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.

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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.”

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