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.”

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September 21

St. Matthew, Apostle

Preparation. - “You are My friends,” says the Saviour, “if you do the things I command you” (John 15. 14). St. Matthew proved his fidelity to Jesus, first, by obeying Him with docility, and secondly, by his love of virginity. Let us examine in a particular manner if we promptly submit, like him, to the orders of the divine Master, if we ardently follow in all things all the well-known wishes of those who direct us in His name. “You are My friends, if you do the things that I command you.”

I. St. Matthew’s Obedience

Let us admire this publican, this tax-gatherer for the Romans, a profession most hateful to the Jews. He was sitting in his office when Jesus passed by. Looking at him with an eye of mercy, our Saviour said to him: “Follow Me.” At once, without delay, Matthew arose and followed Him. How prompt was his obedience! He deliberates not, asks not for a delay, requires no miracles. Neither his business and wealth, nor his relatives can prevent his immediate obedience.

He was, without doubt, deeply moved by an interior light, a secret grace. But how often are not we also enlightened and urged to yield to the inspirations of God! At one time, He reproaches us with some fault, with a want of discretion, of reserve, patience, meekness or affability; at another, He demands of us the sacrifice of some defect, of some idle words, of some conversation hurtful to our neighbor and to ourselves; and we refuse to heed His voice. St. Matthew had to break off with self-love to defy human respect and to give up all hopes of wealth. We have not such great obstacles to overcome, and yet how far are we from being as perfectly docile as he!

After the descent of the Holy Ghost, our saint, ever ready to yield to divine guidance, left Judea, directed by the Holy Ghost, passed through Egypt into Ethiopia, where he preached the faith, surmounting all hardships in order to accomplish his divine mission. In like manner nothing in the world should deter us from fulfilling our duty, from doing the will of God.

O my sovereign Lord, how often I allow myself to be deterred by feelings of tediousness, disgust and repugnance from executing Thy designs, obeying my superiors, following Thy lights and attractions, preferring thereby my despicable will to Thy adorable precepts! Through the merits of Jesus, Mary and St. Matthew, enable me to overcome my resistance, to stifle my complaints and murmurs, and lovingly to embrace the sacrifices and duties imposed by obedience. I will in future frequently recall the example of Jesus submitting to His executioners to be crucified. This motive will urge me to seek to unite my soul with Thee in the complete renunciation of my self-will. “You are my friends, if you do the things I command you.”

II. St. Matthew’s Love Of Virginity

Clement of Alexandria says of this apostle that he was very much addicted to contemplation, led an austere life, and lived only on herbs, roots and wild fruits. By these efficacious means he preserved his chastity intact. But, not content with practicing it himself, he strongly recommended it to others. Having converted the royal family of Ethiopia, he persuaded one of the princesses, named Iphigenia, to embrace virginity, and he placed her at the head of a community of virgins. To strengthen the faithful in the faith and in the purity of morals, he underwent many sufferings and hardships, ordained priests, instituted bishops, overthrew idols and turned temples into churches.

His love of chastity was strikingly manifested, when the new king wished to marry Iphigenia. He firmly opposed his pretensions, and spoke clearly and forcibly to the monarch on the excellence of virginity, on the precious graces of which it is the source, and the eternal rewards that will crown it in the next life. His discourse cost him his life, for he was soon after massacred whilst offering the holy sacrifice. O truly apostolic zeal, which made this fervent disciple of Jesus “the victim of virginity,” as St. Hippolytus calls him.

Let us learn from this to prefer enduring every torment than to have the misfortune of forfeiting the angelic virtue, a virtue so delicate and so often endangered. Let us protect it in us with the hedge of mortification of the body and the senses, especially those of sight and feeling. Let us be firmly determined to do violence to ourselves, to remain unmoved in temptation, relying on prayer, and on the divine assistance, which is never wanting to those who pray. Where is he who after persevering in prayer and resisting. failed to gain the victory? And the victory, the greater the efforts it has cost, the more worthy will it be of reward in the sight of God.

O glorious St. Matthew, inflamed with zeal, especially for chastity, deign to obtain for me the love of this virtue. Inspire me with the resolution, first, to keep my body and my soul pure by mortifying my senses; and secondly, to strengthen my mind and heart beforehand against temptations, by recalling the truths of faith, and having frequent recourse to Jesus and Mary.

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