v
ITTLE VIRTUES
Ico in
A LITTLE TREATISE
ON
THE LITTLE VIRTUES
WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN ITALIAN,
BY FATHER ROBERT I,
OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS. TO WHICH AHE ADDED
A LETTEE COT EEEVOE,
BY FATHER VALLOIS, S. J.
AND
MAXIMS
FROM AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT OF
FATHER SEGNERI, S. J.
ALSO,
DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
NEW YORK: THE CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY
126 NASSAU STREET.
PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROBATION OP THE ARCHBISHOP OF BALTIMORE.
TO
Cdjjmiu |l
RELIGIOUS IX THE CONVENT
OF ST. BENEDICT,
IN PADUA,
BY HER UNCLE,
FATHER ROBERTI, S. J.
TO THE HEADER.
TILE Author of the little work now offered to the public, is very well known in Italy by his ascetic writings., and deserves to be universally so, as those who read his " Littlo Treatise on the Little Virtues" will readily admit. The ABBE EOBEETI, gifted with great refinement of mind and delicacy of feeling, has succeeded in giving to a subject which, at the first glance, may appear dry, a singular interest and unspeakable charm, by the graces of his style and beauty of his language.
To benefit, in a spiritual way, the numerous religious communities spread, happily, through our own and other countries, is the only motive which has engaged us to publish this little work ; for it seemed that we could put nothing more useful or consoling into the hands of persons who live together in one house, and are united under one rule.
Yet its usefulness is not confined to commu nities alone; for, though it is written for a young religious, it suits equally well all ages and all conditions of society.
CONTENTS.
SHORT MEMOIR OP THE ABBE ROBERT: 9
A LITTLE TREATISE ON THE LITTLE VIRTUES.. 11 A LETTER WRITTEN TO A RELIGIOUS PERSON DURING HER ANNUAL RETREAT — by Father Yallois :
On Fervor 69
MAXIMS : from an unpublished Manuscript of
Father Segneri, S. J 07
DEVOTIONS IN HONOR OP THE SACRED HEART
OF JESUS 102
First Office — Promoter 100
Second " — Repairer Ill
Third " —Adorer 113
Fourth '•' — Loving Servant 113
Fifth " —Disciple 117
Sixth " —Victim 119
Seventh" —Faithful Servant 121
Eighth " —Suppliant 123
Ninth " — Zealous 125
A Prayer to be said daily by all the
members 127
Prayer to the B. V. Mary „.. 128
An Act of Atonement 129
CONTENTS.
An Act of Consecration 132
Acts of Adoration 134
Indulgences 145
Notes 154
Prayers 155
A daily offering I63
Prayer to the B. Sacrament, and to the
S. Heart 1G3
An Act of Consecration 164
An Act of Reparation 165
Aspirations to the S. Heart 167
The Prayer of St. Gertrude 163
Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.. Ill
General Practices l^2
The week Sanctified 1^3
CERTIFICATE OF ADMISSION into the Confrater nity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.... 181
SHORT MEMOIR
OF THE
ABBE HOBEKTI.
JOHN BAPTIST ROBERTI was born on tho 4th of March, 1719, at Bassano, of a pa trician family. His parents sent him, when very young, to Padua, to be formed to virtue and learning in the school of the Jesuits, whose success in the education of youth is so universally acknowledged. His studies being ended, he demanded and ob tained admission into the Society. After his noviciate, he was destined to the em ployment of teaching, and held, successively, a professor's chair with distinction at Pla- cenza, Brescia, Parma, and Bologna; but it was in this last town that he acquired the greatest celebrity. During eighteen years
that he filled the chair of philosophy, his 9
10 MEMOIR OF ABBE ROBERT!.
lectures were attended every day by a nu merous auditory, who pressed round him with eagerness to receive the lessons of wisdom which fell from his lips. His lec tures were interrupted in 1773 by the sup pression of his Order, to which he was strongly attached. The necessity of sepa rating from his religious brethren afflicted him profoundly. He returned into the bosom of his family, where he continued to devote himself to study, and the practice of the duties of his state. Enjoying the affections of his relatives, and the esteem of his fellow-citizens, he died at the age of sixty-eight, carrying with him the blessings and regrets of the poor and afflict ed, to whom he had been a father. The last words which he addressed to his nephew were these: "Remember that every thin« is vanity in this world."
FATHER ROBERTI has left a great number of moral and religious works.
A LITTLE TREATISE
ON
THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
I.
in the course of the last year, you made to God the entire and public consecration of yourself, I published, on the solemnity of which you were the object, the eulogium of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, with 1 £ a Letter on Happiness . ' ' Now that you are about to consummate your sacrifice by the holy vows, I will not remain an idle spectator, satisfied with interiorly participating in your joy, but giving no outward expres sion to my feelings : I will not as cend to the temple with empty hands. I offer you on this day, another 11
12 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
little ascetic work, containing a panegyric of St. Francis de Sales, with some observations on the Little Virtues.*
This gift is not unconnected with the former ; and let us hope, that in heaven, St. Jane Frances will ap preciate it, and that she will rejoice to see you, her devoted servant, be come better acquainted with her Master and Father. As in the pane gyric of St. Francis de Sales, and still more in the works of the holy bishop, you will often find the " Lit tle Virtues" mentioned, and their practice most warmly recommended, I think it may be of use to give you, in a few words, a definition of them, and trace the true and simple charac ter of those virtues, the continual practice of which is so suitable and
* The translator, encouraged by the success of this treatise, will in a short timo publish tho Letter and Panegyric here alluded to.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 13
BO necessary in the religious state which you are about to embrace.
II.
And first, what are these Little Virtues ? They are numberless ; but I will give you an abridged enume ration of them, — certain indulgences, forgiving the faults of others, though we are not sure of the same pardon for ourselves ; a certain dissimulation, which seems not to observe the most glaring defects — quite opposed, as you may perceive, to the unenviable merit of discovering those that were hidden ; a certain sympathy, which appropriates the pains of the unhappy to lessen them ; and a certain gaiety, which adopts the joys of the happy to increase them ; a certain supple ness of mind, which embraces with out hesitation all that is judicious in
14 TEE LITTLE VIRTUES.
the ideas of a companion, though the same did not occur to us, and which in consequence applauds his discov eries without envy ; a certain solici tude, which forsees the wants of others, to spare them the pain of feeling them, and the humiliation of asking for assistance ; a certain liber ality of heart, ever ready to do all that it possibly can to oblige, and even when it does but little, would willingly do a great deal ; a certain tranquil affability, which listens to the importunate without apparent ennui, and instructs the ignorant and stupid without any painful reproaches; a certain urbanity, which in discharg ing the duties of politeness exhibits, not the graceful dissimulation of the world, but a truly Christian cordial ity. All these things, and many others of the same kind, belong to the exercise of the virtues I wish to define. In a word, affability, con-
THE LITTLE VIKTUES. 15
descension, simplicity, gentleness, sweetness of looks and actions, sweet ness in words and manners, — such are the precious virtues on which my heart impels me to write a little Treatise for your instruction, as well as for my own advantage.
III.
I observe, then, in the first place, that the " Little Virtues" are social virtues, that is to say, extremely use ful to all those who live in the society of reasonable creatures. They would be superfluous in the recluse, whose only companions are the savage beast and the wild bird of the woods. Preach to him of fasting, mortifica tion of the flesh, recollection, con templation, it is all he requires ; but for other solitaries it is not so. Wherever there are cloisters and
16 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
cells, whose silence must be inter rupted by some words, let them be as brief and as rare as you please ; wherever there is a kitchen to prepare food, an oven to make bread, a com mon work-room — in short, wherever there is an interchange of necessary services, and consequent words and signs, all these virtues find their place. It is certain that without them, this little world we live in cannot be well governed, and that the members who compose it must be in disorder and inevitable desolation. Without them, domestic peace is lost — that first of comforts, amidst the sorrows and calamities sown so thick in this dark valley of our pilgrimage. Oh ! how miserable is the dwelling in which their exercise is neglected ! — parents and children, brothers and sisters, masters and servants, all in discord. Without love for the Little Virtues, how will it be possible for
THE LITTLE VIRTUES, 17
two or three women to live under the same roof, but in perpetual warfare ? If it were not profane to cite a comedy, (and who will deny that a comedy may be rational, or that truth may be taught with a smiling face,) I would tell you that a distinguished author, who yet lives, introduces on the scene a mother and her daughter- in-law ; the former, of an ancient family, who brought to her husband nobility without wealth ; the latter, whose family was of more recent date, brought to her husband great wealth, but not nobility. As they are both quarrelsome and ill-tem pered, they fail in cementing even the slightest link of friendship, and the conclusion of the piece is their separation ; one being to live on the upper story, and the other on the lower floor of the house, with this precaution, carefully to avoid all salutations, or even meetings, as
18 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
tilings too dangerous to their do mestic peace.
When going through the streets of the town, I pass by certain man sions, where I know the minds of all the inmates to be in tumult from in ternal dissensions, I feel a longing desire to affix an inscription on their porticos : already I write it, and en grave it on my soul : an inscription never to be effaced, and to be read by all whenever they enter or go out of the house. It is taken from St. Paul, and is comprised in two words : supportantes invicem — bear with each other.*
To pass from comedy to the sorrow ful tragedies of real life, negligence in fulfilling the delicate duties con nected with the Little Virtues has been the source, in more than one instance, of serious scandals and ob-
*Epb. vi. 2.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 10
stinate hatred. Any one conversant with the history of the world, knows that most important events have originated from the most trivial causes : from a spark a great fire has blazed forth. The mutual hatred entertained between two ministers of state, and which became celebrated by its consequences, originated in the omission of a title, and a signature placed too high in a letter. A pair of gloves given at an auspicious mo ment, and a cup of tea overturned on a footstool, had much to do with the great war which opened this cen tury ;* and the refusal of a visit which one lady owed to another was one of the principal causes of the last war, which we used to hear of in our in fancy.
But without reading history, or entering into politics, which concern
* The eighteenth.
20 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
me very little at this moment, and you still less, we can observe the private manners of our own times. AVe will find that an indiscreet gos siping,, an imprudent silence, forget- ing some act of politeness, has, among persons most closely connected, given rise to interminable law-suits, fatal divisions of patrimony, and ruinous separations of families. Too often have I been present at violent and lon^ disputes, where each party as sailed the other without mercy, be cause a piece of news announced by one was denied by the other. How many persons think themselves deep ly wounded in their honor, if every word they choose to say or write is not believed with implicit faith. In their opinion, to be the first to know all the frivolous news of the town or province, is a mark of superior clever ness and intelligence ; and they agi tate and harass themselves to obtain
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 21
this silly distinction, when it would be so easy to preserve a perfect calm by some act of our Little Virtues. In directing my attention to what regards you more immediately, I do not fear to affirm, that these virtues, useful to all, are for you absolutely necessary. It is not rare in the world to hear persons declaim with bitterness against the religious state, and deplore the fate of those who embrace it, because if they happen to meet a companion with a disagree able temper, and a character quite opposed to their own, separation is impossible, and they must endure this annoyance all their lives. I am not in the habit of lending a willing ear to the conversation of libertines ; but in the present instance, as I have a great love for truth, I must ac knowledge that the objection is not groundless. Yes, it is so. In the world a secular never wants a remedy
22 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
against domestic vexations : he leaves his home — he occupies himself with various objects — he distracts and di verts himself in a thousand different ways. The religious man,, also, is not without a resource : he has al ways at hand the most universal and most efficacious of any — that of meet ing new faces in a change of mon asteries. But the nun, by her state de stined to perpetual enclosure, finds her associates as permanent as her resi dence ; she will then be often em ployed with a sister of uncongenial mind, in the sacristy, refectory, infirmary, or other offices. Xow in this continual succession of ordinary occupations, the constant exercise of the social virtues becomes absolutely necessary.
Religious women, on whom the door is happily closed to an infinity of other dangers, cannot shut out this one of which I speak; but let
THE LITTLE VIRTUES,
23
not this consideration make them conceive the less esteem of their holy state. Were I speaking to a com munity assemhled to hear me, I would propose to them a doctrine grounded on solid principles of moral and ascetic theology. I would dis tinguish the temptations from which we must fly, from those which we must encounter. To temptations caused "by objects that are pleasing, we must always turn our back with fear; but not so with temptations arising from disagreeable objects ; these we often may and even ought to face courageously. On this point many allow themselves to be deceived by passion, even in prayer. Let us give an example. A person feels too tender a friendship growing within }ier — already her conscience warns her to renounce it. She goes to prayer, and beseeches God to grant her, not the strength to get rid of
24 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
this affection, but strength not to offend him in preserving it. This is an illusion and an abuse of prayer : because here it is not the grace of re sisting, but the grace of flying, she ought to have asked. It would be quite otherwise if this person had a decided coldness for a companion ; because the rules of prudence always held in view, she may seek the object of her aversion and try to gain her friendship. From these principles I would draw the conclusion, that re ligious persons have no reason to complain of enclosing within their walls a crowd of similar little temp tations to ennui and impatience, but that they ought to attack and van quish them by the acts which are their contraries.
I am so convinced of this truth, that if after the exhortation, the fear of failing sometimes in this so neces sary sweetness and gentleness, urged
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 25
one of the nuns to wish to converse no more with the others, and that she consulted me on the subject, I would say, "take care, my dear sister, of acting thus ; on the con trary, make an effort over yourself — go and treat kindly and obligingly with every one. If you happen to fall into some fault against charity, from the evil of impatience draw the treasure of humility ; humble your self at the feet of Almighty God — ask him with earnestness to help you ; rise and take again part in the con versation, with a will to "behaves better." My counsel would certain ly agree with that given by St. Je rome to a young person of a very distinguished family, who, from a desire of perfection, wished to sepa rate from her mother : the latter was of a difficult temper, and her pur suits were very different from those of her daughter. "My mother,"
26 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
(she writes to her director,) "is an ob stacle to my good resolutions, and opposes my pursuing the pious course of life which we arranged I should follow/' And St. Jerome replies: "It matters little, 0 my daughter, were your mother even such a person as you describe her ; continue to live with her, for you will thus reap greater merit and a richer recom pense.
IV.
