CHAPTER II.

ON DISCRETION AND PURITY OF INTENTION.

THE illustrious virgin and martyr Agnes, appearing to St. Bridget, said to her, “My daughter, be stead fast; and neither draw back, nor advance beyond what is fitting. Thou shouldst not afflict thyself be yond thy strength, nor imitate others in good works above thy nature; for God has decreed from all eternity to open heaven to sinners by works of humility and love, and He wills that measure and discretion be observed in all things. But the devil in his envy often persuades an imperfect man to fast beyond his strength, or to take up exercises that he cannot bear, or to aim at what is too high for him. The crafty enemy does this in order that the man, continuing only through shame what he foolishly under took, may the more quickly fail through weakness. Thou shouldst measure thyself in this matter according to thy strength or thy weakness; because some are by nature stronger, and others weaker, some are more fervent by the grace of God, others more diligent by habit.

“Rule thyself, and order thy life, according to the advice of those who fear God, and desire not to seem 219what thou art not, nor seek anxiously what is above thy strength. There are some who believe they will obtain heaven entirely by their own merits; and some who think they can by their own works adequately satisfy for the sins they have committed. But these are damnable errors; for if a man were to give up his body to death a hundred times, he could not answer to God for one in a thousand.” Thus spoke the blessed Agnes.

Christ said several times to St. Bridget, that satisfaction should be made by all our members, as they have all assented to sin. Let a man, therefore, with all diligence and humility correct himself, and neglect not to make all possible satisfaction to God (who, for a moderate penance rightly performed with good-will here, remits grievous punishments in the next world), restraining, for the love of God, his eyes from beholding evil and vanity, his ears from hearing hurtful and foolish things, his tongue from evil and idle words, his heart from pernicious and foolish thoughts and wicked desires, and his whole body from all that contaminates the mind. Let him abstain not only from unlawful things, but also with prudence from some things that are lawful. Let him studiously mortify in himself his own will and his vices; let him patiently bear all adversity, and devote himself to good works, to virtue and holy exercises. Let him, how ever, always trust rather in the satisfaction and merits of Jesus Christ than in his own works and merits; for one little drop of the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus is of more value than all human merits.

Christ spoke thus to the blessed Bridget: “Abstinence and continence, however slight, discreetly undertaken, and observed for My love and honour, will deserve from Me a great reward.” And, assuredly, he who for the love of God prudently restrains himself, so that he sees, hears, smells, tastes, speaks, and touches nothing that is not necessary or useful, and who discreetly strives to overcome his own will and sensuality even in the least things, does what is more pleasing to God, than if he recalled many dead persons to life. Hence the Fathers say as follows: “If two men, passing the same way, find a beautiful flower, and one of them wishes, indeed, to gather it, but, thinking better of it, leaves it for God’s sake; and the other, without reflection, gathers the flower; the latter by gathering it in simplicity sins not, but the former by leaving the same flower for God’s sake gains as much merit over him who gathers it as there is distance between heaven and earth. If, however, he who gathers the flower gathers it purely to the, praise of God, he also acquires great merit.” In the same way. he who fittingly abstains from food for God’s sake is greatly pleasing to God, and he who fittingly eats to the honour of God, is also pleasing to God.

The blessed Gertrude heard from our Lord that she showed her exceeding love of Him when she offered in His praise all her thoughts, words, looks, and actions. She understood, also, that, as often as anyone looks with devout intention on the image of Christ crucified, so often is he lovingly regarded by the most gracious mercy of God; and hence his soul, like a clear 221mirror, receives in itself from the divine love a most joyful image, which causes rejoicing in the whole court of heaven. And this will be to his eternal glory. She understood, also, that, if a person even lifts a straw from the ground, or takes one step for the honour and love of God, it is pleasing to God, and worthy of reward.

When the same virgin, St. Gertrude, once complained that she could not feel as much desire of God as she ought, she was divinely taught that it was amply sufficient in the sight of God, if a man wished to have a great desire, though he might feel little or no desire within himself; because he has before God as great a desire as he wishes to have, and God dwells in the heart containing such a desire (that is to say, the will to Lave the desire) more gladly than a man could dwell amid fresh and pleasant flowers.

Our Lord very often revealed to His most dear spouses, Gertrude, Bridget, Mechtildis, and Catherine, how acceptable it is to Him, and how profitable to man, to contemplate the Passion of Christ with pious, humble, and sincere attention and devotion, which they themselves were always most diligent in doing. For they engraved so deeply on their inmost hearts the Passion of the Lord Jesus, (which, though it was most bitter and cruel, is yet all full of the sweetness of love), and were accustomed to meditate upon it with such ardent and sweet affection, that it was to them honey to the taste, harmony to the ear, and joy to the heart.

The holy virgin Elizabeth of Spalbeeck also was 222accustomed daily to contemplate the Passion of our Lord with immense devotion. Whence the stigmata of His five Wounds were truly imprinted by Christ on her hands and feet, and her side, so that blood often copiously flowed from them, as if from recent wounds, more especially on Fridays. And this most pure virgin was seven times a day so rapt in God that no feeling, movement, or breath were perceptible in her: for her whole body became stiff, and no part of it could be moved without moving the whole. Let us, in imitation of these virgins, engrave on our hearts the Passion of the Lord Jesus, and sedulously give thanks for it.

Our Lord once instructed the blessed Gertrude by this simile: “Even as a powerful Emperor not only is pleased to have in his palace gentle and accomplished maidens, but also appoints and ordains princes, generals, and soldiers, and other ministers fitted for various labours, who may be always ready to attend to his affairs; so I also not only delight in the interior joys of those who, following My guidance, seek the quiet of divine contemplation, but I am, moreover, attracted to remain with the sons of men, when they undertake any useful work for My love and honour.”

Therefore, pure and frequent prayer does, indeed, greatly adorn the soul of him who has leisure to pray continually, and who has the grace of prayer: (for what is more honourable than to converse assiduously with the Heavenly King?) but, nevertheless, exterior works, rightly performed for God’s sake, also confer great grace on the faithful soul.