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Meditation 21. The Two Standards — One of Christ Our Lord, the Sovereign Commander; The Other — of Lucifer, Mortal Enemy of Our Human Nature
Preparatory Prayer as on page x
First Prelude
Consider how Christ Our Lord calls us, and wants everyone under His Standard; and Lucifer, on the other hand, would have everyone under his.
Second Prelude
Composition of Place — With your imagination see a vast plain extending over the whole region of Jerusalem, where the Commander-in-Chief of upright souls is Christ Our Lord. See another plain in the region of Babylon, where the enemy's chieftain is Lucifer.
Prayer of Petition — O my Lord and my God, I ask Thee for knowledge of the snares of the evil chieftain and for the valor to escape them. I beg Thee to acquaint me in good time with the upright and holy life which our Commander-in-Chief and true Captain teaches us with His doctrine and example.
Words of Saint Ignatius — "The first point is to picture the chieftain of all the enemy forces in that great plain of Babylon seated on a great throne of fire and smoke — a horrible, frightening sight.
"The second point is to consider how he issues a summons to innumerable demons, and how he scatters them, some into such and such a city and others to another, and thus throughout the world, not missing a province, a place, a class, nor a single person.
"The third point is to consider the discourse he makes to them, how he admonishes them to have their snares and chains ready. They are to first present the temptation for a greed of riches — according to their usual practice — so that more easily men will taste the empty esteem of the world and then reach greater pride. From these three steps he lures everyone to the other vices.
"Then picture the true Commander-in-Chief, Who is Christ Our Lord.
"First, consider how Christ Our Lord takes His stand in a great plain in the Jerusalem region, assuming His humble, beautiful, gracious manner.
"Second, consider how this Lord of all the world chooses so many persons as Apostles, so many as Disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the world, spreading His holy teaching among all kinds and classes of persons.
"Third, consider the discourse which Christ Our Lord gives to all His servants and friends whom He sends on this errand, charging them to seek to help all. They should thus encourage men to embrace the highest poverty of spirit, and in cases where it pleases His Divine Majesty to choose men for it, they should also encourage them to embrace actual poverty.
"Secondly, they should encourage men to have a hunger for insult and contempt, because from these two, humility develops. Thus there are to be three steps: first, poverty against riches; second, insult and contempt against worldly honor; third, humility as opposed to pride; and with these three steps let them lead men to all other virtues."
Explanation — This meditation has as its object the following of Jesus Christ, whereby one acts and suffers for love of Him. As one cannot follow Jesus Christ, live according to His Spirit, and practise His Virtues, without encountering very many difficulties, objections and reverses which can be overcome only by a truly generous and magnanimous heart, at this point Saint Ignatius presents us with the example of Jesus Christ in order that we do not refuse to suffer for God what God has suffered for us.
Hence the present meditation aims at bringing it about that we resolve effectively and at all costs, to follow Jesus Christ more closely and live according to His spirit. The saint directs our thoughts to these two leaders, Jesus Christ and Lucifer, noting how each undertakes to draw every man under his standard to become a follower.
First Point
If we have to follow either Jesus Christ or Lucifer, let us realize it so that we may set these two leaders before our minds. What now, is the end each of them has?
The aim of Jesus Christ is to persuade all men to be His followers so that in this way they can come hereafter to praise and bless His Heavenly Father forever and gain the eternal bliss of Heaven. A two-fold love burning in His Heart presses Him on to all this. Of these the first is the very devoted love He has for the Father. From this comes His desire that we love, honor and praise His Father with all our hearts, just as He loves His Father. The second love is His tender affection for man. From this comes the desire He has to obtain our salvation, so that with Him we can have that eternal happiness with which He Himself is happy.
Lucifer's goal is to enlist all men under his standard so that, by abandoning God, men may dishonor God and plunge themselves into damnation. A two-fold hatred burning within him spurs him on to this.
The first is an implacable hatred for God because he was once cast out of paradise by a very just Divine judgment. From that time on he conceived against God a supreme and incomparable hatred which ceaselessly agitates him so that he cannot bear to see God praised, honored and loved by any man.
The second hatred is a furious loathing for men; for, knowing that God has appointed for them that infinite glory and bliss from which he and his whole company have been forever excluded, he is beside himself with rage and undertakes to cause men to lose that happiness and to hurl themselves into damnation with him. . .