The Little Virtues, by their na ture, are sheltered from all danger. Their security lies even in their lit tleness. They are not pompous, be cause they are exercised on trivial objects ; they are practised almost without giving you the reputation of being virtuous, and our neighbor exacts rather than admires them.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 27
The pardon of a serious injury may, even humanly speaking, be something glorious, but to forgive a slight of fence, excites no admiration. To the insolent wretch who strikes you on one cheek, calmly to present the other, is an evangelical action, which astonishes ; but to make no remark on the awkward hand which spoils your work or injures your gar ments, passes unnoticed. The Lit tle Virtues are then not exposed to vain glory, which only attacks a certain class of spiritual riches. Be sides vain glory has nothing to rob where nothing is exhibited, where every thing, if I may so express it, is kept locked up and well secured. The Little Virtues are practised in secret, in obscurity ; vain glory is, as it were, ignorant of them, and cannot lay snares to destroy their merit. The missionary, whose holy word moves a whole population, and
28 THE LITTTE VIRTUES.
whose praises are echoed by the sighs and groans of an entire people, may fear the enthusiastic admiration of the multitude, and, in the fervor of his zeal, dread the frauds and thefts, nay, even the rapine and open vio lence of vanity. But here every thing passes in silence between the conscience and God. Those who are present do not often perceive why we have said one word, and they cannot know why we have suppressed an other ; they do not penetrate the mind to read there that the matter is seen in a different light — they cannot penetrate to the heart to know that it is felt in a different manner. Be sides our Little Virtues arc practised often with such rapidity, that vain glory has neither time nor means of seizing them in their flight. A glance of the eye, a gesture, a word — and the act of virtue is effected.
Works of piety are usually under-
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 29
taken with upright intentions, but then this pure and right intention weakens by degrees, and is lost in sensibly. I think there never was a preacher of the Gospel with so little virtue as to begin a sermon from the sole motive of vain glory, and who would not recite at least the exordium with a pure intention : the danger is found in the conclusion, and at the end of his discourse, if his auditory applaud him with warmth and viva city. St. Gregory the Great was a most learned Pope, and a man of rare merit. He had completed a ponder ous volume of his works, when one day sitting at his table in his library. and examining the mass of those splendid pages piled carefully one upon another — laborious fruits of so many meditations on the holy Scrip tures — of so many lectures of the Fathers of the five preceding centu ries — he felt his heart swelling little
30 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
by little with a vain complacency. Laying down his pen, he dwells de- liciously on thoughts of honor and applause, imagining (as I fancy) that his book is favorably received at court ; that in the Greek Churches it adds a new lustre to the name of the Koman Pontiff; that crossing the seas it is regarded in converted Eng land as an honorable monument of him whose zeal has effected this happy change, and whom it already looks upon as a father ; together with other imaginings of the kind. At length, struck with a vivid ray of celestial light, our saint returns to himself, and collecting before the Lord liia humbled mind, he cries out with a profound sigh, ard his eyes raised to heaven: "What is all this? what do I feel within me? My Clod ! you know with what a pure intention I set myself to compose my book of Morals, and now by
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 31
what delusion of vanity, insensibly stolen over me, do I find all the ideas of my mind and affections of my heart perverted? At the moment when, after so much watching and labor, I was ready to stretch out my hand and pluck the ripe fruit of merit, it disappears before me, and I lose all. Oh! no, my Lord and God ! source of all good, to thee alone belong light and power, to thee alone then be honor and glory for endless ages of ages/'
The saints themselves are then ex posed to temptations of vain glory in their difficult enterprises, and which require a long time to perfect. It, is not so with the Little Virtues ; they are sheltered from those dangers by their very nature.
Their security flows also from another source ; We certainly will not find in them that inordinate self- love and self-will which would fain
32 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
domineer everywhere ; vices which spoil the merit of fasting and the hair-cloth, as masters of spiritual life are fully aware of. The Little Virtues are exercised almost against our nature ; for "beware of thinking that their practice consists only in rendering services or manifesting affectionate feelings to an amiable and Leloved person ; no, this is ra ther following our natural inclina tion, and the impulse of friendship. Their true exercise consists in en during the disagreeahle and ungrate ful, though in the "bottom of our hearts we feel all our little passions in a ferment. It is so true that they do not second the views of self-love, that their choicest flowers are gath ered precisely at the moment when we disguise an antipathy, a weari ness, conceal an aversion, or an in terior opposition of sentiment. In their exercise it is permitted to dis-
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 33
semble ; and hypocrisy of a new kind becomes praiseworthy. By dissem bling I mean, overlooking a want of attention, a want of respect, some mark of contempt, as if one had neither eyes nor ears. By a praise worthy hypocrisy I mean, a calm on the countenance, when the heart is in a storm ; I mean cool language, when the feelings are hot ; I mean absolute silence, when we are strongly moved to give clamorous vent to our irritation. But we must take partic ular care that, with all this constraint, we preserve such a natural and easy manner, that nothing of what is passing within appears without. In fine, patience requires for its perfec tion, that we never suffer a cloud of sorrow to rise, or at least to condense upon our brow.
34 TEE LITTLE VIRTUES.
V.
The Little Virtues are ordinary virtues, that is to say, of frequent and daily use, common to all times and conditions of life. Certain virtues, or at least some of their acts, are rare. Many persons pass a long life without sustaining any serious injury in their character, or without bein"1 exposed to any atrocious calumny. Assuredly they who would wait for such rude trials to exercise their pa tience, may wait very long. Never theless, this is the illusion of many pious persons. During their prayers they conjure up the strongest suppo sitions, and fancy themselves in cir cumstances requiring the greatest heroism of courage ; they dream of extraordinary cases of extraordinary virtue ; they amuse their imagina tion, and suffer it to wander through
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. bo
these magnificent adventures. P»y dint of painting virtue, they lo«k upon themselves as virtuous; and, passing from fancy to reality, think they have arrived at perfection. Thus do they go from their imaginary pray er, full of imaginary patience, hut, in fact, as irrascihle and unmanageable as when they entered their oratories. Occasions of practising our ordi nary virtues are met without being sought for, and during our whole life. I once heard it quoted from an ancient ascetic author, that chastity was the virtue of the young, and ohedienee the virtue of the old. And, in truth, for a novice who joins a re ligious institution, — at her iirst en trance, during those open-hearted years of spiritual infancy, when all its customs are so new to her, every tiling persuades her to he respectful and ohliging to the elder members, and obedient to superiors. But the
36 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
whole weight of obedience is felt when an elderly Religious of great authority must submit her views to a superior, perhaps less distin guished than herself for soundness of judgment.
None of these distinctions occur in the practice of the Little Virtues ; they suit equally well every condition of society, and every epoch of our lives, every day in the year, and every hour in the day. It would be hard to find a case in which we may exclude the practice of some one or other of them, at least for any con siderable time. Thus, to give a single example : want of money may prevent us giving an alms, but we can always refuse it in a virtuous manner, that is to say, refuse it witli sweetness blended \vith compassion. Another reflection occurs to me: the Little Virtues can be exercised when the practice of many others are
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. o<
interdicted. If one among you be in disposed, she cannot go to choir, she cannot share the labors of the others, she cannot fast, sometimes she cannot say the office even in private ; but she can always display a serene re signation, submitting calmly to the directions of physicians and surgeons, asking with humble voice and man ner the services of her sisters, and receiving them with a grateful smile. And this consideration has increased force, if we pass from the infirmity of the body to the infirmity of the soul. The soul, from time to time, languishes and falls sick. Then come days of gloom, or at least some quarter hours' of darkness ; every object seems shrouded in sad ness, and the whole world one scene of ennui; under different forms we find this weariness nestled in the very centre of our hearts, so that we be come insupportable to ourselves.
,
38 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
Languor weighs down the body sloth enervates the mind, fervor is extinct, the imagination troubled, the heart cold, relish of devotion lost ; prayer, pious reading, spiritual conference, bring no relief; it seems that nothing more remains for us in this world than the weight of suffer ings without the' comfort of hope. Now in this painful situation of mind and heart, when the exhausted soul is scarce able to fulfill its duties, is the auspicious moment for the exer cise of virtue, and the chosen mo ment for the meritorious exercise of those we advocate. 0 ! God of heav en. who soundesf the heart and seest the thoughts, of what weight in that bn lance wherein thou weighest our merits, would be, at such a moment, an answer given with sweetness to some useless question — an assistance rendered graciously to some frivolous undertaking ! These virtues, then,
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 39
are the virtues of all times and seasons.
VI.
The Little Virtues are rational vir tues. I must explain this term. As suredly all the virtues are founded in reason, and though some among them are superior to reason, they always enlighten and perfect it. I only mean to say that the practice of those we treat of is truly philosophical, even humanly speaking ; that is to say, they are so suitable to our nature and circumstances, that rea son assisted solely hy its own light, cannot fail to appreciate them highly, As to hear with our neighbor is the object proposed in the exercise of these cherished virtues, I will suggest some motives drawn from reason alone, which may help us to endure the failings of those who surround us.
40 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
The first motive exists in the weak ness of the person we suffer from. Yes, the weakness of our neighbor is a recommendation in her favor. We have, for example, to endure a person who is suspicious, who sifts and ex amines every word, and interprets against herself everything she hears and sees ; for her, every fly that buzzes through the air is an elephant which will fall and crush her ; every spark a fire in which she is to be consumed. Truly this race of suspicious gentry is very fatiguing : always harsh and disagreeable, always surrounded by their own gloomy imaginings, they oblige you, when you treat with them, to take a thousand minute precautions, and watch over every look, action, and gesture ; and after all your pains you have the mortifi cation of seeing that your efforts have been unavailing. Yet these must be borne with, precisely on account
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 41
of their weakness ; because as their suspicions are unjust, they are suffi ciently punished by their very sus picions themselves. Ah ! if we knew what poison to the heart is all this distrust, at once so varied and so constant ! did we know what sorrow ful nights and days of bitterness it causes to the unhappy being who is its victim ! could we know how she tries to dissipate the clouds that envelope her, and prove herself in the wrong. But such is her nature, (if I may so speak,) that she soon falls back into her doubts, and embraces again what she at first rejected. It is then con sistent with common sense that we endure such characters, because their weakness and the imperfection of their character render them worthy of compassion.
To give another example. A sister is naturally hasty and quarrelsome — let us bear her infirmity, which dis-
42 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
pleases her more than it injures us. A very little puts her in a passion ; granted, but she is as easily appeased ; her good heart makes her readier to make peace than to give battle ; having returned to her cell, she is more vexed with herself than with her companion; at her examen of conscience she asks pardon of God for her fault, and takes the earliest opportunity to beg the same of her sister. Let us have patience with her then, and not increase her con fusion by our resentful sensibility.
May I take a third example from material objects. One of your com panions has bad health, or at least thinks she has. . This disposition seldom excites compassion and is still less pitied, if being really delicate, she makes herself more so, by an ex cessive desire to be cured ; whereas, it often happens, nothing helps so much to restore lost strength, as to
THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
make rational use of that portion which is left to us. Now here is a person to be home with ; and if the care of her health he too scrupulous, let us, I repeat it, still hear with her, because this excess is a new weakness and a real malady. These consider ations ought to he dwelt on particu larly by persons in communities, ot robust health and strong constitu tions, who having no experience of internal suffering, find it hard to believe in the wants of others, and little disposed to shew them any in dulgence, above all if the malady bo hidden, and give no external indica tion of its existence. As to those hidden ailments, to be persuaded that the minute attentions which the sister allows herself, and which offend the eyes of the community, are not the result of a blameable delicacy, we would do well to make a calcula tion, and balance the comforts she
44 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
procures with, those she denies her self, on account of her health ; we should find that the loss is often greater than the gain : and would self-love, so clear-sighted on its own interests, easily fall into such a mis take ? More than once it has hap pened, that persons who appeared too nice, and as it were disgusted with the ordinary food of the com munity, so as to incur universal cen sure, have in the end, and when it was too late, given evident demon stration that they were attacked with some serious internal and incurable malady.
The second motive of endurance is, if I may so speak, the lightness of the faults we have to hear. You live among a class of distinguished females, exempt by their birth and education from many faults ; besides they are good religious, who shed the sweet odor of Jesus Christ around
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 45
them. The love of perfection, and its daily study, render very trivial in them, the imperfections which escape from human frailty. Where shall we find a society of men or women who are without a shadow of defect, not in the eyes of our Lord, but even in our own eyes? It would not he hard even in a very regular community, to find a person (and I take this example at random) who would unceasingly descant on the nobility of her origin and the gran deur of her family, who continually congratulates herself and requires your felicitations, because she thinks every thing that belongs to her is good, excellent, perfect; thus, her works are the best executed, her clothes are the neatest, her cell is the best kept, her watch is the most exact — infallible in its indications. On the contrary, it is not harder to find some one else, equally annoying
46 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
by her continual lamentations over herself and nearly the whole human race ; who has nothing to tell you of the past hut sorrowful adventures, of the present hut the pains she endures, and of the future hut those she is dreading ; who sighs continually over the disorders of the age, and whose zeal is far from being purified from all bitterness. How is it possible to regulate our conduct with regard to characters so different? It is related that formerly their existed two sages, one of whom wept continually, and the other laughed without ceasing. They have still their imitators. Let us endeavor to be one and the other by turns; we will weep after having laughed, and laugh after we-eping ; that is to say, we will weep with those that weep, we will laugh with those that laugh ; and this not to flatter, but to edify; for after all, this is the maxim of St. Paul : "Be-
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 47
joice with those that rejoice, and mingle your tears with those who weep."*
The third motive is, not only the lightness of the fault, hut the absence of all fault. We must support many things in our neighbor quite indepen dent of habit, of reflection, uncon nected with any kind of virtue, tilings indifferent in themselves and to which no blame can be attached. Such are the outlines of the features, a certain expression of countenance, a tone of voice, a manner of holding the body not according to our taste ; we may also place in this list the diversity of characters and their opposition to ours. One is naturally serious and the other gay ; one is timid and the other daring ; one is pusillanimous, the other magnanimous. Reason demands that we live in peace in the
* Gaudere cum gaudentibus, fiere cum flentibus. Rom. xii. 15.
48 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
midst of these natural discords, and that we accommodate ourselves to the humors of others by the pliancy of our patience. To complain of this diversity of characters would ho as foolish as to fret because another liked a fruit or a sweetmeat that was not according to our taste.
