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Let us make use of a parable, Theotimus, seeing that
this method was so agreeable to the sovereign Master
of the love which we are teaching.
A great and brave King, having espoused a most
amiable young princess, and having on a certain day
led her into a very retired cabinet, there to
converse with her more at his pleasure, after some
discourse saw her by a certain sudden accident fall
down as dead at his feet. Alas! he was extremely
disturbed at this, and it well nigh put him also into
a swoon; for she was dearer to him than his own life.
Yet the same love that gave him this assault of
grief, gave him an equal strength to sustain it, and
set him into action to remedy, with an incomparable
promptitude, the evil which had happened to the dear
companion of his life.
Therefore rapidly opening a sideboard which stood
by, he takes a cordial-water, infinitely precious,
and having filled his mouth with it, by force be
opens the lips and the set teeth of his well-beloved
princess, then breathing and spurting the precious
liquor which he held in his mouth, into that of his
poor lifeless one who lay in a swoon, and pouring
what was left in the phial about the nostrils the
temples, and the heart, he made her return to herself
and to her senses again; that done, he helps her up
gently, and by virtue of remedies so strengthens and
revives her, that she begins to stand and walk very
quietly with him; but in no sort without his help,
for he goes assisting and sustaining her by her arm,
till at length he lays to her heart an epithem so
precious and of so great virtue, that finding herself
entirely restored to her wonted health, she walks all
alone, her dear spouse not now sustaining her so
much, but only holding her right hand softly between
his, and his right arm folded over hers on to her
bosom.
Thus he went on treating her, and fulfilling to
her in all this four most agreeable offices: for 1.
He gave testimony that his heart was lovingly careful
of her. 2. He continued ever a little nursing her. 3.
If she had felt any touch of her former faintness he
would have sustained her. 4. If she had lighted on
any rough and difficult place in her walking he would
have been her support and stay: and in accidents, or
when she would make a little more haste, he raised
her and powerfully succoured her. In fine he stayed
by her with this heartfelt care till night
approached, and then he assisted to lay her in her
royal bed.
The soul is the spouse of Our Saviour when she is
just; and because she is never just but when she is
in charity, she is also no sooner spouse than she is
led into the cabinet of those delicious perfumes
mentioned in the Canticles. Now when the soul which
has been thus honoured commits sin, she falls as if
dead in a spiritual swoon; and this is in good truth
a most unlooked-for accident: for who would ever
think that a creature could forsake her Creator and
sovereign good for things so trifling as the
allurements of sin? Truly the heavens are astonished
at it, and if God were subject to passions he would
fall down in a swoon at this misfortune, as when he
was mortal he died upon the cross for our redemption.
But seeing it is not now necessary that he should
employ his love in dying for us, when he sees the
soul overthrown by sin he commonly runs to her
succour, and by an unspeakable mercy, lays open the
gates of her heart by the stings and remorses of
conscience which come from the divers lights and
apprehensions which he casts into our hearts, with
salutary movements, by which, as by odorous and vital
liquors, he makes the soul return to herself, and
brings her back to good sentiments.
And all this, Theotimus, God works in us without
our action,(1) by his all-amiable Goodness which
prevents us with its sweetness. For even as our
bride, having fainted, would have died in her swoon,
if the King had not assisted her; so the soul would
remain lost in her sin if God prevented her not. But
if the soul thus excited add her consent to the
solicitation of grace, seconding the inspiration
which prevents her, and accepting the required helps
provided for her by God; he will fortify her, and
conduct her through various movements of faith, hope
and penitence, even till he restore her to her true
spiritual health, which is no other thing than
charity.
And while he thus makes her walk in the virtues by
which he disposes her to this holy love, he does not
conduct her only, but in such sort sustains her, that
as she for her part goes as well as she is able so he
on his part supports and sustains her; and it is hard
to say whether she goes or is carried; for she is not
so carried that she goes not, and yet her going is
such that if she were not carried she could not go.
So that, to speak apostolically, she must say; I
walk, not I alone, but the grace of God with me.(2)
But the soul being entirely restored to her health by
the excellent epithem of charity which the Holy Ghost
infuses into her heart, she is then able to walk and
keep herself upon her feet of herself, yet by virtue
of this health and this sacred epithem of holy love.
Wherefore though she is able to walk, of herself, yet
is she to render the glory thereof to God, who has
bestowed upon her a health so vigorous and strong:
for whether the Holy Ghost fortify us by the motions
which he enables our heart to make, or sustain us by
the charity which he infuses into them, whether he
succour us by manner of assistance in raising and
carrying us, or strengthen our hearts by pouring into
them fortifying and quickening love, we always live,
walk and work, in him and by him.
