September 23

The Edifice Of Perfection

Preparation. - It is not enough to desire perfection, we must also, first, labor at it methodically, as is done in constructing a building, and secondly, to complete or perfect it by practicing perfect charity. Let us examine which virtues are wanting to us, that we may become a sanctuary worthy of God and agreeing with the divine Model of all perfection, Jesus Christ. “Be you also as living stones built up a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2. 5).

I. How To Construct Our Spiritual Edifice

Before building a house, a church, a palace, the ground is first cleared, the foundations are dug and filled with materials capable of making a solid basis for the building. In like manner, we must proceed with our spiritual edifice. We clear the ground by banishing from our heart worldly affections and human respect by means of the fear of God; we dig the foundation by means of humility, and faith fills it up with all the truths necessary for our progress. And then there remains only to put up the walls of our spiritual edifice by practicing the virtues.

But how should we cement and consolidate these virtues in us? By means of meditation, prayer and self-denial.

When meditating on the eternal truths and the mysteries of salvation, we shall be induced to pray or ask for the light and helps necessary for our sanctification. Prayer will obtain for us the graces that will enlighten concerning our defects, our evil inclinations and passions, which are directly opposed to the maxims of the Gospel. Being thereby enabled to understand how indispensable self-denial is to us, we shall feel urged to practice it, in order to establish in ourselves the virtues opposed to our vices.

Such is the method we ought to follow in constructing our spiritual edifice. Are we not, perhaps, building on the moving sand of levity, that is, the want of seriousness in our meditations and self-denial? Or have we not too good an opinion of ourselves, which causes us to enjoy present tranquility, without adverting to the future trials in store for us? This would be building on sand, as our Saviour calls it; and would prepare fatal ruins when the rain, the winds and the storms will come, that is, reverses, persecutions, interior combats raised up by hell and the world. Let us henceforth be more prudent, and construct to God a solid sanctuary within us, built on the rock, as our Lord says. And what is this rock, if not a profound humility, a lively faith in the truths revealed, a ceaseless mortification and continual mental prayer? In this manner, we shall be prepared for the struggles, employments, labors and sufferings, which may later on require of us consummate and, perhaps, heroic virtue. Woe to us, if, through our fault, we are not equal to our obligations and fit to resist all temptations and bear adversity.

O my God, the final tribulation of death, together with its preceding illness, should also induce me to fortify myself in Thy love by all the means within my reach. Grant me the grace often to meditate on Jesus crucified and His Blessed Mother at the foot of the cross. Thence I will draw out all the motives of striving unceasingly to sanctify myself solidly by means of reflection, prayer and constantly renouncing myself and all created objects. “Be ye also as living stones built up, a spiritual edifice.”

II. How To Complete Our Spiritual Edifice

A building is completed by its roof, which is, as it were, its crown. In like manner, our mystical edifice shall be completed by the roof of charity. This virtue, according to St. Paul, is not only “the bond of perfection” (Col. 3. 14), but also the completion or “fulness of the law” (Rom. 13. 10). It comprises the love of God and the love of the neighbor, which form but one and the same love, by which we love the Creator both in Himself and in souls, His images, or portraits. “And this commandment we have from God,” says the beloved disciple, “that he who loveth God, love also his brothers” (1 John 4. 21).

The world, says St. Dorotheus, is like a circle of which God is the centre and men are the radii. The nearer these approach the centre, the nearer they are to one another, that is, the more closely we are united to God, the more closely also are we united to our fellow-men by the bonds of true charity. Wherefore let us never separate in our heart the love of God and the love of our neighbor. “Thou needest two feet to walk,” said our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena, “and these two wings to fly to heaven.”

Are these our views concerning perfection? Do we faithfully keep this command of our divine Master: “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for those who persecute and calumniate you” (Mat. 5. 44). And if we are obliged to pray for the latter, how much more are we not bound to pray for our parents, relatives, benefactors, superiors and all who take an interest in us?

Let us examine whether we are not tainted with selfishness, always occupied with ourselves and never caring for others, not even in our spiritual exercises. Do we ever think of recommending to God the suffering, the tempted, those in danger of falling into the abyss of mortal sin? Are we not forgetful of sinners, of the dying, of the souls in purgatory? The Church militant and the Church suffering should be the objects of our solicitude and zeal.

O Jesus, in vain do I labor to build Thee a temple in my soul, unless Thou assistest me with Thy grace. Wherefore I rely on Thee and Thy holy Mother, to consolidate in me the different virtues, as Thou didst to the saints. Enable me, like them, to crown the virtues with a sincere love for Thee and for my neighbor.