The fourth motive of forbearance is, that we ourselves require to be borne with. No one in this world is so wise or so accomplished in perfec tions, that he can at all times dis pense with the indulgence of others. To-day, I must bear patiently witli some person, and to-morrow I may be an exercise of patience to that person, or some other. What injus tice would it be, to exact respect and consideration from others, and to re turn only haughtiness and rudeiK'.ss?
Do not say: " As for me, I under stand and observe all the courtesies of life, and it would be hard to find
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 49
more refined good-nature than my actions exhibit." It will ever re main true, that we easily flatter our selves on the point of good manners, but it is very difficult to unite the various qualities which constitute genuine politeness, in all its perfec tion. Nobody sees the blots that disfigure his own face ; to others alone it belongs to judge whether we are as amiable as we think ourselves. All that we can know is, that we study to become so; and even this study may savor of affectation, and displease! In writing thus to you, my dear sister, I am aware that a character so gentle as yours, will scarcely once in a month give subject of complaint, while others will every clay of their lives furnish matter for charitable forbearance. But take notice, when I wish to show how just it is to support our neighbor's defects because our own must be supported,
50 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
I do not mean to propose a contract of strict equality, but only some kind of compensation ; — no, in this case it is not justice, jealous of its rights, but generous charity we look for. For reflect, that this is the fruit, and, I would almost say, the lawful usury of this mode of proceeding, since it is the true secret of making ourselves beloved. Let us then stop both our ears to the detestable prin ciples of those who would recommend pride and resentment; because, say they, the haughty are respected, and care is taken not to affront those who never forgive an injury. Kespect gained on such terms resembles much that of which the nettle was so proud. I met the fable in an ancient work. She insulted not only the lowly plants and pretty flowers of the meadow, because, by their excessive humility, they let themselves be trodden under foot by all, but even
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 51
attacked the poppy, which, growing high, yet hent its head too conde scendingly to the sun and wind, while she stood erect and covered with leaves, in spite of cold and heat, and made herself so respected, that no one dared to touch her. I suppose not one among you would he ambi tious of the glory of the nettle. I do not envy even that of the rose, when she is indiscreet enough to wound with her thorns.
The fifth motive for hearing with our neighbor is, the link that unites us with the person we must endure. If I were treating this point with secular persons, observe, I would say- to them, that your patience is exer cised in your own family, and to wards those of your own blood. I would then exhort a son to bear with a quarrelsome mother — a husband TO endure an arrogant wife — the sister to support the caprices of a brother.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
Eemember, I would add, that do mestic broils are mucli more painful than trials that come from without. David, who had a heart so tender and sensitive, complains in the bitterest terms of what he suffered from his own family: "Lord," he cries out, prostrate on the earth, "these are my brethren, and nevertheless they re- nard me as a stranger; we came from the womb of the same mother, and they consider me an alien from a distant country."*
I need say nothing of all this to you, who have quitted your house and family ; who have, with a noble emulation, abandoned your father, your mother, and your brethren. But still, if you have broken the old ties of flesh and blood, you have formed new ones more spiritual, and born of charity. The consecrated
* Extraneus factus sum fratribus tneis, ct pero- grinu3 filiis niatria meas. — Ps. Ixviii.
T
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 5o
virgins among whom you have fixed your abode, are your spiritual sister- — daughters of the same father, St. Benedict — inheritors of the same maxims, hound together "by the same rules ; they ought then to he very dear to you in Jesus Christ. Youi cloister is become your country, and even your family. Your holy com panions form with you a strict and new kind of citizenship and relation ship ; they have thence a particular right to he loved by you, and to gather in abundance the delicious fruits of those precious virtues on which I have delighted to expatiate in this letter — I may call it rather a trea tise, as it has now reached to such a length as almost to deserve that title. If it happens, then, that any of your companions do not please you much, and offend you a little, say at the very moment she annoys you, she is my sister, I pardon her, and yet more,
54 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
I desire to embrace her with the kiss of peace.
How noble was the language of Abraham to Lot! They were two powerful lords, rich in flocks of sheep and oxen, of asses and of camels. It often occurred that their herdsmen quarreled on the subject of pasturage and water for the animals. Let us separate, said Abraham to Lot, with a calm and cordial mien ; go to which side you please — choose the pastures which appear to you most fertile and agree able — if you take the left, I will go towards the right ; and if you choose the right, I will take the "left. Be tween us and our dependants there should be no contest, for (oh! the powerful and touching reason,) ICG are brothers.* And since we recall this benevolence, which St. Paul calls fraternal charity, (charitas fraterni-
*Fratrea enira sumus. — Gca. juii. 8.
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. GO
tails,) and St. Peter the love of our brethren, (amor fraternitatis,) I ani going to make my last remark to you on the subject of which we treat.
VII.
The Little Virtue are sublime and divine virtues. I am now sorry that I called them little virtues, but the expression was taken from St. Francis de Sales. They are only little, be cause they relate to little objects — a word, a gesture, a look, a civility ; but if we examine the principle in which they originate, and the end to which they tend, they are great and noble. They are little virtues indeed, but they make a man greatly virtu ous. In matter of virtues, it is not how much is done that we consider. The mite of the widow in the Gospel is widely celebrated, and was more
56 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
esteemed than the high sounding alms of the Sanhedrim. St. Peter did not hesitate frankly to interro gate the Saviour of the World on the reward that would be given to the Apostles for having abandoned all things for his love. And what did these poor fishermen quit ! They left their nets, which perhaps were not new. It is certain that James and Andrew were seen mending the meshes of their 's on the shore, and that even Peter's broke when he took Rome large fishes; but Peter's great and generous heart would have left a throne as lie left his bark. A soul enlightened and careful of her spiri tual interests, vivifies and exalts, by her noble and sublime views, the smallest acts of virtue ; she desires to perform heroic ones. The exercise of our beloved virtues is for the true Christian, a continual exercise of charity towards his neighbor; and
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 57"
charity to our neighbor is the charity of God, honored in our neighbor ; for God. in assuring us that he lias made man to his own image, desires that we should have Himself always present to our mind. The sentiment, then, which should animate these virtues for us, who are disciples of the Gospel, is supernatural charity, of which they are, as it were, the coloring and the lustre ; and this is what renders them sublime and di vine virtues, and eminently merito rious.
They are divine also, as being in sinuated by the divine precepts and divine examples of our master, Jesus Christ. God always approved of meekness. Even in the old law — a law of severity and fear — he enters into minute details full of gentleness and benignity. And who is ignorant that sweetness is the proper character of the evangelical law, the law of
58 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
grace and love? In Jesus Christ nothing could be little — all is worthy of our humble and profound adora tions. I invite you, then, to meditate on his private life, and certain small, almost imperceptible traits of charity for our neighbor, that are not always taken notice of in ordinary medita tions.
Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem and instruct us. Of three and thirty years which he lived, he passed thirty in an obscure country town, under a poor and humble roof, submissive, obedient, retired, labori ous. All this for your instruction as for ours, because the domestic and laborious life is that which is most common to the human race. He was willing that his precursor, John the Baptist, should eat no bread nor drink wine, because he was to preach pen ance in the desert ; but for himself, inhabiting towns, he made use of
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 59
"bread and wine, though the Pharisees reproached him with it. One c this designing sect invited him dinner, probably with a malicious in tention, as we may conclude by what happened during the repast. Still Jesus accepts the invitation. It was to this feast that Magdalen pene trated; and, while she washes his feet with her tears, and wipes them with her hair, he sees disapproving mur murs brooding in the inmost soul of the Pharisee. Take notice, he does not say a word to excuse himself, but undertakes the defence of the penitent, whose heart was at that moment overflowing with the most lively compunction. Another wo man, guilty of a great crime, is pre sented before him, and he absolves her. The harsh masters of the syna gogue who are present, are scanda lized ; he bends down towards the earth, and then writes silently with
60 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
his finger in the dust the sins of each one; they disappear, one by one, under various pretexts. I do not now consider his mercy to the sinner, but his gentleness towards those rigid doctors, whom he could have re proached with so many crimes loudly and to their face; he is content to warn, without confounding them. An inhabitant of a city comes to visit him in the obscurity of the night ; he seems to blush at render ing the homage due to his doctrine. His timidity does not discourage Jesus Christ, and as this pusillani mous person has an upright heart, he welcomes him, converses with him, instructs him, and receives him as a diseiple. He is called to a dying servant, and he goes. To prevail on Jesus to pay a visit to the house of a military man, some of the most worthy among the Jews who besought him, gave him to understand that
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 61
this officer loved their nation, ami had constructed a synagogue for their use. (Diliyit gcntcrn nostram, et syn- ayoyam ipse cedijicavit nolis.) And Jesus Christ yields to these honest motives, drawn from the love of country. After curing the dying servant of the officer at the request of others, he raises to life and restores to a desolate widow a beloved son, witli out any intercession being made to him ; moved alone by the tears of the mother. He accosts her of him self, and in a tone which promises a miracle ; cease, he says, with divine sweetness and grace, cease to weep ! and, in a moment, he that was a corpse springs from the bier into his mother's arms. A man of the law, in a haughty and contentious style, one day asked him : Who is my neigh bor? Jesus Christ gives him a satis factory answer, with meek tranquil lity. But, behold ! a woman of Sa-
62 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
maria presents herself before him, and, wishing to play the theologian, discusses on which mountain public worship ought to be paid to God. Our Lord instructs this schismatic. It was precisely to convert her, that he had left the town under the rays of a burning sun, and awaited her arrival at the well. The Samaritans, obstinately attached to their schism, would not receive him in one of his journeys, because he appeared to be traveling towards Jerusalem. You know that they had separated them selves from this city and its temple, where alone it was lawful to offer sacrifice. Besides, they had driven away the persons whom he sent be fore to prepare a lodging for him. To refuse hospitality, and even a passage through their country — what obdu racy ! Even James and John — that soul so meek arid amiable — were in dignant, and wished for fire from
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 63
heaven to punish them; but Jesus gently reproaches them, that they did not know the spirit of love that he came to shed upon the earth. Do children desire to approach that they may gaze on him at their ease, and perhaps kiss his hand? He makes his disciples give place, who tried at first to repulse them. He calls these little ones to him, and embraces them. Does he enter the house of death, where all are in tears? He weeps himself. If he goes to a marriage, where all is bridal joy, he works a miracle to increase their happiness ; and note, that this change of water into exquisite wine was his first miracle. He thus spares the master of the house the mortification of hav ing no more wine to produce at a solemn banquet, where everything delicate and rare should appear in abundance. One day the crowd thronged so close about him to hear
G4 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
him speak, that he was almost over whelmed. Near the shore there lay a hark ; he could at the moment have entered into it, and spoke from thence to the people assembled on the coast, hut he would first have the consent of its owner, who was a fisherman. He asks with civility, his permission and his assistance, (rogavit,) and then, in recompense, he tells him to cast his net into the water ; and though tliis man had not taken a single fish the whole preceding night, he now catches of the host kind, and in such numbers, that two ships arc filled with them. The prodigal SOD returns after his wanderings and misconduct. His father, (and this father is the Lord — he tells us so himself,) among other incredible marks of tender mercy — to spare the young man the shame of appearing soiled and tattered before his family — takes care to have him richly
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 65
dressed, before lie joins his relations, to rejoice with them. Impelled by hunger, many of his disciples plucked some ears of corn, and sifted them in their hands on the Sabbath-day. Their indulgent Master does not re primand them; but, on the contrary defends them against the malignant remarks of the Pharisees. Once did the Saviour of the world appear aus tere ; it was in the instance of the Chananean woman, who was not a daughter of Abraham. He answered her, that he was not come to throw holy things to dogs — that is to say, to idolaters. But this was only a feint, for he wished to grant her re quest, and give her an opportunity of making that tender and humble com parison, which he puts upon her lips. Yes, my Lord, I am, I know, but a poor contemptible dog; but do not the little dogs eat the crumbs which
66 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
the master lets fall from his table? She is heard that moment !
The holy women among the Israel ites, who assiduously rendered him those little services necessary for the preservation of life, with regard to food and clothing, followed him in his journeys, and spoke often to him; Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, as it were in acknowledgment, visits them before his very apostles. In a word, to comprehend how, in the conduct of our Divine Master, there was a continual display of aftability, condescension, sweet patience, and gracious courtesy, it is enough to re member, that he conversed with men who, before receiving the Holy Ghost, were ignorant, gross, contradictory, and presumptuous. He bore with them all — he loved them all; and, because John's purer soul deserved it, to John he allowed the endear ments of friendship. Judas, chosen
THE LITTLE VIRTUES. 67
for an apostle, though unworthy of the honor, received the same privi leges as the others at the mysterious repast on the sorrowful eve of his death, when Jesus, steeping a morsel of bread in the dish, hands it to this perfidious miscreant. Oh ! could we then have watched, with respectful glance, the eyes and expression of Jesus ! how sweetly would we learn to be kind and winning to the harsh and revolting, and to render services to the ungrateful, because to those who are agreeable, and to our friends, every one acts with cordiality.- 0 ! how truly in the whole life of Jesus Christ was verified what was pre dicted of him ! that his meekness and sweetness would be so great, that he
* Et si diligitis eos qui vos diligunt. qua* vobis cst gratia? Nonne et peccatores diligentes so diligunt? Et si benefcceritis his qui vobis benc- faciunt, qme vobis est gratia? Siquideui et pec catores hoc facumt. — Luc. vi, 32, 33.
68 THE LITTLE VIRTUES.
would not extinguish tlic latent spark where it yet glowed,, nor crush the bruised reed.
Learn of me, he says, because I am meek and humble of heart. Learn, then, beloved sister, this meekness, which springs from humility, and terminates in charity. Perhaps, in reading the title of this treatise, you, as well as others, conjectured that in the course of it I would propo.se things just and good, but not of sovereign importance. Yet, I think, I have pointed out to you true Chris tian and religious perfection. I am. satisfied to have merely indicated it ; and, though it would be easy to col lect various other topics, and spread out my remarks over long pages, I will not add another word, lest, while I exhort you to bear with the tiresome, I add, by my prolixity, one more to the list of those you must endure.
A LETTER
TVTCTTEN TO A RELIGIOUS PERSON DURING HER AN NUAL RETREAT.
BY FATHER VALLOIS, S. J.