Now, my soul, what will you do? Which of these two leaders will you follow, Jesus Christ or Lucifer? When the young Tobias was waiting to learn the way to a far-away country, the Archangel Saint Raphael appeared to him in the form of a young man and offered himself as companion and guide.
Now let us suppose that two young men had appeared before Tobias; the Archangel Saint Raphael disguising himself as the first; and Lucifer as the second, and that both offered to be Tobias' guide. If Tobias, turning his back on the Archangel, had chosen Lucifer as his guide, would he not, by his own act, have plunged himself into the greatest misfortune that can be imagined? O my soul, you are now on a journey to eternity and Jesus Christ and Lucifer are offered as guides. . . To which one will you entrust yourself? Which one do you want to follow? Choose . . .
Affective Acts
Oh! How important this decision is! I am on a journey to eternity. The way is unfamiliar to me and it has many hazards and snares. Two guides are offered — Jesus Christ and Lucifer — Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of the Eternal Father; Jesus, Holiness by nature; Jesus, Who deeply loves me; Jesus, Who seeks my happiness with all His Heart. Oh, how secure one is in following such a guide! The second is Lucifer — Lucifer, God's greatest enemy; Lucifer, a damned spirit; Lucifer, who regards me with extreme hatred; Lucifer, who seeks nothing else than my eternal ruin. . . What shall I do? Ah! I am ashamed to ask such a question. What, then?
Will I be so utterly lacking in judgment as to want to abandon Jesus and follow Lucifer? Will I hate myself so much as to want to quit the road to Heaven and take the one that leads to hell? Ah, no! Never will I do that! Thou, O my Jesus, art the Way, the Truth and the Life — the Way that leads securely to the Father, the Truth that enables me to discover all snares and deceits, the Life where one finds everlasting blessedness. . . Recruit me under thy standard, O my Jesus. . . I will follow Thee and follow Thee even until death.
Second Point
By the goals to which Jesus and Lucifer lead us, we can know which of the two should be followed. The difference is scarcely less than infinite, first, between the invitations of Jesus and those of Lucifer, and second, between the outcome which Jesus leads one to, and that which Lucifer leads to. Let us ponder them both attentively.
The invitations which Jesus Christ proposes to us for fighting under His standard have as their object some practices that are difficult and bitter to fallen nature. The principal ones are these: voluntary poverty; obedience; the continuous denial of one's selfish inclinations; humility and patience in bearing contempt and wrongs; silence when being tyrannized and persecuted; blessing God in our pains and bitter experiences. This is what the spirit of Jesus Christ is. It is to this that Jesus invited everyone who would follow Him; likewise it is to this that you must adjust yourself, my soul, if you want to fight under His standard.
There is no doubt that a life appears bitter which must adjust and conform to these practices. But, oh how sweet and desirable afterward is the outcome to which this leads! And what is this outcome? I will tell you briefly — but, my soul, reflect upon it continually as long as you live. The outcome, the end to which Jesus Christ leads, is the deliverance from an infinite evil, that is, from hell; and it is the obtaining of an Infinite Good, that is, Heaven; and both last forever!
All the invitations by which Lucifer calls us to follow beneath his standard, present things that are pleasing to fallen nature.
He promises his followers temporal goods, riches, honors, worldly glory, the esteem of men, comforts, pleasures of the senses, an easy life, one that gets rid of restraints against all the desires of the flesh. This is the spirit of Lucifer. To this he invites all who would follow him. But what is the outcome that this crafty and evil spirit leads one to hereafter with these invitations? Ah, my soul! Do not let yourself be misled. The outcome is the loss of an Infinite Good, namely, Heaven, and the incurring of an infinite evil, namely, hell; and both outcomes last forever.
Pause here a little, my soul, and turn your gaze upward. Picture the Heavens opening up. See Jesus Christ seated there at the right hand of His Eternal Father, and at His side a multitude of elect in immense glory and splendor. . . Now who are they that are so close to Jesus Christ?
They are the Apostles, men who saw themselves obliged to flee from one city to another, who were dragged from prison and persecuted everywhere. . . They are monks, hermits, apostolic men who, amid a thousand persecutions, insults and scoffing, promoted God's Glory. They are virgins who, for love of Jesus Christ, silently and patiently suffered temptations, injuries and similar troubles. . . All of them, because in this life they stayed close to Jesus in suffering, are now close to Jesus in Glory. . .
