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The Disciple
It is the mark of a perfect man, Lord, never to let
his mind relax in attention to heavenly things, and
to pass through many cares as though he had none; not
as an indolent man does, but having by the certain
prerogative of a free mind no disorderly affection
for any created being.Keep me, I beg You, most
merciful God, from the cares of this life, lest I be
too much entangled in them. Keep me from many
necessities of the body, lest I be ensnared by
pleasure. Keep me from all darkness of mind, lest I
be broken by troubles and overcome. I do not ask
deliverance from those things which worldly vanity
desires so eagerly, but from those miseries which, by
the common curse of humankind, oppress the soul of
Your servant in punishment and keep him from entering
into the liberty of spirit as often as he would.
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the
carnal comfort that draws me from love of the eternal
and lures me to its evil self by the sight of some
delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome
me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let
not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the
devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to
resist, patience to endure, and constancy to
persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Your
spirit rather than all the consolations of the world,
and in place of carnal love, infuse into me the love
of Your name.
Behold, eating, drinking, clothing, and other
necessities that sustain the body are burdensome to
the fervent soul. Grant me the grace to use such
comforts temperately and not to become entangled in
too great a desire for them. It is not lawful to cast
them aside completely, for nature must be sustained,
but Your holy law forbids us to demand superfluous
things and things that are simply for pleasure, else
the flesh would rebel against the spirit. In these
matters, I beg, let Your hand guide and direct me, so
that I may not overstep the law in any way.
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The Voice of Christ
My child, you should give all for all, and in no way belong to
yourself. You must know that self-love is more harmful to you than
anything else in the world. In proportion to the love and
affection you have for a thing, it will cling to you more or less.
If your love is pure, simple, and well ordered, you will not be a
slave to anything. Do not covet what you may not have. Do not
possess anything that can hinder you or rob you of freedom.It
is strange that you do not commit yourself to Me with your whole
heart, together with all that you can desire or possess. Why are
you consumed with foolish sorrow? Why are you wearied with
unnecessary care? Be resigned to My will and you will suffer no
loss.
If you seek this or that, if you wish to be in this place or that
place, to have more ease and pleasure, you will never rest or be
free from care, for some defect is found in everything and
everywhere someone will vex you. To obtain and multiply earthly
goods, then, will not help you, but to despise them and root them
out of your heart will aid. This, understand, is true not only of
money and wealth, but also of ambition for honor and desire for
empty praise, all of which will pass away with this world.
The place matters little if the spirit of fervor is not there; nor
will peace be lasting if it is sought from the outside; if your
heart has no true foundation, that is, if you are not founded in
Me, you may change, but you will not better yourself. For when
occasion arises and is accepted, you will find that from which you
fled and worse.
A Prayer for Cleansing the Heart and Obtaining Heavenly Wisdom
Strengthen me by the grace of Your holy spirit, O God. Give me the
power to be strengthened inwardly and to empty my heart of all
vain care and anxiety, so that I may not be drawn away by many
desires, whether for precious things or mean ones. Let me look
upon everything as passing, and upon myself as soon to pass away
with them, because there is nothing lasting under the sun, where
all is vanity and affliction of spirit. How wise is he who thinks
thus!
Give me, Lord, heavenly wisdom to learn above all else to seek and
find You, to enjoy and love You more than anything, and to
consider other things as they are, as Your wisdom has ordered
them. Grant me prudence to avoid the flatterer and to bear
patiently with him who disagrees with me. For it is great wisdom
not to be moved by the sound of words, nor to give ear to the
wicked, flattering siren. Then, I shall walk safely in the way I
have begun.
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