You are now in solitude ; not merely in that habitual solitude in which you have lived, since you re nounced the world and embraced the religious state ; but a solitude yet more strict, since you are for some days separated from any intercourse with your sisters. The fruit you should derive from this retreat, and to secure which you should strongly animate yourself, is to serve God hereafter with a renewed fervor, and to practise this admirable lesson which the Apostle gave to the first Chris tians, but which is peculiarly suitable to religious persons : " Be ye fervent 69
TO OX FERVOR.
in spirit, because it is the Lord whom you serve." But, my dear sister, I must, in the first place, remind you. that when the Apostle exhorts us to fervor, it is not precisely to a sensible fervor. For he speaks of a fervor which resides in the soul, and sensi ble fervor does not go so far ; it dwells in the sensitive appetite. Be sides, sensible fervor consists in re ceiving consolations from God ; and St. Ptiul speaks of a fervor which consists in action and in renderin^
O
services to Grod. In fine, since the Apostle exhorts us, it follows that the matter depends on us. This is not by any means the case in regard to sensible fervor, which so far from depending on us cannot be obtained by any exertion of ours. It is not then of sensible fervor that lie speaks ; it is of spiritual fervor, which con sists in the will, but in a firm, gener ous, efficacious, ardent, and active
OX FERVOR. 71
will. This is the fervor of which I wish to speak to you : and because the most simple and the "best means to create a love for virtue, is to make it known, and to represent it such as it is, I shall give you the portrait of a fervent soul. If you find any re semblance to yourself in it, I shall bless God ; but if in some points you find yourself deficient, (and who is there who is not deficient? and in how great a degree are not all so ?) I conjure you to labor, either to form these traits, or to renew them within you, that so you may be yourself re newed, and Jesus Christ be formed within you. Permit me to commence by a comparison, which, though it may appear to you very sublime, you can easily understand. For without wishing to speak in a language too refined or mystical, it seems to me that fervor is amongst the virtues of man, what infinity is amongst the
ON FERVOK.
attributes of God. The infinity of God is not a particular but a general attribute, and it is so in two senses. 1st. — Because it contains all other attributes, and signifies that God possesses all possible perfections. 2dly. — Because it belongs to each particular perfection of God, and sig nifies, not only that God is infinite, but also that all the perfections of God are infinite, viz : that his wisdom is infinite, his power is infinite, his mercy is infinite : so that to say God is infinite, is to say that he possesses an infinity of perfection, and that all these perfections are infinite. We may say the same, in some degree, of fervor. Fervor in man is not a par ticular but a general virtue, in this double sense. 1st. — Because it con tains all virtues, and that it makes us acquire and preserve them all. 2dly. — Because it accompanies each virtue in particular : for we are not
ON FERVOR.
only fervent when we possess fervor, but all our virtues are fervent. Our love of God is fervent, our charity towards our neighbor is fervent, our mortification and our humility are fervent ; so that to say a man is fer vent, is to say he has all virtues, and that he has no virtue which is not fervent. But what is it that consti tutes this fervor, or rather what ac tions does it make us perform ? How does it make us perform them ? And for what end? Heaven grant, my dear sister, that you may know this in the end by experience, if you have not sufficiently known it before. Meanwhile I shall explain it to you in a simple but instructive manner. As to the first question, of what a fervent soul does, I reply that she does all she is obliged to, and even more; all that she can, and in some measure more than (naturally speak ing) she can do. Strive to penetrate
74 OX FERVOR.
the sense of the four degrees which follow ; what I shall say will he short, hut substantial, and will contain many things.
Fervor, in the first place, makes a soul apply to all her duties, other wise it would he a mistaken fervor ; and we cannot sufficiently deplore the illusion of some religious persons, who neglect the rule which religion prescribes them, and the ordinary observances of the community, to at tach themselves to particular exer cises which are of their own choice. That is to say, they will do more than God wills, hut they will not do icliat he wills. A fervent religious studies, above all things, to avoid all the evil that is forbidden by her state, and to do all the good that her state enjoins. Let the evil which she is forbidden be great or small; let the good which is ordained be important or trifling ; this is not what she looks to; this
OX FERVOR. T5
evil she will say is forbidden by God — that suffices ; this good work is en joined by God — that is enough. She regards the smallest sins as extremely great evils, because they offend God, and this only thought gives her a horror of them ; she looks on great sins as impossible in regard of her, and this excludes the very idea of committing them. In order to ex cite herself to the greatest ardor in the practice of the least good work, she looks on it as important, inas much as it contributes to the glory of God ; and to engage herself indis pensably to the practice of the great est good, she regards it as absolutely necessary, inasmuch as it tends to the greater glory of God. Fidelity in great things appears to her as glorious, and this encourages her to undertake them. Infidelity in smaller things appears to her so much the more shameful, as they are more
6 OX FERVOR.
easily accomplisliod ; and this renders her incapable of failing in them. Hence, she is exact in little things, generous in those which are great, and faithful in both.
Secondly. — After all, this is but the first degree of fervor. Kot con tent with doing all she is obliged to, a fervent soul does much more than her obligations exact from her. She does not only fly from the evil which is forbidden, but she likewise applies herself, as much as is in her power, to prevent any of her actions from being unprofitable. She not only does all the good that is commanded, she strives also to do all that is coun seled. It is not by her obligations, but by her power, that she limits her enterprises. When the thought of doing a good action occurs, she does not stop to examine if she is obliged to do it, but only whether she can do it ; she does not examine if she can
OX FERVOR.
do it easily, but if slie can possibly do it ; and from the moment that she finds it absolutely possible, she hesi tates no longer, but begins to act : at whatever price it may cost her, she will execute it.
Thirdly. — Here, my dear sister, is one of the most holy dispositions of a fervent soul. After doing all that she is strictly obliged to, and going far beyond it, and doing all that she can, she yet believes that she does not do all that she ought, because while any thing remains which is possible, iltat she thinks she should do. Farther, as she knows that her services can never either equal the greatness of the Master whom she serves, or the graces which she lias received from him, whatever she does, she never believes she has done enough. She is convinced that what ever she does is nothing in compari son to what she ought to do ; and
"78 OX FERVOR.
this conviction keeps her always in sentiments of the most profound hu mility, which however does not trou ble or afflict her, but which redoubles her fervor, and animates her to un dertake every thing.
Fourthly. — I say every thing, and even in some sort what is impossible. For the fervor of love, observes a holy Father, does not stop at what it is obliged to do. or at what it can do, but it goes farther. As the fervent soul believes it a duty to do all that she can, she thinks that she can do all that she desires, and she desires all that the fervor of love inspires her to do. It is not naturally possible that a man should walk on the water, but St. Peter's fervor did not allow him to examine whether it was possi ble or not ; but urged by love, lie walked mi the water, without think ing on what he walked, being solely occupied with, the thought of' Him to
ON FERVOR. 79
whom his love carried him. St. Au gustine remarks, that Magdalen en quired where they had deposited the body of her Master, in order that, as she said, she might carry it away, and. render her last duties to him. But how could a weak, delicate, young woman bear away a dead body, which many men together would find it troublesome to carry ? It is thus, says St. Bernard, that love never measures its own forces, but thinks it can do every thing. However, not to speak of things absolutely mirac ulous, and which we can only admire, it is certain that, even in the ordi nary course of life, fervor often leads us to do tilings which seem in somo sort impossible. This happens in four different ways : —
First. — Self-love represents things to us as impossible, which, however, arc easy enough ; human reason treats as impracticable whatever is difficult,
80 ON FERVOR.
and which, on account of this very difficulty, is very rarely done. But fervor discovers both the illusion of self-love and the errors of human reason, and shews us a possibility where before we saw only insurmount able obstacles.
Secondly. — As fervor animates us extremely, it also gives us much strength • and thus renders that pos sible to us, which would not be so if we were destitute of it.
Thirdly. — The fervent soul reckons easily on the assistance of God, in circumstances in which the possibility appears to be doubtful. As she is sensible that there is not any thing which she would refuse to God, she also let-Is a conviction that he will not refuse her any thing. I can do nothing of myself, she will say ; but, I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Animated by this confidence, and supported by this
ON FERVOR. 81
assistance, she undertakes any tiling ; and whether it be that the enterprise is not really so great as it appeared, or that she is assisted by a miracle oi the Divine omnipotence, success fol lows the undertaking. When the great Apostle of the Indies and Ja pan, Saint Francis Xavier, wished to cross the tempestuous seas, and to go forth to preach the Gospel to savage and barbarous nations, every one was solicitous for his preservation, and represented to him the extreme dan ger to which he exposed himself, the invincible oppositions he had to en counter, the little appearance there was of his succeeding, and gaining to the faith of Jesus Christ a people who seemed more like wild beasts than men. If he had argued on the business himself, according to human foresight, he would have lost all hope ; but the arm of God is not shortened, said he; and at this word all his
82 ON FERVOR.
courage was awakened — he set out, lie arrived, and preached ; and, so far from not meeting with success, it very much exceeded his expectations. In fine, when things are manifestly impossible to all the forces of nature, fervor, which cannot prudently go so far as to undertake them, at least leads us to desire them. Why have I not the hearts of all those who do not love thee as much as I desire ! Why have I not a thousand beings, that so I might endure for thee a thousand deaths ! Why cannot I he in a thousand places, to announce thy holy name at the same time in so many different places, and to make thee known to so many different na tions ! This, my dear sister, is what a fervent soul does : let us now see how she does it — promptly, perfectly, constantly. This is what gives a new value to her actions. Promptly : love gives wings, and fervor is noth-
ON FERVOR. 83
ing else but a perfect love. The wings which it gives are so much the swifter, as they are wings of lire. Imagine, says the wise man, that fire is set to a little forest of very dry reeds : with what swiftness does it not extend from one extremity to the other ? It is thus that fervor makes just souls run with speed to every thing capable of advancing the glory of God and their own perfection. Hence, David does not simply say, that he walked in the paths of the commandments of the Lord, hut that he ran in them. A fervent religious does not require much time to delib erate on what she has to do, nor much reasoning to assure her, that it is the will of God. As she is not under the influence of any passion which can prevent her from discovering it, she immediately perceives what is the will of God ; and from that moment she doos not hesitate : her heart flies
84 OX FERVOR.
— her hand follows ; and it seems to be the same thing for her to see, to will, and to act. If she hears the bell which calls her to rise, to prayer, to examcn, to finish recreation, to assemble at a regular observance — at the first stroke she rises — at the first stroke she begins her prayers, her examen, — at the first sound she ceases to speak, and finishes recrea tion ; she does not delay a moment in going to the place to which God calls her. If superiors order any thing, she hears them at half a word ; and the instant she comprehends their intentions, her fervor does not permit her to defer obeying. The charity of Jesus Christ urges her on ; and the Holy Ghost is, in regard to her, as he was to the Apostles — a spirit of vehemence, which urges and leads her on, and which makes her advance more in a day than others do in a year.
ON FERVOR. 85
Perfectly : because slic is not con tent with simply doing her actions, she wishes to do them well, and not alone well, but in the best manner possible. All her actions are holy : they are invariably perfect as to their principle, as to their end, and in all their circumstances. Their principle is grace : she follows all its inspira tions. Their end is God : she refers all to him. As to their circumstances, it is the subject of her constant atten tion not to omit any one of them, and to fulfill all justice, in imitation of Jesus Christ, her divine model.
Constantly : though it seems that
i/
such an application cannot be of any duration, nevertheless, a soul in which fervor reigns, continues con stant, whether it be that it preserves and every day renews the forces of the soul, or that it sweetens all — that it changes labor into rest, pains into delights — in such a manner, that the
86 ON FERVOR.
soul is never wearied, never tired of anything, and consequently never relaxes. As a sensual man, -\vlio loves pleasures which lie has enjoyed, but continually seeks for new gratifi cations ; so a fervent soul, who loves to labor and suffer for God, never says, it is enough. On the contrary, ever consumed with that ardent thirst after justice, which, according to the Gospel, is the first beatitude of this Jife- — the more she has done, the more she asks to do ; the more she has suffered, the more she desires to suffer. This was the sentiment of St. F. Xavier : Yet more, 0 Lord ! he exclaimed, yet more !
0 my dear sister, this is the great secret of living happy, but more par ticularly in the religious profession ! We sometimes see religious discon tented in their state. They feel all the weight of the yoke which they bear, and carry it with pain. If any
ON FERVOR. 8T
should try to persuade them to do themselves a little violence, to be come more vigilant and exact, to apply with greater fidelity to the practices of religion, they think that this would render their lives still more unhappy, and their burden more insupportable. But how much are they deceived, and why are they not better informed in what their true happiness consists ! Instead of taking so much care of themselves, if they took less, or were not at all solicitous for their own ease ; if in stead of permitting themselves so many relaxations, which they look on as consolations, they placed their consolation in not seeking any, or in seeking it in the most strict and reg ular observance of their duties, how would they be consoled? They would begin to relish their vocation, because they would have the spirit of it ; and this would make them find much.
88 OX FERVOR.
sweetness in the practice of what be fore was most tiresome, mortifying, and repugnant to their nature. It is strange that there is so much diffi culty in convincing persons of this truth, when they have before their eyes sensible proofs and existing ex amples. If they applied to those of the community who appear to them the most fervent, and enquired of them if they find their state irksome and insipid, if they repent having embraced it, or would exchange it, if the ordinary exercises of the house cause them any disgust, if they are subject to low spirits, to melancholy and discouragement — Ah ! if they could discover the sentiments of these souls, they would learn that it is for them and such as them that the hun dred-fold reward is reserved in this life, as well as the next ; and that there is never a greater calm enjoyed, a more unalterable peace, nor a purer
ON FERVOR. 89
joy and happiness, than when a per son wishes not to spare herself in any thing in order to please God. In fact, it is only with the intention of pleasing God that a fervent soul acts. In doing all that is possible, and in the best manner, she has Him alone in view ; and the considerations which excite in her so much fervor, may also serve to excite the same in you. At one time the fervent soul considers the greatness of God : this only thought — I serve God — trans ports her in some manner out of her self. I serve God ! whom the Domi nations adore — before whom the Powers tremble — to whom the Intel ligences are submissive — whom, all the blessed spirits glory in serv ing. If for so great a Master, I should renounce and sacrifice every thing, and should undertake and endure all, would it be too much? Would it even be enough ? It would be so in
90 ON FERVOR.
regard to my weakness; but in re gard of tliee and thy greatness, 0 my God ! it would be nothing. At another time she sets before her the goodness of God ; she recalls the re membrance of his mercy and his benefits to her; she exclaims with David, " What shall I render thce, 0 Lord, for all I have received.'' These words repeated at intervals, and with reflection, are sufficient to enkindle a new flame within her ; she would be ashamed to be avari cious towards a God so liberal and even so prodigal in her regard. All that I possess, 0 Lord, comes from thy bounty, and is thine : for whom else should I employ it but for tliee? At another time she encourages herself by the view of the recom- pences which God reserves for those who serve Him. If at some moments she finds her fervor abate, a look to wards Heaven is enough to renew it.
