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Those who sought to discourage the Israelites from going up to the
Promised Land, told them that it was "a land which eateth up the
inhabitants thereof;" (1) that is, that the climate was so
unhealthy that the inhabitants could not live long, and that the
people thereof were "men of a great stature," who looked upon the
new-comers as mere locusts to be devoured.
It is just so, my daughter, that the world runs down true
devotion, painting devout people with gloomy, melancholy aspect,
and affirming that religion makes them dismal and unpleasant. But
even as Joshua and Caleb protested that not only was the Promised
Land a fair and pleasant country, but that the Israelites would
take an easy and peaceful possession thereof, so the Holy Spirit
tells us through His Saints, and our Lord has told us with His Own
Lips, that a devout life is very sweet, very happy and very
loveable.
The world, looking on, sees that devout persons fast, watch and
pray, endure injury patiently, minister to the sick and poor,
restrain their temper, check and subdue their passions, deny
themselves in all sensual indulgence, and do many other things
which in themselves are hard and difficult. But the world sees
nothing of that inward, heartfelt devotion which makes all these
actions pleasant and easy.
Watch a bee hovering over the mountain thyme;--the juices it
gathers are bitter, but the bee turns them all to honey,--and so
tells the worldling, that though the devout soul finds bitter
herbs along its path of devotion, they are all turned to sweetness
and pleasantness as it treads;--and the martyrs have counted fire,
sword, and rack but as perfumed flowers by reason of their
devotion. And if devotion can sweeten such cruel torments, and
even death itself, how much more will it give a charm to ordinary
good deeds?
We sweeten unripe fruit with sugar, and it is useful in
correcting the crudity even of that which is good. So devotion is
the real spiritual sweetness which takes away all bitterness from
mortifications; and prevents consolations from disagreeing with
the soul: it cures the poor of sadness, and the rich of
presumption; it keeps the oppressed from feeling desolate, and the
prosperous from insolence; it averts sadness from the lonely, and
dissipation from social life; it is as warmth in winter and
refreshing dew in summer; it knows how to abound and how to suffer
want; how to profit alike by honour and contempt; it accepts
gladness and sadness with an even mind, and fills men's hearts
with a wondrous sweetness.
Ponder Jacob's ladder:--it is a true picture of the devout
life; the two poles which support the steps are types of prayer
which seeks the love of God, and the Sacraments which confer that
love; while the steps themselves are simply the degrees of love by
which we go on from virtue to virtue, either descending by good
deeds on behalf of our neighbour or ascending by contemplation to
a loving union with God.
Consider, too, who they are who trod this ladder; men with
angels' hearts, or angels with human forms. They are not youthful,
but they seem to be so by reason of their vigour and spiritual
activity. They have wings wherewith to fly, and attain to God in
holy prayer, but they have likewise feet wherewith to tread in
human paths by a holy gracious intercourse with men; their faces
are bright and beautiful, inasmuch as they accept all things
gently and sweetly; their heads
and limbs are uncovered, because their thoughts, affections and
actions have no motive or object save that of pleasing God; the
rest of their bodies is covered with a light shining garment,
because while they use the world and the things of this life, they
use all such purely and honestly, and no further than is needful
for their condition --such are the truly devout.
Believe me, dear child, devotion is the sweetest of sweets, the
queen of virtues, the perfection of love. If love is the milk of
life, devotion is the cream thereof; if it is a fruitful plant,
devotion is the blossom; if it is a precious stone, devotion is
its brightness; if it is a precious balm, devotion is its perfume,
even that sweet odour which delights men and causes the angels to
rejoice.
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