October 21

St. Ursula

Preparation. - “O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory,” says the Holy Ghost (Wisd. 4. 1). We shall consider tomorrow, first, St. Ursula’s love of virginity, and secondly, the means we should use, after her example, to preserve perfect chastity. We shall, besides, resolve to shun idleness, to mortify our eyes and to watch carefully over our affections, in order to remain always pure and pleasing to God. “O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory!”

I. How St. Ursula Loved Virginity

Ursula was born in Scotland, where her father was king. Endowed with great beauty and all the advantages of fortune, she preferred the Spouse of virgins to all the suitors for her hand, however desirable in a worldly point of view, for she early understood how greatly the state of virginity raises the soul above the world and the senses, and facilitates union with God. For virgins, being free from the requirements of a dangerous world, are easily detached therefrom and turn all their affections to the supreme Good. Thus they find time to devote to mental prayer, to the frequentation of the sacraments, and to the performance of works that agree with their innocence and increase its splendor.

Being compelled to embark with a great number of virgins, Ursula and her companions were captured by the Huns and gave up their lives to preserve their virginity. Happy is he who, like them, understands the glory and happiness of remaining faithful to Jesus! Their triumphant souls flew to heaven to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.”

“O how beautiful,” says the Holy Ghost, “is the chaste generation with glory!” Ursula joined to purity a profound humility, continual recollection and mental prayer, and an entire mortification of herself, which facilitated for her the preservation of her virginity.

Let us fathom our heart and examine, first, whether we sincerely esteem and love chastity, and whether sensual pleasures do not still allure us, because of our neglecting to meditate on the reasons wherefore we should be detached therefrom; and secondly, whether we guard in ourselves the lily of purity, as St. Ursula did, by means of mistrust of self, of flight form the world, of prayer and renouncing all sensual gratifications.

O my God, enable me to appreciate the beauty of chastity, which makes us like the angelic spirits, whilst the contrary vice lowers us to the level of brutes and demons. Impart to me an efficacious desire to diminish my concupiscence and to conquer every temptation. Make me truly humble in Thy sight. Grant that I may relish mental prayer, so that I may always be reminded of the eternal truths and the necessity of salvation. Enable me to avoid danger, to practice temperance, moderation and all the virtues that guard perfect chastity.

II. The Means Of Preserving Chastity

The first means is to flee idleness. It was, says the prophet (Ez. 16. 49), the cause of Sodom’s ruin, and, according to St. Bernard, the beginning of the fall of Solomon, the wisest of kings. “Idleness,” says the Holy Ghost, “hath taught much evil” (Eccli. 33. 29), and especially incontinence, whilst labor deadens the fire of the passions. “So act,” says St. Jerome, “that the devil may always find you busy, for his attacks will not have any influence over you.”

Secondly, we should abstain from looking at those persons, whose sight may inspire us with dangerous thoughts. How many cruel darts, says St. Bernard, enter the soul through the eyes to wound, and even kill her? A prolonged look at an evil object is like a spark of hell, ravaging and murdering the heart that consents to it.

Thirdly, we must carefully watch over our affections, especially when there is question of those who please us, and with whom we frequently come into contact. St. Bonaventure gives five signs to show that an affection, at first spiritual, has become carnal; first, we converse together too long and too frequently; secondly, when we reciprocally look at and praise each other; thirdly, when we mutually excuse each other’s faults; fourthly, when we show a little jealousy about each other; and finally, when absence from each other causes uneasiness.

Are we not attacked by that fatal evil which has ruined so many souls? Let us detach our heart from all creatures, that we may love God above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves with the intention of pleasing the uncreated Charity, for, says St. Thomas, God alone must be the motive of our love for our fellow-men.

O Jesus, the intercession of Thy holy Mother, of St. Ursula and her companions, inspires me with the love of work and prayer; help me to practice modesty of the eyes, and be Thou the sole object of all my thoughts, of all my desires, of all my love. Often recall to me, as an encouragement to combat faithfully, these words of St. Basil: “The virgins will have a distinguished place among the blessed; they will be more intimately united to God, and will sing in heaven a canticle of which they alone possess the secret.”