ON FERVOR. 91
She knows that all her thoughts, all her desires, all her words, all her steps, all her actions, are marked in the Look of life ; that fervor gives them a particular merit ; and that in proportion to merit, glory is to in crease. She has even in this her hope, the purest views, and in seek ing her own interest, it is rather God than herself that she seeks. For she knows that the more she shall be elevated in Heaven, the more she will love God ; and as she desires to love God in eternity with the greatest possible perfection, by love for God she wishes to amass in time as much merit as she can, that so she may see God more clearly and love Him more ardently for all eternity.
At another time she is urged on by a holy emulation, either when she sees with what exactitude and zeal the great ones of the world desire to be and are served ; or when she thinks
92 ON FERVOR.
of what the saints have done, and admires their constancy, their courage, their mortification, their detachment, their continual watchfulness over themselves, their entire submission to every will of God, and' their per fect fidelity in accomplishing it ; or when she casts her eyes around her, and sees what is every day done by virtuous persons, whose example ani mates her, and whom she would wish not only to follow in the way of God's service, but to surpass. For it is herein that she believes a holy envy and ambition are permitted her. She rejoices at all the good which others practice ; but she would wish to prac tise still more. She wishes that all creatures who exist were entirely oc cupied with serving and glorifying God ; but she wishes to glorify and serve Him herself more than all of them together. Her avidity is insa tiable ; and if from the weakness of
ON FERVOR. 93
nature she is only capable of a limit ed action, her weakness, at least, does not put any limits to her desires. At another time, retired as she is from the world, placed in the house of God, if she meditates on the obli gations of her state— the engagements of the religious profession, she ques tions herself, as St. Bernard did, why God called her to Himself, what she came to seek in this holy house, what she came to do, and what she has done? This comparison, or rather contrast, between what she ought to have done and what she has done, confounds her. For humility pre vents her ever supposing that she has done enough. But this salutary con fusion, very far from throwing her into despondency, awakens all her confidence and all her ardor : " I have said it, 0 my God ; this day I begin, and this change is a miracle of thy right hand."
94 ON FERVOR.
At another time, when tli inking of the disorders which reign in the world, and sensibly touched at seeing God so badly served in it, and at so many outrages which he receives, she desires to have it in her power to compensate for them all ; and, if she cannot do it entirely, yet she forms the generous resolution, of employing all her powers in doing as much as possible.
All ! Lord, why cannot I render thee all that glory which the impious refuse thee, who run with impetuosity in the paths of evil ! But it is the duty of thy friends to honor thee, 0 my God ! and the more so, since thou hast conferred so great honor on them. In fine, every thing contributes to inflame her love, and to redouble her fervor; for everything turns to good for souls who love God : and here", my dear sister, is the portrait I present to you. Will it serve as a reproach
ON FERVOK. 95
to you? or, will it be a subject of consolation? It is for you to judge of tbis at the foot of your crucifix, and to listen humbly to what G-od shall say to your heart on this sub ject. Whatever it has heretofore been, and whatever it is at present, may you in these clays of salvation obtain a spirit of fervor more active than ever ! May it accompany you through the whole course, and in every action of your life! — in your prayers — in your meditations — in your spiritual lectures — in your exa- mens — in your confessions — in your communions— in your conversations — in all your employments. Our Lord is a consuming fire ; permit him, my dear sister, to burn — to consume your heart and all its affections. But what do I say ? Bather desire this — petition for it — present yourself to him for this purpose. It is thus that you will glorify the Master to whom
96 OX FERVOR.
you have consecrated yourself; that you will edify the community to which you belong ; and that you will advance to that perfection to which you are called.
P. VALL01S.
A x IMS:
D IIAXUSCUIPT OF F. SEGNEIU,
OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS.
1st. If the idea of some difficult mortification, in which, however, there appears nothing absurd or unsuitable, presents itself to your mind, do not say, I cannot, but persuade yourself that, with the help of God, you can do it, though it seems to you above your strength,
2d. If it sometimes happen that you fail in obtaining over yourself some victory which it was your duty to gain, do not fall into depression, but arise with courage, ask of God his grace with greater earnestness, and again attack your enemy, never desisting until you have put him to flight.
3d. Say often to yourself: I have 97
98 MAXIMS OF F. SEGXERI.
come into " religion" to do penance, and not to seek my ease : I ought then to l)e the servant of all, and not their mistress; to study virtue, and not to amuse myself with trifles: to learn humility, and not to com port myself haughtily/
4th. Engrave deeply in your mind, that if you wish to acquire humility, you must seek humiliations. This is tending to what is solid in virtue. Here no excuse can exist, either from want of health, or permission to per form austerities.
5th. Give the best to others, and seek the worst for yourself. Bear inconveniences yourself willingly to accommodate others. These others are saints, and you are a sinner, Imt a sinner who wishes to become a saint.
Cfth. Watch over yourself, and be not disquieted about what others do. You will easily attain to this, if you
MAXIMS OF F. SEGXERI. 99
accustom yourself to walk with your eyes cast down, and to keep silence at the proper times.
7th. Recollect this admirable les son of St. Teresa : " That to practise virtue, we* must not wait to choose opportunities, hut seize the occasions that offer."
8th. If you have been offended, suppress all exterior emotion at the affront, and interiorly offer some good work for the person who has offended you.
9th. Try to do every thing with a spirit of joy and generosity.
10th. Punctuality to the least sig nal ! — it is the Lord who calls yon. Do not dispense yourself without serious necessity.
llth. Every Saturday, beg of some person in whom you have con fidence, to admonish, you of your failings : on the vigils of feasts, ask pardon of your superior, and beseech
100 MAXIMS OF F. SEGNERI.
her to tell you of your faults, and offer yourself for any laborious ser vice she pleases.
12th. If you happen to fail in charity, frill instantly on your knees and ask paidon.
13th. Frequently offer the blood of Jesus Christ for sinners, and for the many son Is who are in danger of perishing eternally.
14th. .Hi-commend yourself often to ihoso whom you know to be the friends of God, that they may teach von how act, and how to advance in his love.
15th. From time to time, to humble yourself in the eyes of others, ask to rill some office, more lowly than usual. This practice serves wonderfully to acquire an absolute empire over our- selve< and our actions, and an inte rior contempt of the world.
l()th. Perform, occasionally, sonic public mortification.
MAXIMS OF F. SEGXERT. 101
. Let sweetness and benignity distill from your lips. 0 ! how do sweet and gentle words odifv our neighbor ! — how much do they excite to love of God.
18th. Above all things, be firm in your resolution, not to refuse any thing to our Lord which you know lie requires of you, and the perform ance of which will please Him. Say to Him often : Lord, look down upon me, watch over all my actions, my thoughts, &c. In every thing, and in all times, I wish to be thine, cost what it will. Say what thou desirest to me : I am resolved to do it, with the succor of thy holy grace, and under the powerful protection of thy beloved mother. Whoever has not this deteimined and absolute will, can only have a weak, imperfect love.
DEVOTIONS
IX HONOR OF THE
SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
Make His works kncnvn among the people — shew this forth in all the earth. — Jsaias xii, 4,5.
OBSERVATIONS.
THIS practice, in honor of the Sa cred Heart of Jesus, plain in itself, but filled with the spirit of true piety, is divided into nine different offices, taken from the heavenly lights, which our Lord communicated to his servant, the Yen. Marguerite Mary Alacoque, a religious of the Order of the Visitation. It embraces whatever is most glorious to the Sa cred Heart of Jesus. By this prac tice, without over-burdening any one 102
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 103
with vocal prayers or exterior prac tices, we may pay to this Divine Heart a continual, interior adoration, distributed among many, which any single person, howsoever fervent, would not he ahle to perform.
For this purpose, it is convenient to make the following observations :
1st. On the Thursday preceding the first Friday of every month, the nine offices of which this devotion consists, will be distributed to those consecrated to the Sacred Heart, and each will endeavor to acquit himself of this office with all possible exact ness until the next month.
2d. The first Friday of every month is to be distinguished from the rest by the fervor with which all our actions ought to be animated. Therefore — as our Saviour enjoined to the Yen. Marg. Mary, in her life, written by Mr. Languet, (Book 4,) all will receive the Holy Communion
104 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
with the leave of their respective Superior or Spiritual Director, and renew the act of consecration.
3d. Every one, for the better per formance of his office, will strive in all the services he shall render to the Sacred Heart, to unite himself to the choir of blessed Spirits indicated in the Office itself, and make with them that mystical association which the Yen. Marguerite made with so great a profit to her soul, (Book V, of her life,) in order that they may supply our deficiencies, and fill our places in the hours of sleep, and at all other times, whatever may be our impedi ments : thus the Sacred Heart will be perpetually adored.
4th. And because the purest Heart of MAKY is, after the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the most amiable and lovely, and bears the greatest resemblance to it, all the associates will cherish a tender devotion to this Sovereign
SACKED HEART OF JESUS. 105
Queen, honoring Her to their utmost, especially on her principal feasts, ami mi the first Saturday of every month; joining their actions and all cct ions to those of this immaculate Virgin in all the pious acts which they may exhibit to the Divine Heart; fur it is the most efficacious way to preserve and spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
5th. The greatest service which all have to present to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the chief fruit to be proposed or intended in the execu tion of this pious exercise, is the exact observance of all our rules, and duties of our state; bearing constantly in mind the words of Jesus Christ to the 'Ven. Marg. Mary: "Thou canst riot do anything more agreeable to to ni<j than to run on with a constant fidelity and sincerity in the way of thy rules, in which the least defects are great in my sight ; a religious
106 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
person deceives himself, and with draws far from me, when he thinks to please me without the exact observ ance of his rules."
(Jth. To connect more strictly the hond of Charity, which unites in the Sacred Heart of Jesus those that practice this devotion, each of them will pray every day for his compan ions, asking of the Sacred Heart that its love may he increased in all, and that none become cold, or withdraw themselves from this happy union. For this purpose it will he expedient to encourage one another, and propa gate, by every means in their power, the reign of the Sacred Heart,
fall. "When any one has to separate from his companions, lie will not thereby cease to belong to this pious union of special worshipers of the divine Heart, provided he perseveres in performing the spiritual exercises.
8th. To avoid all scruples, it is to
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 107
be observed, that whatever has been said, either in respect to the nine Offices, or to the foregoing acts or exercises, is always and in every cir cumstance, understood not to be binding, The love of the Sacred Heart alone, and the close band of this sweet union, arc the end and motive of whatever is proposed.
The Yen. Marg. Mary, addressing a letter, dated the 10th of August, 1589, to a Religious of the Society of Jesus, on the happiness of those persons who, at that time, had al ready embraced this devotion, writes thus : 0 ! what great favor has God bestowed upon these souls, by grant ing them so early to taste of a devo tion which is so fit to sanctify them ! I see all of them in this Divine Heart elected and predestined to love him eternally. But it is for the Reverend Father : of the Society of Jesus, that Jesus has reserved the grace to make
108 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
known the value of this precious treasure, from which, the more we draw the more it becomes abundant. They then have it in their power to enrich themselves with all kinds of spiritual goods, and with the most efficacious graces to discharge their duties with the perfection they desire. This .Divine Heart will impart to their sermons, in so great an abundance, the sweet unction of Charity, that with them, as with a two-edged sword, they will pierce the most hardened hearts, drawing the most obstinate sinners to repentance. Lastly, our Lord has resolved to dif fuse by this means the abundance of his divine treasures of grace and salvation upon the Order of the Visitation and the Society of Jesus, demanding in return from both re ligious Orders, a continual homage of love, honor, and praise, and an incessant vigilance in establishing
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 109
and propagating His kingdom in the hearts of all. But the Lord expects from your Society especially great things on this point, and the designs which He has on it arc very great.
O. A. M. D. G.
FIRST OFFICE.
PROMOTER.
TRULY happy shall lie he, to whose lot this office may have fallen, he- cause our loving Saviour has said, "Ho would Himself ho Mediator be- tweon Him and His Divine Father." The Promoter then shall hcg of the Eternal Father, to enlighten all men, that they may know the Sacred Heart of Jesus; He will beg of the Holy Ghost, to make our hearts earnest in loving ; and of the Blessed Virgin, that she would employ her
110 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
intercession to obtain, that the influ ence of this Divine Heart may be ex perienced by all who implore its mercy. To fulfil this office, be faith ful in the following PRACTICES :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunda
.
2. Visit, at least once a day, the Blessed Sacra ment of the Altar, in union with the Choir of Thrones, and say —
0 august Choir of Thrones, I unite myself to you, that in your company I may honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Olwly Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
0 my amiable Jesus, grant, through thy infinite goodness," that all men may know the unparalleled excel lence of thy Sacred Heart ; and that having trampled under foot the world's deceitful pleasures, they may taste the unalterable delights which
SACRED IIEAIIT OF JESUS. Ill
tliou hast prepared for those who sin cerely love tliee. Amen.
?,. ();ir Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore that I may ever love tliee, more and more.
Keeile also. "the daily prayers to the Most IToly Trinity, uii'l to the Blessed Virgin — p. r2T. 128.
N. [>. Tlie above prayers can be all said during the holy sacrifice of the Mass ; and this remark applies to all the similar prayers that follow.
SECOND OFFICE.
REPAIRER.
THE Eepairer shall (in compliance with the wish of our Lord) most humbly beg pardon of God for the injuries which are offered to Him in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar; and he may rest assured that our Lord will more and more forgive him the
112 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
punishment due to his sins, and will make him enjoy the sweet effects of his mercy. To fulfil this office, he faithful in the following Practices :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Kenew every Friday the Act of Reparation. to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
3. Visit every day the most Blessed Sacrament, in union with the Choir of Powers, and say —
August Choir of Heavenly Powers, come to my assistance, that I may he ahle to make some atonement for the many outrages the Sacred Heart, re ceives in the Blessed Sacrament.