Continuing your reflection, my soul, take a look downward. Picture the earth opening up before you. See Lucifer there in the midst of a deep pool of fire, surrounded by a multitude of people who are damned and are suffering unspeakable torment and pain. . .
Who are they that are so close to Lucifer? O my soul, how different are things of this world from those of the next! . . . These people are most influential lords and ladies who during life came barely short of being adored. Their great share of riches and temporal goods has hurled them into this fire. . . They are lords and ladies who in this world enjoyed splendor and greatness. Their high position has condemned them to these flames. . . They are men and women who, unwilling to contradict in certain things the cravings of the flesh for comfort and pleasure, have come to find themselves in this state. On earth they were next to Lucifer in joy, and now they are next to him in hell. . .
Affective Acts
O my Jesus, the more I look at Thee and contemplate Thee, the more clearly I come to realize that till now I have had little knowledge of truth in my mind, and little love of virtue in my will! In this world Thou didst not prize anything other than poverty and frugality, contempt and injury, pain and fatigue. . . Thou regarded all this as the means best suited to holiness, as the surest signs and safest pledges of an eminent glory in Heaven.
On the other hand, as for temporal goods, riches, worldly honor and splendor, bodily pleasures and comforts — all this Thou despised and regarded as the strongest inducements to cause us to plunge into hell. This is Thy way of judging, O my Jesus, and this is Thy doctrine. This is Thy spirit and it is the attitude of Thy Heart. . . But what are my attitudes and sentiments?
Oh, what good reason I have for blushing with shame! I dare not raise my eyes to look upon the Cross. What Thou dost cherish, I despise. What Thou cravest, I flee from. What Thou lovest, I abhor. What Thou dost embrace, I push aside. Thy invitations become always distasteful to me. . . Could my heart resemble Thine less if I had made a formal, express resolve to serve not Thee, but Lucifer?
What shall I do, then, O my Jesus? Oh! It is necessary that I go to Thee and look upon Thee as the Model of True Holiness, that I love what Thou hast loved, and that I hate what Thou hast hated.
Third Point
If one must follow Jesus Christ or follow Lucifer, let him make his decision according to the final end for which God created us and called us to the Faith. Turn back a little in your thoughts, my soul, and bring to mind your last End. You are a Christian, a disciple of Christ, Who teaches you that you are to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. You ought to serve and love God in this world with perfection in order to enjoy Him eternally in the other world with an eminent glory. But how would this be possible without imitating Jesus Christ faithfully? In order to make plainly evident the impossibility of any other alternative, reflect attentively on the following truths:
First truth — Perfection is a precious, most particular gift of God. God is Infinite Power, Infinite Wisdom, and the Inexhaustible Source of All Good. But even though He has all these perfections, He cannot give me a more sublime and precious gift than perfect love and union with Himself. This is the gift of all gifts, the grand total of all mercies and the most precious jewel of all His treasures. Once a soul has reached perfection, it finds itself in a state so outstanding that not only do all monarchs of the world lose importance by comparison, but, by eternal values, many thousands of millions of men of any and all times, rank together as less important.
Second truth — No one can obtain grace except by those means that God has appointed. That a soul rise to perfection is a pure mercy of God. He is no more obliged to grant it such a grace than a king is to pick a poor laborer's daughter for his bride and have her sit on a throne at his side. Therefore it is quite legitimate for God to prescribe for you some conditions that you must fulfill, certain means which you must put into practice, if you want to obtain such a grace.
Third truth — These means consist in one thing — in the total and perfect following of Jesus Christ. . . I am the door, says This Most Lovable Redeemer. If anyone enter by Me, he will be saved, and can go in and out at will, and will find pasture. This is My Beloved Son, says the Eternal Father, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.
Heed Him well, my soul. The one Model of holiness sent by the Eternal Father is Jesus. . . By entering through this door, you will find perfection, pure love, and intimate union with God. But remember that there is no more than the one door, and aside from it there is no hope of entry.
