September 22

The Desire Of Perfection

Preparation. - We cannot sanctify ourselves like St. Matthew and the other saints without a lively desire of perfection. Wherefore we shall meditate, first, on the necessity of such desires that we may be united to God, and secondly, how we can awaken and increase them in us. We shall strive, by this meditation, to renew the spirit of fervor which usually animates us after our retreats, for “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice” (Mat. 5. 6).

I. The Necessity Of Desiring Perfection

Why are the desires of perfection necessary for holiness? Because to become holy, it behooves us to ask, seek and knock, as our divine Saviour expressly declares. To ask shows that we desire the thing we ask for. To seek is to go on the road of virtues and good works, a thing which the slothful and indifferent will not do. To knock requires perseverance in asking, or praying, and seeking; a thing of which the indifferent are incapable.

Holiness, says our Lord, is required by doing violence to ourselves, by overcoming our defects and our passions, and resisting temptations. It behooves us to enter heaven by the narrow gate of mortification, obedience, patience, self-denial and devotedness. To fulfill these conditions presupposes an intense desire of sanctification.

Who, without such a desire, will obtain from God the graces requisite for such a perfection? The Lord fills with His goods only those who hunger and thirst after them. He heard the prayer of Daniel, because he was “a man of desires” (Dan. 9. 23). He gives His love, says St. Teresa, to those only who have long and intensely wished for it.

Whence comes it that we so little desire it? When there is question of making a sacrifice, we hesitate. Nevertheless we are always most eager to satisfy ourselves, to gratify our curiosity, our vanity, our self-love, our sensuality. The work, however arduous it may be, does not cost us anything, provided it is agreeable to us. But when we are called upon to give up our views, our projects, our will, everything becomes difficult, if it does not suit our interests. But what more precious interest can there be for us, than to be united to Jesus?

O my God, holy desires are the wings that help us to fly to Thee. Remove from me the glue of earthly affections which make my heart a stranger to Thy love. I will henceforth devote myself to my sanctification as ardently as business men strive to get rich, as the farmer works to reap an abundant harvest, as the soldier exerts himself to reap glory in his career. Fill me with the most intense longing to acquire the virtues, to reap merits and to conquer the immortal crown of the elect.

II. How We Can Increase Our Desires For Our Sanctification

That we may increase our holy desires, it behooves us to read, meditate and pray. As the history of military exploits excites the emulation of soldiers, in like manner, the reading of the lives of the saints inflames generous hearts with the noble ambition to imitate them. For there is nothing so beautiful and so enrapturing as virtue, especially when we see it practiced even to heroism by men in every state of life, such as monarchs, bishops, enlightened and illustrious doctors, simple religious and simple laymen.

We ought, moreover, often to consider the advantages of real holiness. In the first place, it enable us to participate not only in the greatness of angels and saints, but also in that of God Himself. Secondly, it gives us control over all our passions, strength to trample under foot worldly vanities and the temptations of the devil, and imparts to us a certain influence over the heart of the Almighty, who refuses nothing to our prayers. Thirdly, let us add to all this, the spiritual lights, gifts and riches, of which it is the source, and we shall acknowledge that there is nothing here below that is so worthy of our aspirations and our efforts.

Moreover, have we not a natural longing for happiness? And what great and deep happiness can we enjoy in this life, that bears any comparison with a peaceful conscience? “O how great is the multitude of Thy sweetness, O Lord,” exclaims David, “which Thou hast wrought for them that hope in Thee!” (Ps. 30. 20). “Better is one day in Thy courts above thousands” (Ps. 83. 11). O how greatly should these motives inflame us with the desire of attaining the most solid holiness!

Let us often beseech Jesus for detachment from all created goods. When a plant comes out of the ground, it immediately rises towards heaven. Thus will it be with our hearts; when disengaging themselves from earthly desires, they will ardently long for heavenly goods. Worldlings yearn after dignities, wealth, transitory pleasures, because they fail to ask of God the understanding of the mysteries of grace and of the eternal treasures. Let us never cease praying for light to show us the real goods, and we shall ardently long for them.

O Jesus, O Mary, enable me to appreciate the superiority of grace over nature, which is, as it were, infinite, and then I shall cease being careless and indifferent in seeking after perfection. The devil is extremely anxious for my ruin, and my desire for my sanctification and salvation is so weak. Deign, then, to inspire me with the sincere will, first, often to read the lives of the saints that I may learn to imitate them; secondly, daily to meditate on the truths of salvation and the beauty of the virtues; and thirdly, to pray unceasingly, so as to increase more and more in my heart the hunger and thirst after justice, or holiness. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled.”