e ta*e ,leasure in hearin o9s ;y soul

%elte $ithin %e $hen %y elo+e s,a*e&> .87/ An so! too! the earthly lo+er is $ell

satisfie $hen he sees that his lay-lo+e fins ,leasure in his attentions&

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ut! after all! consent only ,erfects the oo action for if $e are ins,ire of o! an

ta*e ,leasure in that ins,iration! an yet! ne+ertheless! refuse our consent to 0is

ins,iration! $e are actin a +ery conte%,tuous! offensi+e ,art to$ars 0i%& $asone&> .8B/ An the earthly lo+er! $ho ha lon souht a lay! an see%e acce,table to

her! $oul ha+e the %ore roun for co%,laint if at last he $as s,urne an is%isse!

than if he ha ne+er been fa+ourably recei+e&

Do you! %y auhter! resol+e to acce,t $hate+er ins,irations o %ay +ouchsafe you!

heartily an $hen they offer the%sel+es! recei+e the% as the a%bassaors of your

0ea+enly Gin! see*in alliance $ith you& 0ear*en ently to their ,ro,ositions! foster

the lo+e $ith $hich you are ins,ire! an cherish the holy uest& i+e your consent!

an let it be a full! lo+in! stefast consent to 0is holy ins,irations for! so oin! o

$ill rec*on your affection as a fa+our! althouh truly $e can confer none u,on 0i%&

ut! before consentin to ins,irations $hich ha+e res,ect to i%,ortant or e3traorinarythins! uar aainst self-ece,tion! by consultin your s,iritual uie! an let hi%

e3a%ine $hether the ins,iration be real or no an that the rather! because $hen the

ene%y sees a soul reay to hear*en to ins,irations! he is $ont to set false elusions in

the $ay to ecei+e it!--a snare you $ill not fall into so lon as you hu%bly obey your

uie&

4onsent once i+en! you %ust carefully see* to ,rouce the intene results! an carry

out the ins,iration! the cro$n of true +irtue for to i+e consent! $ithout ,roucin the

result thereof! $ere li*e ,lantin a +ine $ithout %eanin it to bear fruit& All this $ill be

reatly ,ro%ote by careful attention to your %ornin e3ercises! an the s,iritual

retire%ent alreay %entione! because therein you learn to carry eneral ,rinci,les to a

s,ecial a,,lication&

.85/ 4ant& +& +ii& ii&

.86/ Ps& 3c+& 1! 11&

.87/ "n the Enlish +ersion this ,assae is! >;y soul faile $hen he s,a*e&> (4ant& & 6&)

ut in the ulate it is in the far %ore e3,ressi+e for% #uote by S& Francis e Sales!

>Ani%a %ea li#uefacta est! ut locutus est&>

.8B/ 4ant& +& 6&

40AP'ER "& n 4onfession&

CR Sa+iour has be#ueathe the Sacra%ent of Penitence an 4onfession to 0is

4hurch! .8H/ in orer that therein $e %ay be cleanse fro% all our sins! ho$e+er an

$hene+er $e %ay ha+e been soile thereby& 'herefore! %y chil! ne+er allo$ your heart

to abie hea+y $ith sin! seein that there is so sure an safe a re%ey at han& "f the

lioness has been in the neihbourhoo of other beasts she hastens to $ash a$ay their

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scent! lest it shoul be is,leasin to her lor an so the soul $hich has e+er so little

consente to sin! ouht to abhor itself an %a*e haste to see* ,urification! out of res,ect

to 0is Di+ine aIe


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a $ie ifference bet$een a ,assin act of +anity $hich is o+er in a #uarter of an hour!

an one $hich fills the heart for one or %ore ays& So you %ust %ention the fact! the

%oti+e an the uration of your faults& "t is true that $e are not boun to be so ,recise in

confessin +enial sins! or e+en! technically s,ea*in! to confess the% at all but all $ho

ai% at ,urifyin their souls in orer to attain a really e+out life! $ill be careful to sho$all their s,iritual %alaies! ho$e+er sliht! to their s,iritual ,hysician! in orer to be

heale&

Do not s,are yourself in tellin $hate+er is necessary to e3,lain the nature of your fault!

as! for instance! the reason $hy you lost your te%,er! or $hy you encourae another in

$ron-oin& 'hus! so%e one $ho% " isli*e says a chance $or in o*e! " ta*e it ill!

an ,ut %yself in a ,assion& "f one " li*e ha sai a stroner thin " shoul not ha+e

ta*en it a%iss so in confession! " ouht to say that " lost %y te%,er $ith a ,erson! not

because of the $ors s,o*en so %uch as because " isli*e the s,ea*er an if in orer

to e3,lain yourself clearly it is necessary to ,articulariIe the $ors! it is $ell to o so

because accusin one9s self thus si%,ly one isco+ers not %erely one9s actual sins! butone9s ba habits! inclinations an $ays! an the other roots of sin! by $hich %eans one9s

s,iritual Father ac#uires a fuller *no$lee of the heart he is ealin $ith! an *no$s

better $hat re%eies to a,,ly& ut you %ust al$ays a+oi e3,osin any one $ho has

borne any ,art in your sin as far as ,ossible& Gee, $atch o+er a +ariety of sins! $hich

are a,t to s,rin u, an flourish! often insensibly! in the conscience! so that you %ay

confess the% an ,ut the% a$ay an $ith this +ie$ rea 4ha,ters "&! ""&!

"""&! "&! & an "& of Part """&! an 4ha,ter ""& of Part "&!

attenti+ely&

Do not lihtly chane your 4onfessor! but ha+in chosen hi%! be reular in i+in

account of your conscience to hi% at the a,,ointe seasons! tellin hi% your faults

si%,ly an fran*ly! an fro% ti%e to ti%e--say e+ery %onth or e+ery t$o %onths! sho$

hi% the eneral state of your inclinations! althouh there be nothin $ron in the% as!

for instance! $hether you are e,resse an an3ious! or cheerful! esirous of

a+ance%ent! or %oney! an the li*e&

.8H/ S& ;att& 3+i& 1H! 3+iii& 1B S& =ohn 33& 2&

40AP'ER & f Fre#uent 4o%%union&

"' is sai that ;ithriates! Gin of Pontus! $ho in+ente the ,oison calle after hi%!

%ithriate! so thorouhly i%,renate his syste% $ith it! that $hen e+entually he trie

to ,oison hi%self to a+oi beco%in the Ro%ans9 sla+e! he ne+er coul succee& 'he

Sa+iour institute the %ost holy Sacra%ent of the Eucharist! really containin 0is oy

an 0is loo! in orer that they $ho eat it %iht li+e for e+er& An therefore

$hosoe+er recei+es it fre#uently an e+outly! so strenthens the health an life of his

soul! that it is harly ,ossible for hi% to be ,oisone by any e+il esires&


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fruits! such as cherries! a,ricots! an stra$berries! can be *e,t all the year by bein

,reser+e in suar or honey so $hat $oner i

Documents

Francois de Sales Philotea - Introduction to the Devout Life