And although by means of charity poured into our
hearts, we are able to walk in the presence of God,
and make progress in the way of salvation, yet still
it is the goodness of God which ever helps the soul
to whom he has given his love, continually holding
her with his holy band; for so 1. He doth better make
appear the sweetness of his love towards her. 2. He
ever animates her more and more. 3. He supports her
against depraved inclinations and evil habits
contracted by former sins. 4. And finally, he
supports her and defends her against temptations.
Do we not often see, Theotimus, that sound and
robust men must be provoked to employ their strength
and power well; and, as one would say, must be drawn
by the hand to the work? So God having given us his
charity, and by it the force and the means to gain
ground in the way of perfection, his lode does not
permit him to let us walk thus alone, but makes him
put himself upon the way with us, urges him to urge
us, and solicits his heart to solicit and drive
forward ours to make good use of the charity which he
has given us, repeating often, by means of his
inspirations, S. Paul's admonitions: See that you
receive not the grace of God in vain.(3) Whilst we
have time, let us work good to all men.(4) So run
that you may obtain.(5) So that we are often to think
that he repeats in our ears the words which he used
to the good father Abraham: Walk before me and be
perfect.(6)
But principally the special assistance of God to
the soul endowed with charity is required in sublime
and extraordinary enterprises; for though charity,
however weak it be, gives us enough inclination, and,
as I think, enough power, to do the works necessary
for salvation, yet, to aspire to and undertake
excellent and extraordinary actions, our hearts stand
in need of being pushed and raised by the hand and
motion of this great heavenly lover; as the princess
in our parable, although restored to health, could
not ascend nor go fast, unless her dear spouse raised
and strongly supported her.
Thus S. Antony and S. Simeon Stylites were in the
grace of God and charity when they designed so
exalted a life; as also the B. Mother (S.) Teresa
when she made her particular vow of obedience, S.
Francis and S. Louis, when they undertook their
journey beyond-seas for the advancement of God's
glory, the Blessed Francis Xavier, when he
consecrated his life to the conversion of the
Indians, S. Charles, in exposing himself to serve the
plague-stricken, S. Paulinus, when he sold himself to
redeem the poor widow's child; yet still never would
they have struck such mighty and generous blows,
unless God, to that charity which they had in their
hearts, had added special inspirations, invitations,
lights and forces, whereby he animated and pushed
them forward to these extraordinary exploits of
spiritual valour.
Do you not mark the young man of the gospel, whom Our
Saviour loved, and who, consequently, was in charity?
Certainly, he never dreamed of selling all he had to
give it to the poor, and following Our Saviour: nay
though Our Saviour had given him such an inspiration,
yet had he not the courage to put it into execution.
For these great works, Theotimus, we need not only to
be inspired, but also to be fortified, in order to
effect what the inspiration inclines us to. As again
in the fierce assaults of extraordinary temptations,
a special and particular presence of heavenly succour
is absolutely necessary.
For this cause holy church makes us so frequently
cry out: "Excite our hearts O Lord:" "Prevent our
actions by thy holy inspirations and further them
with thy continual help:" "O Lord, make haste to help
us:" and the like, in order by such prayers to obtain
grace to be able to effect excellent and
extraordinary works, and more frequently and
fervently to do ordinary ones; as also more ardently
to resist small temptations, and boldly to combat the
greatest.
S. Antony was assailed by a hideous legion
of devils, and having long sustained their attacks,
not without incredible pain and torment, at length
saw the roof of his cell burst open, and a heavenly
ray enter the breach, which made the black and
darksome troop of his enemies vanish in a moments and
delivered him from all the pain of the wounds
received in that battle; whence he perceived God's
particular presence, and fetching a profound sigh
towards the vision - "where wast thou, O good Jesus,"
said he, "where wast thou? Why wast thou not here
from the beginning to have relieved my pain? It was
answered him from above. Antony, I was here: but I
awaited the event of thy combat: and since thou didst
behave thyself bravely and valiantly, I will be thy
continual aid."
But in what did the valour and courage of this
brave spiritual combatant consist? He himself
declared it another time when, being set upon by a
devil who acknowledged himself to be the spirit of
fornication, this glorious saint after many words
worthy of his great courage began to sing the 7th
verse of the 117th Psalm: The Lord is my helper: and
I will look over my enemies.
And Our Saviour revealed to S. Catharine of Sienna,
that he was in the midst of her heart in a cruel
temptation she, had, as a captain in the midst of a
fort to hold it; and that without his succour she
would have been lost in that battle. It is the same
in all the great assaults which our enemy makes
against us: and we may well say with Jacob that it is
the angel that delivereth us from all evil,(7) and
may sing with the great King David: The Lord ruleth
me: and I shall want nothing. He hath set me in a
place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water
of refreshment: he hath converted my soul. So that we
ought often to repeat this exclamation and prayer:
And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my
life.(8)
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