0 holy Mary 1 Mother of my Lord ! ohtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
0 my Jesus! I desire to shut my self up within the wound of thy Sa cred Heart, that I may never more he separated from thee. I desire. (.) my good Lord, to employ every possible means to atone for the many offences that are offered thee ; and through
SACRED HEART OP JESUS. 113
love to thy most adorable Heart, I desire to yield up my last "breath in thy service. 0 my God! I offer this Sacred Heart to thy Divine Majesty, in satisfaction for the many outrages them continually receivest from sinners.
4. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
THIRD OFFICE.
ADORER.
OFTEN retire in spirit into the Heart of Jesus, to adore Him and to love Him with all your strength. Rejoice in the eternal praises of God, saying with the Angels, "Holy! holy! holy! is the Lord God Almighty." Be faithful also in the following Practices:
114 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Every clay, make a visit to our Lord, in the BU-sscd Eucharist, in union with the Choir of Dominations, and say —
0 exalted choir of the Heavenly Dominations, offer with me to the august Heart of Jesus, all the good that is done throughout the Catholic world, and consecrate it to His Greater
" O
glory.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
0 my Jesus, worthy Adorer of the Divine Majesty, I join myself with my whole soul to the adorations which thou dost render to thy Heav enly Father in the secrecy of thy Divine Heart ; and I fervently wisli that all the faith and love with which thou inspirest the most hlessed Virgin Mary and thy Saints, could be con tained in mine, in order to honor and
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 115
glorify thce, now and forever, in pro portion to thy merits. Amen.
4. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thce more and more.
FOURTH OFFICE.
LOVING SERVANT.
' i THE Heart of Jesus wishes all things to he done through love. Let us then love Him without reserve ; let us give and sacrifice every thing to ohtain the love of Jesus ; if we pos sess the Heart of God, we shall have all things." To fulfil this sublime office then, he faithful in the follow ing Practices :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit, at least once a day, our loving Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, in union with the Choir of Seraphim, and say — •
116 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
Ye Blessed Seraphim of Paradise ! obtain for me that burning love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with which you are continually inflamed, and let your ceaseless adorations com pensate for our great coldness and indifference.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love his Sacred Heart.
0 most holy Heart of my Jesus, burning furnace of that divine love, which thou earnest to enkindle in the hearts of all men, consume my heart with these heavenly flames, that it may love thee alone. Ye, Seraphim of the Celestial Court, I beseech you to present to the author of my being, iny ardent desire that my heart may be enllamed with love for Him. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im-
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 11 f
plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
FIFTH OFFICE.
DISCIPLE.
You can do nothing Letter calcu lated to make you a true disciple of Christ than to imitate his meekness and humility. Such is the lesson He himself points out fur our study, when he says: "Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Endeavor then to model your life upon this perfect pattern of meekness and humility. The duties of this office will he fulfilled by a faithful compliance with the following Prac tices :
1. Communicate 011 the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit your meek Saviour in the Blessed Eu charist, at least once a day, in union with the Choir of Cherubim, and say —
118 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
Yc holy Cherubim ! receive me into your company, that I may he witness of the heavenly splendor which proceeds from the most Sacred Heart of my Jesus.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
He very shortly will be learned, whom thou, 0 Divine Heart, under takes t to teach. Ah ! teach me also, 0 amiable Heart ; and since thou hast been so good as to appoint me thy Disciple, grant that my heart may be docile to thy divine lessons, and do thou convert all those who are opposed to truth. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 119
SIXTH OFFICE.
VICTIM.
"Jesus iii tlie blessed Sacrament is like the victim of God, and the fire of divine love would consume Him, were He not immortal and impassi ble." Offer yourself to the Eternal Father, together with the Heart of Jesus, especially during Mass and Communion, to obtain more easily the divine mercy for poor sinners : be faithful also in the following Prac tices :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit dailv our amiable Saviour in the Blessed Eucharist, in union with the Choir of Virtues, arid say — •
With you, 0 holy Choir of Virtues ! do I adore the divine justice to which the most loving Heart of Jesus was sacrificed in atonement for our sins.
J20 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heurt.
0 most Holy Heart, who, upon our altars, inakest thyself a Victim of love, what dost thou desire, what dost thou seek, but victims to con tinue in them thy sacrifice? Behold me here, 0 Lord ! take possession of me, that I may be a victim sacrificed and consumed in the flames of thy love, for the greater glory of the Eternal Father and for the salvation of sinners. 0 Heavenly Father, who hast chosen me as a victim, be pleased to accept me through the Sacred Heart of thy only Son, sacrificed for me. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
SACRED HEART OP JESUS. 121
SEVENTH OFFICE.
FAITHFUL SERVANT.
:; You will sacrifice yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so as to will nothing but according to His holy will." Therefore, again and again oiler up your heart to Jesus as to your Master and Lord, by the words : {t 0 Lord ! I ani thy servant," and by preferring in every thing His most holy will to your own. To fulfil this office, be faithful in the following Practices :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit daily your good Master in the Holy Eucharist, uniting yourself with the Archangels, and saying —
0 holy choir of Archangels, call together those that are invited to the table of the divine Lamb, and adorn them with the nuptial garment.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord !
122 SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Pleart.
0 omnipotent love of my God who hast broken the chains that re strained me far from thee. 0 ! won] that I could persuade all those wL - wander as I did, to taste at thy Altars, the delights of this new ser vice, which renders happy all those that embrace it. 0 mysterious sub jection of Jesus in the sacrament of His love, I devote myself entirely to honor thee, and to seek, or to desire at least, that every heart may bo turned to thee. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hull Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
SACKED HEART OF JESUS. 123
EIGHTH OFFICE.
SUPPLIANT.
" OUR Lord lias promised that lie will 1)0 favorable in their last mo ments to those, who. animated with the disposition of the Blessed Virgin on Mount Calvary, will come evury Friday and adore Him on the cross ; offering this holy disposition to the Eternal Father, with the sufferings of his Son, to obtain the conversion of all hardened and unfaithful hearts. Adopt then a devotion so pleasing to the Sacred Heart, and be faithful also in the following Practices :
1. Comnmnieate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit daily our dear Saviour in the Blessed Eucharist, in union with the holy Choir of Angels,
and say — •
0 amiable Choir of Angels, and you in particular, dear Guardian Angels accompany me in this visit
124 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
to our Lord, and offer the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Eternal Father, together with all my prayers, actions and sufferings for his greater glory, and for the repose of the souls in Purgatory.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my God ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
0 Divine Heart ! hear the cries of the needy, and be the consoler of the afflicted, since thou hast always been pleased, 0 merciful Heart ! to forgive and to do good to all. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
4. Pray every day for the agonizing and for the repose of the poor souls in Purgatory.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 125
NINTH OFFICE.
ZEALOUS.
" OUR Lord lias made known to me, (said the Yen. Marg. Mary,) that several names are written in His Heart, on account of the desire they have of causing it to be honored ; and that these names he will never permit to he erased. Therefore, the zealous for the salvation of others, shall take special care in procuring the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by word and example, and by fidelity to the following Practices :
1. Communicate on the first Friday of the month, or on the Sunday following.
2. Visit daily our Divine Redeemer in the Blessed Eucharist, in union "with the Choir of Principalities, and say —
O Zealous Spirits ! Principalities of Heaven ! offer yourselves in union with all the other angelic hosts of the Divine Majesty, and obtain through
126 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
your intercession that the Sacred Heart of my Jesus may be known throughout the whole world, and that he may draw to his love, the numberless idolaters and infidels, who know him not, and the many ungrateful Christians who refuse to pay Him that tribute of honor and adoration which He deserves.
0 holy Mary ! Mother of my Lord ! obtain for me, that I may love His Sacred Heart.
0 Sacred Heart of Jesus, who lovest us so tenderly, how amiable thou art ! When shall I see thee ardently loved by all ! 0 ! that I could spread abroad the wonders of thy love, and obtain from every heart a faithful correspondence to it. Amen.
3. Our Father. Hail Mary. Creed.
0 sweetest Heart of Jesus, I im plore, that I may ever love thee more and more.
SACRED HEART OP JESUS. 127
Recite also, the daily prayers to the Most Holy Trinity, and to the Blessed Virgin.
N. B. The above prayers can be all said during the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
A PRAYER,
To be said daily ~bij all the members.
0 MOST Holy Trinity, one God ! I offer to Thee, in union with the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, all my prayers, actions and sufferings of this day for Thy greater glory "and the accomplishment of Thy holy will ; in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary; my holy Angel Guardian, and all my patron Saints ; for the propagation of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary; in full remission and satisfaction for my sins ; for the conversion of sinners and the perse verance of the just: for the repose of
128 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
the souls in purgatory; for the spiritual profit and perfection of the members of our Confraternity, and for all those for whom I am bound to pray; also, in thanksgiving for all the graces which Thou hast hitherto conferred on me, or which Thou wilt hereafter bestow on me, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER TO THE B. V. MARY,
To l>c said every day l)\j all the members.
0, MY Queen ! 0, my Mother ! I offer myself entirely to thee, and as a proof of iny devotion, I consecrate to thee, this day, my sight, iny hear ing, my speech, my heart, my whole person.
Since, therefore, I am thine, 0 gracious mother ! preserve me, defend
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 129
me, as thy property and thy posses sion. Amen.
ASPIRATIONS IN EVERY TEMPTATION.
0 ! Mary ! 0 ! my Mother I remem ber that I am thine. Preserve me, defend me, as thy property and thy possession.
AN ACT OF ATONEMENT
(EVERY FRIDAY,) TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
0 ! ADORABLE Heart of my Saviour and my God, penetrated with a lively sorrow at the sight of the outrages which Thou hast received, and which Thou daily dost receive in the Sacra ment of Thy love, behold me pros trate at the foot of Thy altar, to make an acceptable atonement. 0 ! that I were able, by my homage and
130 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
veneration, to make satisfaction to Thine injured honor, and efface with my tears and with my blood, so many irreverences, profanations, and sacrileges which outrage Thine infinite goodness. How well should my life be disposed of, could it be sacrificed for so worthy an object ! Pardon, Divine Saviour, my ingratitude, and all the infidelities and indignities which I myself have committed against Thy Sovereign Majesty. Be- member that Thy adorable * Heart, bearing the weight of my sins in the days of its mortal life, was sorowful even unto death ; do not suffer Thy agony and Thy blood to be unprofit able to me. Annihilate within me my criminal heart, and give me one according to Thine — a heart contrite and humble, a heart pure and spot less, a heart which may be hence forth a victim consecrated to Thy glory, and inflamed with the sacred
SACKED HEART OP JESUS. Liil
fire of Thy love. 0! Lord, I deplore in the bitterness of my heart, my former irreverences and sacrileges, which I wish in future to repair, by my pious deportment in the churches, my assiduity in visiting and my de votion and fervor in receiving the most holy Sacrament of the altar. But in order to render my respect and my adoration more grateful to Thee, I unite them with those which are rendered to Thee in our temples, l»y those blessed spirits who are at the foot of Thy sacred tabernacles. Hear their vows, 0 ! my God, and accept the homages of a heart which returns to Thee witli the sole view of loving only Thee, that I may merit to love thee eternally. Amen.
132 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION.
(FOR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH,)
TO THE ADORABLE HEART OP JESUS.
I GIVE and consecrate to the Ador able Heart of Jesus my being, my life, my thoughts, my words, my ac tions, my pains, and my suffer ings. I wish for life only, that my days may be employed in loving, honoring and adoring it. I take Thee, then, 0 ! Divine Heart, for the object of my 1* ve, the protector of my life, the a^.iraiice of my salvation, the remedy of my inconstancy, the repairer of all my defects, and my certain asylum at the hour of my death. 0 ! Heart, abounding in mercy, turn from me the arrows of the just wrath of the Father. I place all my confidence in Tiiee ; for I fear every thing from my weakness, as I hope for every thing from Thy goodness. Destroy
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 133
in me every thing which may dis please and resist Thee ; implant so deeply Thy love in my heart that I may never forget Thee, nor he .sepa rated from Thee. I conjure Thee by Thy infinite goodness, to transform me into a victim entirely consecrated to Thy glory, which may he from this moment inflamed, and one day con sumed in the fire of Thy love. This is the only object of my desires, having no other ambition than that of living and dying in Thee and for Thee. Amen.
MAY the Divine Heart of Jesus, and the immaculate heart of Mary he forever praised, blessed, loved, served and glorified by men and Angels. Amen.
134 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
ACTS OF ADORATION.
•THE ensuing four and twenty acts of adoration to Jesus Christ in tlio blessed Sacrament, may "be recited by way of reparation for all the of fences committed against him by mankind/'
1. Jesus, our Lord and our God, ever adorable ! 0 ! that we could bo present in all the churches through out the universe, where thou art not adored as thou oughtest to be, and where thy inflamed love is not repaid with a gratitude worthy thy Majesty! "We fly at least in spirit, to these holy places now profaned, and offer on Thy altars there, the fervent love and adoration of thy holy Mother, in compensation for the injuries ever done thee by the- Jews, by heretics, and bad Christians. Eternal praise
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 135
Z>e to the ever Messed Sacrament of the Altar.
2. 0 Jesus! true Sun, that dost enlighten the Church., and raisest into a flame the hearts of thy servants ! we adore thee, and to repair the sloth, indifference, and tepidity, of so many religions persons,who, though favored with the aspect of so burning a luminary, remain cold, insensible, and inanimate, we offer up to thee, all the inflamed desires of the Sera phim. Eternal praise., cfcc.
3. We adore thee, 0 eternal wis dom ! and to repair the gross igno rance which has caused us to offend thee, we offer up to thee all the knowledge of those most enlightened spirits, the Cherubim. Eternal praise, &c.
4. We adore thee, 0 most meek and merciful God ! and to repair all the sins of anger, passion, and re venge, highly offensive in thy sight,
136 SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
wo offer up to tlieo the peace, mild ness, and tranquillity of the Thrones. Eternal praise, &c.
5. We adore thee, 0 Sacrament of of Love ! and to repair all the thoughts and criminal desires conceived even at the foot of thy altars, we offer up to thee all the pure affections and chaste desires of the Dominations. Eternal praise, &c.
6. We adore thee, 0 immaculate Lamb ! that takest away the sins of the world ! and to repair all the ir reverences, gazing at dangerous ob jects and disrespectful postures dur ing the time of holy Mass, we offer up to thee the profound respect of the Choir of Yirtues. Eternal praise, &c.
