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I can think of three kinds of place by means of which
God is wont to move the will to devotion. The first
consists in certain dispositions of the ground and
situation, which, by means of a pleasing effect of
variety, whether obtained by the arrangement of the
ground or of trees, or by means of quiet solitude,
naturally awaken devotion.These places it is
beneficial to use, if they at once lead the will to
God and cause it to forget the places themselves,
even as, in order to reach one's journey's end, it is
advisable not to pause and consider the means and
motive of the journey more than is necessary. For
those who strive to refresh their desires and to gain
sensible sweetness will rather find spiritual aridity
and distraction; for spiritual sweetness and
satisfaction are not found save in interior
recollection.
2. When they are in such a place, therefore, they
should forget it and strive to be inwardly with God,
as though they were not in that place at all. For, if
they be attached to the pleasure and delight of the
place, as we have said, they are seeking refreshment
of sense and instability of spirit rather than
spiritual repose.
The anchorites and other holy hermits, who in the
most vast and pleasing wildernesses selected the
smallest places that sufficed for them, built there
the smallest cells and caves, in which to imprison
themselves. Saint Benedict was in such a place for
three years, and another -- namely, Saint Simon[674]
-- bound himself with a cord that he might have no
more liberty nor go any farther than to places within
its reach; and even so did many who are too numerous
ever to be counted.
Those saints understood very clearly that, if they
quenched not the desire and eagerness for spiritual
sweetness and pleasure, they could not attain to
spirituality.
3. The second kind is of a more special nature,
for it relates to certain places (not necessarily
deserts, but any places whatsoever) where God is
accustomed to grant to a few special persons certain
very delectable spiritual favours; ordinarily, such a
place attracts the heart of the person who has
received a favour there, and sometimes gives him
great desires and yearnings to return to it;
although, when he goes there, what happened to him
before is not repeated, since this is not within his
control.
For God grants these favours when and how and
where He pleases, without being tied to any place or
time, nor to the free-will of the person to whom He
grants them. Yet it is good to go and pray in such
places at times if the desire is free from
attachment; and this for three reasons.
First, because although, as we said, God is not
bound to any place, it would seem that He has willed
to be praised by a soul in the place where He has
granted it a favour. Secondly, because in that place
the soul is more mindful to give thanks to God for
that which it has received there. Thirdly, because,
by remembering that favour, the soul's devotion is
the more keenly awakened.
4. It is for these reasons that a man should go to
such places, and not because he thinks that God is
bound to grant him favours there, in such a way as to
be unable to grant them wheresoever He wills, for the
soul is a fitter and more comely place for God than
any physical place.
Thus we read in Holy Scripture that Abraham built
an altar in the very place where God appeared to him,
and invoked His holy name there, and that afterwards,
coming from Egypt, he returned by the same road where
God had appeared to him, and called upon God there
once more at the same altar which he had built.[675]
Jacob, too, marked the place where God had appeared
to him, leaning upon a ladder, by raising there a
stone which he anointed with oil.[676] And Agar gave
a name to the place where the angel had appeared to
her, and prized it highly, saying: 'Of a truth I have
here seen the back of Him that seeth me.'[677]
5. The third kind consists of certain special
places which God chooses that He may be called upon
and served there, such as Mount Sinai, where He gave
the law to Moses.[678] And the place that He showed
Abraham, that he might sacrifice his son there.[679]
And likewise Mount Horeb, where He appeared to our
father Elias.[680]
6. The reason for which God chooses these places
rather than others, that He may be praised there, is
known to Himself alone. What it behoves us to know is
that all is for our advantage, and that He will hear
our prayers there, and also in any place where we
pray to Him with perfect faith; although there is
much greater opportunity for us to be heard in places
dedicated to His service, since the Church has
appointed and dedicated those places to that end. |