Of the examples of the holy fathers
CHAPTER 17
OF THE MONASTIC LIFE
You must leam to overcome yourself in many things, if you would have peace and concord with others.
It is no small thing to dwell with brethren in a monastery, and to live there without complaint, and to persevere faithfully even to death.
Blessed is he who shall have lived there well, and have made a happy end.
If you would persevere dutifully and make progress, look on yourself as an exile and a pilgrim upon earth.^
You must become a fool for Christ's sake,^ if you wish to lead the life of a religious.
2. The habit and the tonsure effect but little; but the moral change, and the entire mortification of the passions: these make a true religious.
He that seeks anything else but simply God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow.
And he who does not strive to be the least, and subject to all, cannot long remain in peace.
3. You have come to serve, not to govern. Know that your vocation is to suffer and to labour, not to pass your time in idleness or vain conversation.
Here, therefore, men are tried as gold in the furnace.
Here no man can abide, except he be ready with all his heart to humble himself for the love of God.
CHAPTER 18
OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE HOLY FATHERS
Look upon the lively examples of the holy Fathers, in whom shone real perfection and religion, and you will see how Uttle it is that we are doing, yes, almost nothing.
Alas, what is our life, if it be compared with theirs?
Saints and friends of Christ, they served our Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in labour and weariness, in watchings and fastings, in prayers and holy meditations, in frequent persecutions and reproaches.'
1 1 Peter il, 11.
« 1 CorintMans iv, 10.
•2 Corinthians xi, 26. 27.
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book I 2. O how many and grievous tribulations did the Apostles suffer, and the Martyrs, and Confessors, and Virgins, and all the rest who resolved to follow the steps of Christ!
For they hated their lives in this world, that they might keep them to life eternal/ O what a strict and self-renouncing life the holy Fathers of the desert led! what long and grievous temptations they bore! how often were they harassed by the enemy! what frequent and fervent prayers they offered to God! what rigorous abstinence they practised! how great was their zeal and fervour for spiritual progress! what a vahant contest they fought to overcome their faults! how pure and upright an intention they kept towards God!
By day they laboured, and in the night they gave themselves to long prayers; although, even while they laboured, they ceased not from mental prayer.
3. They spent all their time profitably; every hour seemed short which they spent with God; and even their necessary bodily nourishment was forgotten in the great sweetness of contemplation.
They renounced all riches, dignities, honours, friends, and kindred; they desired to have nothing of this world; they hardly took what was necessary for life; it grieved them to serve the body even in its necessities.
Accordingly, they were poor in earthly things, but very rich in grace and virtues.
Outwardly they suffered want, but within they were refreshed with grace and divine consolation.
4. They were aliens to the world; but they were the very near and familiar friends of God.
To themselves they seemed as nothing, and the world despised them; but they were precious and beloved in the eyes of God.
They persevered in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in charity and patience; and so every day they advanced in spirit, and gained great favour with God.
They were given for an example to all reUgious; and they ought more to excite us to advance in good, than should the number of the lukewarm make us grow lax.
5. O how great was the fervour of all reUgious in the beginning of their holy institute!
How great was their devotion in prayer! how great their zeal for virtue! how strong the disciphne that was observed! what reverence and obedience, under the rule of the superior, flourished in all! iJohn xii, 25.