7. We adore thee, 0 source and origin of all sanctity and innocence ! and to repair the abominations com mitted by wicked priests, who conse crate and receive thee in the state of mortal sin : we offer up to thee the
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 137
profound adoration and holiness of the Powers. Eternal praise, etc.
8. We adore thee, sovereign Lord of the universe ! to whom all knees both in heaven and earth should Lend, and all reverence be paid ; and in order to repair the many blasphe mies against thy honor, we offer up to thee the praises and homage of the Principalities. Eternal praise, &c.
9. We adore thee, Saviour of the world ! to whom all fidelity and glory is due, and to repair the sacri legious communions and treacheries of so many false consciences, we offer up to thee the fervent and faithful zeal of the Archangels. Eternal praise, &c.
10. We adore thee, the delight of heaven and earth ! and to repair the neglect, indifference, and contempt mankind shows to that amorous invi tation by which thou callest them to thy sweet embraces in the holy Eu-
138 SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
eharist, we offer up to thee the ready obedience, content and happiness of the Angels. Eternal praise, d'c.
11. We adore thee, never failing bounty and goodness ! and to repair man's offensive diffidence in thy ten der mercy, we offer up to thee the steadfast reliance and assurance of the holy Patriarchs in thy promises. Eternal praise, &c.
12. We adore thee, 0 amiable Jesus ! and revere the sacred mystery of the blessed Eucharist, revealed by thy Divine word, taught by the Church, and proved by miracles ; and to repair the doubts men have had of thy real presence in the holy Sacrament, we offer up to thee the clue submission shown by the Prophets to thy Divine oracles. Eternal praise, &c.
13. We adore thee, most tender and most amiable of all Fathers! and to make reparation for the errors
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 13(J
and infidelities of thy own children, we offer up to thee the faith of the Apostles. Eternal praise, d:c.
14. We adore thee. most loving Shepherd, pattern of true charity ! and to make reparation for the de signs, of revenge conceived in defi ance of thy Divine prohibitions, we offer up to thee, the patience and prayers of the Martyrs in favor of their persecutors. Eternal praise, &c.
15. We adore thee, inexhaustible fund of treasures ! and to make repa ration for all the robberies committed in thy churches, we offer up to thee the rich and bountiful donations of
thy devout servants. Eternal praise, j> -*•
occ.
16. We adore thee, 0 most watch ful advocate ! and to make repara tion for the many negligences of those who have any authority in the Church to correct the abuses and irreverences
140 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
there committed against thee, we offer up to thee the exact attention and careful solicitude of holy Bishops and Prelates. Eternal praise, &e.
17. We adore thee, 0 God of in finite majesty ! whom we can never sufficiently adore and reverence ; and to make reparation for all the impi ous oaths pronounced against thee, we offer up to thee the pious discourses made in thy honor by the holy Doc tors of the Church. Eternal praise, &c.
18. We adore thee, most hidden and most humble Divinity ! and to make reparation for all the contests, disputes, punctilios of honor and scandal, by which thou hast been of fended, we offer up to thee the hu mility of the holy Confessors. Eter nal praise, &c.
19. We adore thee, eternal Priest! whose delight is to offer sacrifice ! and to make reparation for the in-
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 141
suits and affronts done to thy Priests, Religious, and Virgins, we offer up to thee thy own invincible patience, together with the true and fervent zeal of all good Priests and Apostolic Preachers. Eternal praise, &e.
20. We adore thee, true bread of Angels ! and to make reparation for the sins committed against thy com mand of abstinence, we offer up to thee the fasts and temperance of the holy Anchorets. Eternal praise, cOc.
21. We adore thee, 0 God of ail purity ! and to make reparation for all the sins which have hitherto been committed against the virtue of purity, we offer up to thee the modesty and penance of all holy religious men and women. Eternal praise, d:c.
22. We adore thee, amiable spouse of our souls ! and to make reparation for all the lukewarmness and indif ference shown by many, particularly in time of holy Communion, we offer
142 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
up to theo the raptures and ecstacies of holy Virgins. Eternal praise, &c.
23. We adore thee, most worthy object of the love and affection of men and angels ! and to repair the profanations committed in thy churches by the effusion of so much innocent blood, as also to make sonic- atonement for the poor and indigent manner in which tliou art entertained there, we offer up to thee the piety of all the blessed saints, and the dis tress and want in which thy perse cuted servants lived. Eternal praise,
n •*•
<&c.
24. We adore thee, Son of the ever glorious Virgin ! and to make a general reparation, as much as lies in our power, for all the iudignities thou hast suffered from men since the institution of this adorable mystery, we have recourse to thy holy Mother ; looking upon her, as under thee, the
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 1 4 3
greatest and most secure refuge of sinners. Eternal praise, cf-c.
0 Queen of heaven and earth ! hope of mankind, who adorest thy Divine (Son incessantly, we entreat tliee, that since we have the honor to be of the number of thy children, thou wonldst interest thyself in our behalf, and' make satisfaction for us, and in our name, to our eternal Judge, by rendering to him the duties we ourselves are incapable of performing. Amen.
'•'It would be advisable to recite these acts every Thursday or Fri day. Their number corresponds to the hours of the day and night. In each of these hours, the most amiable Heart of Jesus in the Eu charist is offended and insulted throughout the world. This recital of the above acts, is a reparation of honor we make for these offences: nor can it seem too much. However.
144 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
if on account of other occupations it should appear so, fail not once a month at least, and particularly on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, to ac quit yourself of this duty. You will let me, devout soul, recommend to your piety another most easy practice. You have, perhaps, a number of friends, and those equally engaged with you in this holy devo tion. Take to yourself one of tlie.se acts, divide the others amongst your friends. Let each of them recite daily and offer up to God his respec tive adoration. Nothing can be more practicable, nothing more agreeable to the amiable and offended Heart of your Divine Saviour, or more satis factory, for so many offences, daily committed against him."
INDULGENCES
GRANTED TO THE MEMBERS OP THE CONFRATERNITY OF
REMARK 1. — There are two indispensable requisites to gain any Indulgence whatever. The first is, to bo in the state of grace ; the second, to comply with the conditions upon which it is granted.
REMARK 2. — A general condition to gain any of the Indulgences enumerated below, is, that the members of the Confraternity shall recite daily, in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Creed, and the short Aspiration: "Benign Heart of Jesus ! grant that I may love thee more and more." The other conditions will be indicated in the notes, page 154.
REMARK 3.— When the visit of a church is required by the conditions of the Indulgence, the members who coi:ld not make this visit are to perform some other pious work enjoined by their Confessor.
A PLENARY INDULGENCE: — 1st. On the day of admission into the Confra ternity. (A)
2d. On the first Friday, or the first Sunday of every month. (A) 145
146 SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
3d. Once a month, on any day, at the choice of the members. (A)
4th. Once a month, for those who recite three times, Glory be to the Father, &c., morning, afternoon, and night, in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity, for the graces and priv ileges bestowed on the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially in her glorious As sumption. (A) Also, an Indulgence of one hundred days for each recitation.
5th. At the hour of death for those who, being truly penitent and re signed to the Divine Will, invoke at least, from their heart, the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
An Indulgence of sixty days for every good work devoutly performed by the members of the Confraternity.
An indulgence of ten years and ten quarantines (that is, ten times forty days) on each of the three Ember days of the four seasons of the year.
(B)
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 14 7
On the first of January, the Cir cumcision of our Lord, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quaran tines. (B)
On the 6th, the Epiphany, the same indulgence. (B)
On the 2d of February, the Purifi cation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 24th, St. Mathias, an in dulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On Septuagesima, Sexigesima, and Quinquagesinia Sundays, an indul gence of thirty years and thirty quar antines. (B)
On Ash Wednesday, an indulgence of fifteen years and fifteen quaran tines. (B)
On the fourth Sunday in Lent, the same indulgence. (B)
On Palm Sunday, an indulgence of twenty-five years and twenty-five quarantines. (B)
148 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
On Holy Thursday, a plenary in dulgence, (c)
On Good Friday, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines
(B)
On Holy Saturday, the same indul gence. (B)
On every day in Lent, except those already mentioned, an indulgence of ten years and ten quarantines. (B)
On Easter Sunday, a plenary in dulgence, (c)
Every day within the Octave of Easter, including Low Sunday, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines. (B)
On the 19th of March, St. Joseph's day, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 25th, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the same indulgence, (c)
A plenary indulgence on each of the six Fridays, or the six Sundays,
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 149
immediately preceding the Feast of the Sacred Heart. (D)
An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines on each of the four Sundays immediately preceding the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every day during the No-vena which precedes the Feast of the Sacred Heart. (E)
An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines on each of the three days immediately preceding the Feast of the Sacred Heart. (E)
A plenary indulgence on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or the Sunday following. (A)
On the 25th of April, St. Mark's day, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines. (B)
On each of the three Rogation days, the same indulgence. (B)
On Ascension Day, a plenary in dulgence, (c)
150 SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
On the Eve of Whit Sunday, an indulgence of ten years and ten quar antines. (B)
On Whit Sunday, and every day during the Octave until Saturday in clusively, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines. (B)
On the 1st of May, St. Philip and St. James, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the llth of June, St. Barnabas, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the 29th, St. Peter and St. Paul, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 2d of July, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an in dulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the 25th, St. James, an indul gence of seven years and seven quar antines. (B)
On the 15th of August, the As-
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 151
sumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 24th, St. Bartholomew, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the 8th of September, the Na tivity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 21st, St. Matthew, an in dulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the 28th of October, St. Simon and St. Jude, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. (B)
On the 1st of November, All Saints, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 2d, the Commemoration of All Souls, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 21st, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an indul gence of seven years and seven quar antines. (B)
On the 30th, St. Andrew, the same indulgence. (B)
152 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
On the first and second Sundays of Advent, an indulgence of ten years and ten quarantines. (B)
On the third Sunday, an indul gence of fifteen years and fifteen quar antines. (B)
On the fourth Sunday, an indul gence of ten years and ten quaran tines. (B)
On the 8th of December, the Con ception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a plenary indulgence, (c)
On the 21st, St. Thomas, an indul gence of seven years and seven quar antines. (B)
On the 24th, Christmas Eve, an indulgence of fifteen years and fifteen quarantines. (B)
On^the 25th, Christmas day, a ple nary indulgence (c), and also an in dulgence of fifteen years and fifteen quarantines at the mid-night Mass, and at the second Mass at day-break
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 153
On the 26th, St. Stephen's day, an indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines. (B)
On the 27th, St. John, the same indulgence. (B)
On the 28th, the Holy Innocents, the same indulgence. (B)
All tlic-se Indulgences are applicable to the Souls in Purgatory.
154 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
NOTES.
(A) The conditions are, confession, communion, and prayers, according to the intention of the Pope.
(B) To gain this Indulgence, the members are to visit the church of their Confraternity, and there pray, according to the intention of the Pope.
(c) The conditions are, confession, communion, to visit the church of the Confraternity, and there pray, according to the intention of tae Pope.
(D) The conditions are, confession, communion, to visit any church in which the Feast of the Sa cred Heart is celebrated, and there pray, according to the intention of the Pope.
(E) To gain this Indulgence, the members are to visit the church in Avhich the Feast of the Sa cred Heart is celebrated, and there pray, accord ing to the intention of the Pope.
PRAYERS
TO THE
SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
PRAYERS.*
WITH THREE OUR FATHER, AC.
" The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
0 ETERNAL Word, made man for the love of us! humbly prostrate at thy feet, we adore thee with the most profound respect, and to make repa ration for our ingratitude in regard to so great a benefit, we unite in heart with all those who love thee, and offer thee our most humble and most sincere thanks. Feelingly impressed
* A plenary Indulgence, once a month, is at tached to the daily recitation of these prayers, (see note A, ) and an Indulgence of three hundred days, once a day.
155
156 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
with the exceedingly great humility, goodness, and meekness, which we behold in thy Divine Heart, we hum bly beg the assistance of thy grace to imitate these virtues, which are so dear to thee. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory be, &c.
li He was also crucified, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried."
0 JESUS, our amiable Redeemer ! humbly prostrate at thy feet, we adore thee with the most profound respect, and to give thee a proof of the sorrow which we feel for our in sensibility to all the outrages which thy loving Heart prompted thee to suffer for our salvation, during thy bitter Passion and death, we unite with all those who love thee to give thee thanks with our whole soul. We admire the infinite patience and generosity of thy Divine Heart, and humbly beseech thee to fill ours with
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 157
that spirit of Christian mortification which will enable us courageously to bear sufferings, and place our great est consolation and all our glory in thy Cross. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory be, &c.
'•' Thou gavest them bread from heaven, having in it all that is delicious."
0 JESUS, burning with love for us! humbly prostrate at thy sacred feet, we adore thee with the most profound respect, and in satisfaction for the outrages which thy Divine Heart daily receives in the most Holy Sa crament of the altar, we unite with all those who love thee, and are most thankful for thy benefits. We love in thy Divine Heart that incompre hensible fire of charity with which it is inflamed for thy Eternal Father, and we beseech thee to kindle in ours an ardent love for thee, and for our
158 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
neighbor. Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory be, &c.
Finally, 0 most amiable Jesus! we beseech thee by the sweetness of thy Divine Heart, to convert sinners, to comfort the afflicted, to assist those who are in their agony, and to relieve the souls in Purgatory. Unite our hearts in the bond of true peace and charity; deliver us from an unpro vided death, and grant that ours may be holy and undisturbed. Amen.
V. Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us!
li. Inflame our hearts with love for thee.
Let us pray.
GRANT we beseech thee, 0 Almighty God ! that we who glory in the most holy Heart of thy beloved Son, and commemorate the principal benefits of his love towards us, may rejoice, not only in receiving them, but also
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 159
in the fruit which they will produce in our souls. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.
0 DIVIXE Heart of Jesus ! I adore tlice with all the powers of my soul, and consecrate them for ever to thee, with all my thoughts, words, actions, and my whole "being. I wish to offer thee acts of adoration, love, and praise, similar as much as possible to those which thou oiferest to the Eter nal Father. Be thou, I beseech thee, the repairer of my faults, the pro tector of my life, my refuge and se curity at the hour of my death. 0 most loving Jesus ! through the an guish and bitter sorrows which thou didst endure for my sake during the whole course of thy mortal life, grant me perfect contrition for my sins, true contempt for earthly things, an ardent desire of eternal glory, a lively confidence in thy infinite iner-
160 SACRED HEART OP JESUS.
cies, and final perseverance in thy grace.