Affective Acts
(1) Faith — I well know, my Jesus, how different Thy judgments are from mine. But because Thou art Eternal Truth I believe that true riches consist in suffering poverty, true glory in suffering contempt, true peace in suffering persecution, true liberty in submitting to authority. The true road to sanctity is found in imitating Thee and it consists of a universal mortification and the love for adversities. This I believe, O my Jesus, because Thou hast made it so. And thus by laboring, by loving, and by suffering, as Thou did, I will have Thy Spirit and can hope that even during my life that blessed hour will come in which Thou will admit me into a familiar communion with Thyself, O my Jesus. . . Any other road one might take is no more than a mirage, an imposture, a pretense, a vanity, which cannot be acceptable in Thy Divine Judgment.
(2) Desire to unite with God — Yes, my Jesus, Thou art my one and Sovereign Good, in which consists all my happiness. I sigh for Thee and desire Thee with all the powers of my heart. . . I wish to love Thee whole-heartedly in this life and love Thee perfectly. I wish to enjoy Thee in an unhindered way hereafter in that glory which Thou hast destined for me from eternity. . . I see that the way is distasteful — the total denial of selfish inclinations, a continual silence when bearing contempt, an affectionate treatment of persons who oppose me.
All these are practices which demand great spiritual strength. But be that as it may, and though nature cry out and complain as much as it pleases, I have decided upon Thy way. Indeed, my Jesus, I want to follow Thee. . . And how could I refuse? Could it be too burdensome for me that I obey a man for love of Jesus after Jesus has obeyed a most unjust judge for love of me? Should it be unbearable for me to bear contempt for love of Jesus, after Jesus let Himself be nailed to a Cross between two criminals for love of me?
Should it be too much that I, for love of Jesus, love persons who dislike me, after Jesus, crucified for love of me, loved those who crucified Him? How can man ever refuse to suffer for God what God has suffered for men?
"God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ; by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world." (Gal. 6:14).
O my Jesus, I love Thee, I unite myself to Thee. At this moment I wish to follow Thy footsteps, I wish to do what Thou did. I wish to suffer as Thou suffered. . . Ah! Deign to grant me Thy spirit, the spirit of subordination, the spirit of meekness, the spirit of love.
Now pray the Our Father and the Hail Mary and the Concluding Prayers as on page xi.
Preparatory Prayer as on page x
First Prelude
Consider how Christ Our Lord calls us, and wants everyone under His Standard; and Lucifer, on the other hand, would have everyone under his.
Second Prelude
Composition of Place — With your imagination see a vast plain extending over the whole region of Jerusalem, where the Commander-in-Chief of upright souls is Christ Our Lord. See another plain in the region of Babylon, where the enemy's chieftain is Lucifer.
Prayer of Petition — O my Lord and my God, I ask Thee for knowledge of the snares of the evil chieftain and for the valor to escape them. I beg Thee to acquaint me in good time with the upright and holy life which our Commander-in-Chief and true Captain teaches us with His doctrine and example.
Words of Saint Ignatius — "The first point is to picture the chieftain of all the enemy forces in that great plain of Babylon seated on a great throne of fire and smoke — a horrible, frightening sight.
"The second point is to consider how he issues a summons to innumerable demons, and how he scatters them, some into such and such a city and others to another, and thus throughout the world, not missing a province, a place, a class, nor a single person.
"The third point is to consider the discourse he makes to them, how he admonishes them to have their snares and chains ready. They are to first present the temptation for a greed of riches — according to their usual practice — so that more easily men will taste the empty esteem of the world and then reach greater pride. From these three steps he lures everyone to the other vices.
"Then picture the true Commander-in-Chief, Who is Christ Our Lord.
"First, consider how Christ Our Lord takes His stand in a great plain in the Jerusalem region, assuming His humble, beautiful, gracious manner.
"Second, consider how this Lord of all the world chooses so many persons as Apostles, so many as Disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the world, spreading His holy teaching among all kinds and classes of persons.
"Third, consider the discourse which Christ Our Lord gives to all His servants and friends whom He sends on this errand, charging them to seek to help all. They should thus encourage men to embrace the highest poverty of spirit, and in cases where it pleases His Divine Majesty to choose men for it, they should also encourage them to embrace actual poverty.
