CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE REFRESHMENT OF THE BODY.

ST. BRIDGET was sometimes vehemently tempted to gluttony. While she was praying, there appeared to her in spirit the devil and a good Angel, the one in the form of a hideous negro, the other in that of a beautiful youth. And, when the demon, taunting Bridget whom he was tempting, said to the Angel that she made use of dainty food, and led a life of little severity while she boasted of her abstinence, the Angel answered: “Christ the Lord considers not much what things any one eats, provided they be not forbidden, and be taken with a pure intention, that is, out of true love, with moderation and without in ordinate desire, Purple, and line linen, and delicacy of body exclude not from heaven, if humility and charity are also present. The habits of a refined education should sometimes be retained, with giving of thanks, lest the body be grievously weakened.”

The Blessed Augustine, speaking to God, saith: “I being exposed to temptations, strive daily against the concupiscence of eating and drinking. And who is there, Lord, who is not, at times, carried beyond the bounds of necessity? Whoever he is, he is great, and let him magnify Thy name: I am not he; for I am a sinful man. But I, also, heavenly Father, magnify Thy name; and may Thy only begotten Son, who overcame the world, intercede with Thee 256for my sins, numbering me among the weak members of His body.”

The virgin St. Gertrude understood by divine inspiration that it is most pleasing to God, and most beneficial to man, if a man says in his heart or with his voice such words as these, before his food, sleep, and other refreshment of the body; “Grant, O Lord, that I may take this food, or any other relief of the body, purely for the glory of Thy name, in union with that love with which Thou, made man, didst take similar refreshment on earth, to the praise of God the Father, and for the salvation of the whole human race.” Again, when the same spouse of Christ, Gertrude, in eating, piously reflected on these words, “May the virtue of Thy divine love, most sweet Jesus, incorporate me wholly into Thee;” and on these in drinking, “O most loving Jesus, pour into me, and preserve within me the energy of the divine love, which reigned supreme in Thy inmost Heart, so that it may penetrate all my substance, and evermore flow through every sense and faculty of my body and soul, to Thine eternal praise;” when, I say, she practised this devotion during her meals, she heard our Lord saying to her, “As often as any one shall think on these things in eating and drinking, so often will I confess that I have eaten and drunk with him, and that I have received from him a most grateful refreshment.”

When St. Bridget had made use of baths, by the advice and desire of her spiritual guide, Christ said to her, “The washing of the body is not hurtful to a 257pure soul, so that it be done with discretion, and without seeking for pleasure in it. Wherefore thou didst please Me better by obeying thy spiritual father against thy will, than if thou hadst followed thine own inclination. Many of My elect haw not made use of medicines for the body, and they were acceptable to Me. But others have applied remedies to themselves, having regard to the requirements of place, time, and maladies: and these have not displeased Me, because they did it for My honour, that they might better serve Me.”

St. Bridget heard in spirit the Blessed Virgin Mary say thus; “The friends of God may now and then, or at fixed times of the day. receive exterior consolation, uttering edifying words, and taking lawful and moderate recreation to the honour and praise of God. it the fist be kept always clenched, the nerves contract, and the hand is weakened: and the bow which is too far bent, is more easily broken. Therefore, on account of the weakness of the flesh, moderate rejoicing is pleasing to God.”

Christ also, prescribing to St. Bridget and her family. a mode of life somewhat like that of a religious order, allowed that, after the hours appointed for silence, prayer, and other spiritual exercises, they should freely converse among themselves of lawful and harmless things.