0 most loving Heart of Jesus ! I offer thee these humble prayers for myself, and for all those who unite with me to adore thee. Vouchsafe to receive them in thy infinite goodness and graciously to hear them, especially for him amongst us who will first de part this mortal life. Most benign Heart of my Saviour ! pour into his soul, amid the agonies of death, thy inward consolations ; receive him into thy sacred wounds, purify him from all earthly defilements in that furnace of love, that he may be ad mitted into the mansions of bliss, and become an intercessor with thee for all those who will still remain in this land of exile.
Most holy Heart of my amiable Jesus ! I wish to renew these prayers and acts of adoration every time I breathe till the very last moment of
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 161
my life, and to offer them to thee for myself, a miserable sinner, and for all who are associated to adore thee. I pray thee, 0 my Jesus ! for the holy Church, thy beloved spouse and our true mother, for the just, for all sinners, for those who are in their agony, and for all mankind : let not the blood which was . shed for their sake, prove useless to them ; vouch safe also to apply it to the relief of the souls in purgatory, and particu larly to the souls of those who during their life, have practised the holy de votion of adoring thee.
Most amiable heart of Mary ! which among the hearts of all crea tures art the purest, the most inflamed with love for that of Jesus, and at the same time the most mericful to wards sinners, obtain for us of our Divine Eedeemer, the graces which we beg of thee. 0 mother of mercy ! one aspiration, a mere motion of thy
162 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
loving heart towards that of thy Di vine Son, can procure entire consola- .tion to our souls; do then intercede for us with him, and, moved "by the filial love which he had and always will have for thee, he will infallibly .grant our petitions. Amen.
A DAILY OFFERING.0
0 MY amiahle Jesus ! I, N. N., to testify my gratitude to thee and make reparation for all my infidelities, give thee my heart. I consecrate myself entirely to thee, and, with the assistance of thy grace, I firmly purpose to sin no more for the future.
* A plenary indulgence, once a month, is attached to the daily recitation of this prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart, (see note A, ) and an indulgence of one hundred days, once a day.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 163
A PRAYER TO THE B. SACRAMENT AND TO THE S. HEART.*
"He loved me, and delivered himself for me."
Gal. ii, 20.
BEHOLD how far thy infinite love has gone, 0 loving Jesus ! out of thy sacred flesh and precious blood tliou hast prepared a divine banquet to give thyself entirely to me. What could ever have prompted thee to such demonstrations of love ? No thing, undoubtedly, but thy most loving Heart. 0 adorable Heart of my Saviour ! burning furnace of the divine love, receive my soul into thy sacred wound, that, at this school of Charity, I may learn to love that God who has given me such proofs of his love. Amen.
*An indulgence of one hundred days, once a day, is attached to the recitation of this prayer.
164 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION.
ADORABLE Heart of Jesus ! in which "all the fullness of the God head dwelleth corporally!" penetrated with gratitude for thy unbounded mercies, I consecrate myself entirely to thee,— my body, my soul, my thoughts, my words, my actions, and all the affections of my heart. The remainder of my life shall he spent in thy service, sanctified by thy love, and devoted to thy glory. Thou wilt henceforth be my refuge in affliction, my light, my hope,, my strength, my consolation, my all. Thy will shall be the rule of my life, and by following it, I shall walk in the paths of justice and peace. Bless, 0 Divine Jesus ! and consume my sacrifice by the sacred fire of thy love. Annihi late in me all that is displeasing in thy sight. Render my heart like to
SACRED HEART OP JESUS. 165
thine,' — humble, meek, patient, and pure. Hide it within thy own, that it may never be separated from thee. Amen.
AN ACT OF REPARATION.
ADORABLE Heart of Jesus, Victim of propitiation for our sins ! the con templation of thy infinite goodness for mankind, and of their ingratitude towards thee, absorbs all the powers of my soul. Always burning with love for them in the Sacrament of of our Altars, thou art daily oifended by their irreverences and sacrilegious profanations. " Be astonished, 0 ye heavens ! at this : they have forgot ten the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel ! ' ' Penetrated with grief at the thought of these enormities, I prostrate myself before thee, 0 Divine Redeemer ! to make reparation for them by the most
166 SACRED HEART OE JESUS.
humble and fervent acts of adoration. " We have sinned, we have done un justly, we have committed wicked ness ;" hut remember, 0 Jesus ! that thy loving Heart bore the weight of our iniquities in the days of thy mortal life : it was wounded, it bled for them on the Cross, and its last aspiration was an appeal for mercy and forgiveness in behalf of sinners. Spare us then, 0 Jesus! spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with, thy precious blood. Accept the tribute of praise and gratitude which we offer for the infinite love which renders thee present in our tabernacles ; pardon our former trans gressions, and bless the resolution which we now take, of repairing them by our respect and devotion in thy divine presence, and particularly by the fervor with which we will re ceive thee in Holy Communion. En kindle in our hearts the fire of thy
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 167
love, withdraw our affections from all earthly things, and mercifully grant that we may live in thee and for thee. Amen.
ASPIRATIONS TO THE S. HEART.
HEART of Jesus, in which uare hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge !" be thou my comfort in adversity, my guide in prosperity, and my protection against my ene mies, visible and invisible.
Heart of Jesus, perfect adorer of the heavenly Father ! teach me to adore Him with thee and by thee, in spirit and truth.
Heart of Jesus, Yictim of propitia tion 1 grant that I may truly repent and atone for my sins.
Heart of Jesus, consumed by the ardor of thy zeal for the glory of G-od 1 grant that I may seek it in all my actions.
168 SACRED HEART OB1 JESUS.
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto •death, and even to the death of the Cross ! teach me to submit in all things to the dispensations of heaven.
Heart of Jesus, centre and model of all hearts ! grant that mine may he pure, humble, meek, patient and worthy of thy love.
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with grief for the sins of mankind ! grant that I may wash away mine in a flood of penitential tears.
When the clock strikes.
Grant, 0 Lord! that every mo ment of my life may be consecrated to thy service, and that I may forever love and bless thee, through the Sacred Heart of Jesus thy Son.
THE PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE.
HAIL, 0 Sacred Heart of Jesus ! living and vivifying source of eternal
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 169
life, infinite treasury of the Divinity, burning furnace of Divine love ! thou art my refuge and ray sanctuary. 0 my amiable Saviour ! consume my heart with that sacred fire with which thine is inflamed ; pour down on my soul those graces which flow from thy love, and let my heart be BO united with thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things conformable to thine. May thine be the standard and rule of all my de sires and actions. Amen.
Let us pray.
LORD Jesus Christ, who hast vouch safed to open to thy Church the un speakable treasures of thy Divine Heart, grant, we humbly beseech thee, that we may be enriched and comforted by i\Q heavenly graces, which constantly flow from that in exhaustible source of love and mercy. Who livest, &c.
170 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
0 Almighty and Eternal God ! look on the Heart of thy beloved Son: behold the atonement and praise which it offers to thee in behalf of sinners, and being appeased by them, grant us, who implore thy mercy, pardon and peace, in the name of the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Arnen.
$5TFor those whose duties may not leave time for longer exercises, we subjoin the following brief —
DEVOTIONS
TO THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
"I will speak to His Heart, and I shall obtain of it all I wish." ST. BOXAVENTDRE.
WE read in the authentic writings of the Ven. Marguerite Mary, these remarkable words regarding the De votion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus : — "I say with confidence, if it were known how agreeable to Jesus is this devotion, there is not a Christian, however slight be his affection for our loving Redeemer, who would not practice it. Our Lord has shown me treasures of love and graces for those who shall consecrate themselves to give and procure for His Heart all
in
172 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
the love, honor and glory in their power. He reserves incomprehensi ble treasures for all, who will en deavor to establish this devotion."
GENERAL PRACTICES.
1. To enrol one's self in the Arch- Confraternity of the Sacred Heart. To receive communion the first Fri day of each month.
2. To celebrate with great devo tion the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and prepare for it by a solemn ISTovena.
3. To consecrate the month of June to the Sacred Heart. How many graces would this Divine Heart confer, if during this month the image were exposed in all churches on an altar richly adorned, as on a throne of mercy to receive our hom age and hear our prayers ! As Mary
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 173
is the way that leads to Jesus, so the month of Mary will conduct us to the month of the Sacred Heart.
4. Every year to place in one poor family a large image of the Sacred Heart of the Divine Consoler of all suffer ings.
5. To cherish a union in all things with the Heart of Jesus, that he may supply our imperfections.
6. To spread everywhere practices, images, hooks adapted to increase the love of the Sacred Heart.
THE WEEK SANCTIFIED.
SUNDAY. — Consideration. — Devotion to the Sacred Heart has for object the Adorable Heart of Jesus, and the infinite love which it has for us. Its end is to give Him love for love, to thank Him for His benefits, and to make reparation for the outrages He
174 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
continually endures. It was revealed to us at this time, as the most effica cious means of regenerating the world, and re-animating in the hearts of Christians, their wavering faith and languid charity.
Prayers lefore tlie Image of the S. Heart
My amiable Saviour, desiring to testify to you my gratitude, and to repair my infidelities, I give you my heart, I consecrate myself entirely to to you, and propose never to sin again. (100 days Ind., Pius VII.) Sacred Heart of Jesus, scatter your benedictions on the holy Church, on her ministers, and all her children, support the just, convert sinners, help the dying, deliver the souls from Purgatory, and extend the sweet empire of your love over all hearts. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father, &c.
SACKED HEART OF JESUS. 175
Oh! Mary, make us know the Sa cred Heart of Jesus !
.— Consideration. —Devotion to the Sacred Heart should not be the exclusive privilege of some pious souls. Our Lord has recommended that it be published and spread in every place. Are not all men the objects of His tenderness ? Have not all men been covered with His Sacred Blood, and loaded with His benefits? Have not all wounded that adorable Heart with their sins? It is then a duty for all to bring to the Heart of Jesus a tribute of love, of gratitude, and of reparation. Oh ! Jesus, ex claimed St. Liguori, make known to men the august titles you have to their love. Prayers ae above.
Oh ! Mary, make us love and imi tate the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
TUESDAY. — Consideration.— To com prehend well the important place the
176 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
devotion to the Sacred Heart occupies in Catholic worship, it is enough to consider that Our Lord has Himself asked the establishment and propa gation of it : that He has determined its principal practices, and has made in favor of those who would conse crate themselve to it, the most consol ing promises ; such- as, union in family, fervor in the service of God, consolation in trouble, success in en terprises, and the sweetest security at the hour of death. Prayers as above.
Oh ! Mary, render us zealous for the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
WEDNESDAY. — Consideration.-- Jesus is not known enough : His love is not sufficiently understood. It is known, tu be sure, that He is God; that He died for us ; that He is present in the Eucharist : but He is not known, as a child knows his
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 177
tender father ; as a friend knows his devoted friend ; He is not known, in a word, with that knowledge of the heart whence arise intimacy and con fidence. Now, devotion to the Sa cred Heart will make us know and love Jesus, by unveiling to us the mysteries of His mercy, the sweet influences of His love, and the ma ternal solicitude of His Providence. Prayers as above.
Oh ! Mary, obtain for us a great confidence in the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
THURSDAY. — Consideration. — The Heart of Jesus was formed for us : it has palpitated, prayed, suffered for our salvation, It has dictated the most moving passages of the Gospel, and instituted the Sacraments. This Heart, by its mysterious wound, has given birth to the Church, as the holy Fathers teach, and from the Holy Tabernacle it supports, directs,
178 SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
protects and consoles it. This Heart inspires all devotions, sanctifies all our sorrows, and gives birth to all virtues. This Heart pardons us in the Sacred Tribunal, and speaks to us in the interior inspirations of grace. This Heart, in fine, gave us Mary for our mother, and left us the Eucharist as the nourishment of our souls, and our consolation in this exile. Prayers as above.
Oh ! Mary, make us love you as the Sacred Heart of Jesus loves you.
FRIDAY.— Consideration.— QUY Lord expressed the desire He felt to see His infinite love honored under the figure of His wounded Heart, and surrounded with the instruments of His Passion. He has promised wherever this Image would be, it would scatter abundant benedictions. And what can the Heart of Jesus do, where He may be, but love, bless and console?— The Image of the Sacred Heart is a simple
SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 179
sermon, continually and pressingly inviting us to love and trust in a God, who has loved men so much. Foi two centuries Jesus has expressed this desire, and yet how many churches, how many Christian houses, have not tho image of the Sacred Heart ! How many sick, how many poor, how many afflicted souls have not "before their eyes the image of this great model of resignation, of this Divine consoler ! Prayers as above.
Oh ! Mary, place us near you in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
SATURDAY. — Consideration.— St. Au gustine compares the Heart of Jesus to the ark of Noah, in which all that enter will "be saved from shipwreck. From this open Heart escapes, says St. Cyprian, the fountain that springs up into everlasting life. The Heart of Jesus, says St. Bernardine, is a furnace of the most ardent charity, destined to inflame the universe. St,
180 SACKED HEART OF JESUS.
Peter Damian calls this Heart the universal treasure of wisdom and knowledge ; St. Francis of Sales, the source of all graces, and St. Bonaven- ture, the treasury of all kinds of good ; St. Francis of Assisium, St. Clare, St. Aloysius, invoked it continually, as the centre of Divine love ; in fine, this amiable Heart was given to St. Mechtilda as a place of refuge during life, and as the greatest consolation at the moment of death. Prayers as above.
Oh ! Mary, we offer you the Sacred Heart of Jesus ; we can present you nothing more agreeable than the Heart of your Divine Son, as you have yourself declared to St. Gertrude. Keceive it, then, Oh ! tender Mother, with the hearts of all your children, whose device shall ever be : All to the Heart of Jesus through the Heart of Mary I
tft QO. o P CKS Etcrq E± ^ P
r 2 ^o < r«j w 2~.
^ " ""•
ifv^^rtr^**-**^^
§>
-. $
S P i.
==? O
-s O
Oc C_
~ O '^~
M 2
EL o
?rs
^ ^
^ 3 »
c o ^^
a o ^S
M O
-h p s
rr" =S c^
Ul CO
«-;j M O
P §
« "— ' c^"
CO O c^
p gq «^
P:^ cr
- u 0 « «-r
"