"Secondly, they should encourage men to have a hunger for insult and contempt, because from these two, humility develops. Thus there are to be three steps: first, poverty against riches; second, insult and contempt against worldly honor; third, humility as opposed to pride; and with these three steps let them lead men to all other virtues."
Explanation — This meditation has as its object the following of Jesus Christ, whereby one acts and suffers for love of Him. As one cannot follow Jesus Christ, live according to His Spirit, and practise His Virtues, without encountering very many difficulties, objections and reverses which can be overcome only by a truly generous and magnanimous heart, at this point Saint Ignatius presents us with the example of Jesus Christ in order that we do not refuse to suffer for God what God has suffered for us.
Hence the present meditation aims at bringing it about that we resolve effectively and at all costs, to follow Jesus Christ more closely and live according to His spirit. The saint directs our thoughts to these two leaders, Jesus Christ and Lucifer, noting how each undertakes to draw every man under his standard to become a follower.
First Point
If we have to follow either Jesus Christ or Lucifer, let us realize it so that we may set these two leaders before our minds. What now, is the end each of them has?
The aim of Jesus Christ is to persuade all men to be His followers so that in this way they can come hereafter to praise and bless His Heavenly Father forever and gain the eternal bliss of Heaven. A two-fold love burning in His Heart presses Him on to all this. Of these the first is the very devoted love He has for the Father. From this comes His desire that we love, honor and praise His Father with all our hearts, just as He loves His Father. The second love is His tender affection for man. From this comes the desire He has to obtain our salvation, so that with Him we can have that eternal happiness with which He Himself is happy.
Lucifer's goal is to enlist all men under his standard so that, by abandoning God, men may dishonor God and plunge themselves into damnation. A two-fold hatred burning within him spurs him on to this.
The first is an implacable hatred for God because he was once cast out of paradise by a very just Divine judgment. From that time on he conceived against God a supreme and incomparable hatred which ceaselessly agitates him so that he cannot bear to see God praised, honored and loved by any man.
The second hatred is a furious loathing for men; for, knowing that God has appointed for them that infinite glory and bliss from which he and his whole company have been forever excluded, he is beside himself with rage and undertakes to cause men to lose that happiness and to hurl themselves into damnation with him. . .
Now, my soul, what will you do? Which of these two leaders will you follow, Jesus Christ or Lucifer? When the young Tobias was waiting to learn the way to a far-away country, the Archangel Saint Raphael appeared to him in the form of a young man and offered himself as companion and guide.
Now let us suppose that two young men had appeared before Tobias; the Archangel Saint Raphael disguising himself as the first; and Lucifer as the second, and that both offered to be Tobias' guide. If Tobias, turning his back on the Archangel, had chosen Lucifer as his guide, would he not, by his own act, have plunged himself into the greatest misfortune that can be imagined? O my soul, you are now on a journey to eternity and Jesus Christ and Lucifer are offered as guides. . . To which one will you entrust yourself? Which one do you want to follow? Choose . . .
Affective Acts
Oh! How important this decision is! I am on a journey to eternity. The way is unfamiliar to me and it has many hazards and snares. Two guides are offered — Jesus Christ and Lucifer — Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of the Eternal Father; Jesus, Holiness by nature; Jesus, Who deeply loves me; Jesus, Who seeks my happiness with all His Heart. Oh, how secure one is in following such a guide! The second is Lucifer — Lucifer, God's greatest enemy; Lucifer, a damned spirit; Lucifer, who regards me with extreme hatred; Lucifer, who seeks nothing else than my eternal ruin. . . What shall I do? Ah! I am ashamed to ask such a question. What, then?
Will I be so utterly lacking in judgment as to want to abandon Jesus and follow Lucifer? Will I hate myself so much as to want to quit the road to Heaven and take the one that leads to hell? Ah, no! Never will I do that! Thou, O my Jesus, art the Way, the Truth and the Life — the Way that leads securely to the Father, the Truth that enables me to discover all snares and deceits, the Life where one finds everlasting blessedness. . . Recruit me under thy standard, O my Jesus. . . I will follow Thee and follow Thee even until death.
Second Point
By the goals to which Jesus and Lucifer lead us, we can know which of the two should be followed. The difference is scarcely less than infinite, first, between the invitations of Jesus and those of Lucifer, and second, between the outcome which Jesus leads one to, and that which Lucifer leads to. Let us ponder them both attentively.
The invitations which Jesus Christ proposes to us for fighting under His standard have as their object some practices that are difficult and bitter to fallen nature. The principal ones are these: voluntary poverty; obedience; the continuous denial of one's selfish inclinations; humility and patience in bearing contempt and wrongs; silence when being tyrannized and persecuted; blessing God in our pains and bitter experiences. This is what the spirit of Jesus Christ is. It is to this that Jesus invited everyone who would follow Him; likewise it is to this that you must adjust yourself, my soul, if you want to fight under His standard.
There is no doubt that a life appears bitter which must adjust and conform to these practices. But, oh how sweet and desirable afterward is the outcome to which this leads! And what is this outcome? I will tell you briefly — but, my soul, reflect upon it continually as long as you live. The outcome, the end to which Jesus Christ leads, is the deliverance from an infinite evil, that is, from hell; and it is the obtaining of an Infinite Good, that is, Heaven; and both last forever!
All the invitations by which Lucifer calls us to follow beneath his standard, present things that are pleasing to fallen nature.
He promises his followers temporal goods, riches, honors, worldly glory, the esteem of men, comforts, pleasures of the senses, an easy life, one that gets rid of restraints against all the desires of the flesh. This is the spirit of Lucifer. To this he invites all who would follow him. But what is the outcome that this crafty and evil spirit leads one to hereafter with these invitations? Ah, my soul! Do not let yourself be misled. The outcome is the loss of an Infinite Good, namely, Heaven, and the incurring of an infinite evil, namely, hell; and both outcomes last forever.
Pause here a little, my soul, and turn your gaze upward. Picture the Heavens opening up. See Jesus Christ seated there at the right hand of His Eternal Father, and at His side a multitude of elect in immense glory and splendor. . . Now who are they that are so close to Jesus Christ?
They are the Apostles, men who saw themselves obliged to flee from one city to another, who were dragged from prison and persecuted everywhere. . . They are monks, hermits, apostolic men who, amid a thousand persecutions, insults and scoffing, promoted God's Glory. They are virgins who, for love of Jesus Christ, silently and patiently suffered temptations, injuries and similar troubles. . . All of them, because in this life they stayed close to Jesus in suffering, are now close to Jesus in Glory. . .
Continuing your reflection, my soul, take a look downward. Picture the earth opening up before you. See Lucifer there in the midst of a deep pool of fire, surrounded by a multitude of people who are damned and are suffering unspeakable torment and pain. . .
Who are they that are so close to Lucifer? O my soul, how different are things of this world from those of the next! . . . These people are most influential lords and ladies who during life came barely short of being adored. Their great share of riches and temporal goods has hurled them into this fire. . . They are lords and ladies who in this world enjoyed splendor and greatness. Their high position has condemned them to these flames. . . They are men and women who, unwilling to contradict in certain things the cravings of the flesh for comfort and pleasure, have come to find themselves in this state. On earth they were next to Lucifer in joy, and now they are next to him in hell. . .
Affective Acts
O my Jesus, the more I look at Thee and contemplate Thee, the more clearly I come to realize that till now I have had little knowledge of truth in my mind, and little love of virtue in my will! In this world Thou didst not prize anything other than poverty and frugality, contempt and injury, pain and fatigue. . . Thou regarded all this as the means best suited to holiness, as the surest signs and safest pledges of an eminent glory in Heaven.
On the other hand, as for temporal goods, riches, worldly honor and splendor, bodily pleasures and comforts — all this Thou despised and regarded as the strongest inducements to cause us to plunge into hell. This is Thy way of judging, O my Jesus, and this is Thy doctrine. This is Thy spirit and it is the attitude of Thy Heart. . . But what are my attitudes and sentiments?
Oh, what good reason I have for blushing with shame! I dare not raise my eyes to look upon the Cross. What Thou dost cherish, I despise. What Thou cravest, I flee from. What Thou lovest, I abhor. What Thou dost embrace, I push aside. Thy invitations become always distasteful to me. . . Could my heart resemble Thine less if I had made a formal, express resolve to serve not Thee, but Lucifer?
What shall I do, then, O my Jesus? Oh! It is necessary that I go to Thee and look upon Thee as the Model of True Holiness, that I love what Thou hast loved, and that I hate what Thou hast hated.
Third Point
If one must follow Jesus Christ or follow Lucifer, let him make his decision according to the final end for which God created us and called us to the Faith. Turn back a little in your thoughts, my soul, and bring to mind your last End. You are a Christian, a disciple of Christ, Who teaches you that you are to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. You ought to serve and love God in this world with perfection in order to enjoy Him eternally in the other world with an eminent glory. But how would this be possible without imitating Jesus Christ faithfully? In order to make plainly evident the impossibility of any other alternative, reflect attentively on the following truths:
First truth — Perfection is a precious, most particular gift of God. God is Infinite Power, Infinite Wisdom, and the Inexhaustible Source of All Good. But even though He has all these perfections, He cannot give me a more sublime and precious gift than perfect love and union with Himself. This is the gift of all gifts, the grand total of all mercies and the most precious jewel of all His treasures. Once a soul has reached perfection, it finds itself in a state so outstanding that not only do all monarchs of the world lose importance by comparison, but, by eternal values, many thousands of millions of men of any and all times, rank together as less important.
Second truth — No one can obtain grace except by those means that God has appointed. That a soul rise to perfection is a pure mercy of God. He is no more obliged to grant it such a grace than a king is to pick a poor laborer's daughter for his bride and have her sit on a throne at his side. Therefore it is quite legitimate for God to prescribe for you some conditions that you must fulfill, certain means which you must put into practice, if you want to obtain such a grace.
Third truth — These means consist in one thing — in the total and perfect following of Jesus Christ. . . I am the door, says This Most Lovable Redeemer. If anyone enter by Me, he will be saved, and can go in and out at will, and will find pasture. This is My Beloved Son, says the Eternal Father, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.
Heed Him well, my soul. The one Model of holiness sent by the Eternal Father is Jesus. . . By entering through this door, you will find perfection, pure love, and intimate union with God. But remember that there is no more than the one door, and aside from it there is no hope of entry.
Affective Acts
(1) Faith — I well know, my Jesus, how different Thy judgments are from mine. But because Thou art Eternal Truth I believe that true riches consist in suffering poverty, true glory in suffering contempt, true peace in suffering persecution, true liberty in submitting to authority. The true road to sanctity is found in imitating Thee and it consists of a universal mortification and the love for adversities. This I believe, O my Jesus, because Thou hast made it so. And thus by laboring, by loving, and by suffering, as Thou did, I will have Thy Spirit and can hope that even during my life that blessed hour will come in which Thou will admit me into a familiar communion with Thyself, O my Jesus. . . Any other road one might take is no more than a mirage, an imposture, a pretense, a vanity, which cannot be acceptable in Thy Divine Judgment.
(2) Desire to unite with God — Yes, my Jesus, Thou art my one and Sovereign Good, in which consists all my happiness. I sigh for Thee and desire Thee with all the powers of my heart. . . I wish to love Thee whole-heartedly in this life and love Thee perfectly. I wish to enjoy Thee in an unhindered way hereafter in that glory which Thou hast destined for me from eternity. . . I see that the way is distasteful — the total denial of selfish inclinations, a continual silence when bearing contempt, an affectionate treatment of persons who oppose me.
All these are practices which demand great spiritual strength. But be that as it may, and though nature cry out and complain as much as it pleases, I have decided upon Thy way. Indeed, my Jesus, I want to follow Thee. . . And how could I refuse? Could it be too burdensome for me that I obey a man for love of Jesus after Jesus has obeyed a most unjust judge for love of me? Should it be unbearable for me to bear contempt for love of Jesus, after Jesus let Himself be nailed to a Cross between two criminals for love of me?
Should it be too much that I, for love of Jesus, love persons who dislike me, after Jesus, crucified for love of me, loved those who crucified Him? How can man ever refuse to suffer for God what God has suffered for men?
"God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ; by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world." (Gal. 6:14).
O my Jesus, I love Thee, I unite myself to Thee. At this moment I wish to follow Thy footsteps, I wish to do what Thou did. I wish to suffer as Thou suffered. . . Ah! Deign to grant me Thy spirit, the spirit of subordination, the spirit of meekness, the spirit of love.
Now pray the Our Father and the Hail Mary and the Concluding Prayers as on page xi.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre