Letter, number unidentified. To Don Diego de Guzmán and Dr. Loarte, on their entering the Society of Jesus

Father Diego de Gusman and Doctor Loarte were amongst the earliest disciples of Blessed John of Avila to enter the Society of Jesus.

\ The former , who may be called his first-born spiritual child , was son of Count Baylen , but renounced his rank and wealth in early youth to become a priest. He spent fifteen years in preaching with great fruit and was then , in 1552, received into the Society of Jesus by St. Francis Borgia. He continued his former work until called to Rome by St. Ignatius Loyola , who sent him to preach in different parts of Italy : he died in Andalusia with the reputation of a Saint.

Doctor Loarte was a famous theologian and assisted Father Gusman in his work in Spain , but his great humility made him choose the office of catechising children and hearing confessions. They were received together into the Society of Jesus and went to Rome at the same time. Doctor Loarte was afterwards made head of the college at Genoa, and died in Spain in 1582.

I. Do not select any particular means for promoting your own ends nor fix your affections Qn any persons, but content yourself with wishing them well and interceding for them to God. Beware of desiring to aid them by any special ways of your own choosing : on the contrary resist such thoughts as you would a temptation.

II. Do not imagine that you enter the Society to criticise other people, but ever keep in your heart that saying of a holy monk : “ 1 am come to be judged by other men, not to judge them.” Be most careful to avoid this danger, especially if you consider yourself wise and enlightened, for it is easy to make mistakes in such matters and even to risk losing divine grace. Believe that God directs those He sets to govern, and that Superiors may have some special motive or intention for their actions of which you know nothing. In short, do not judge other men, and keep clear of all that does not concern you ; “ What is it to thee ? follow thou me ” (St. John XXI. 22.), otherwise you will live in a state of constant anxiety and trouble.

III. Ground yourself thoroughly in obedience, and consider that God has shown you great mercy in calling you to practise it in this life. Trust that He will make His will known to you through your superiors, having this confidence, not on account of any wisdom they possess, but because He has promised to aid the humble. If you obey implicidy, you will enjoy great peace and make rapid progress in a short time.

JV. Although you are not allowed the liberty you think necessary for you to win souk, but are occupied in duties of a different kind, do not be disquieted on this account. The maintenance and extension of this Order contribute greatly to the salvation of men, which is the object for which it was instituted. Therefore, if you are merely washing dishes you are helping to convert souls, and you should be perfectly content with such work, and should consecrate your life to helping the Society in whatever way you are bidden by those set over you. Do not let your thoughts dwell on any other service, but willingly do whatever is commanded you, not so much for the sake of the merit of the action itself, as because obedience requires it of you. Consider that Christ has given you a great grace in calling you to be a member of this Society in which He is so fervently served.

V. Be prepared for the cross, and have it ever before your eyes : strive to give no cause for complaint to others and bear patiently with their faults. Let not differences of character in the various members of the community disturb your mind, for until you have well stood the test of living in the society of your brethren, you must not consider that you have made much spiritual progress. Your principal care should be to live in charity with your brethren, suffering injuries joyfully and willingly ; taking example from the meekness of Christ our Lord, let others tread you as the mire beneath their feet. You will meet with so many temptations Letter IT on this point, that unless you watch vigilantly, you will be certain to fall. Keep your attention fixed on yourself ; never argue with or rebuke other people, nor try to rule them, unless the duty is laid upon you : if it is not, let your watchword be : “I am not come to judge but to be judged.” ' VI. Apply yourself to work at your own progress in the spiritual life with all the diligence proper for accomplishing God’s designs. Remember that you have been called to behold the celestial vision of Christ hanging upon the cross, and that you stand on holy ground ; therefore let no immortified affection reign within you. “Be strengthened in Christ and in the power of his might,” (Ephes. VI. 10.) ; deny yourself not only in your senses, but chiefly in your will, and most of all in your understanding, for it is this which saps the foundations of good and is the enemy of peace ; this is the presumptuous ring-leader of rebellion and the judge of its superiors ; this is the father of divisions and the enemy of obedience, because it is an idol set up in the place of God. Again and again I exhort and entreat you by the mercies of Christ, to humble your understanding and let God reign over it by faith : holding firmly that what your superiors command is our Lord’s will. Let this thought and no other be ever your consolation and your refuge in all difficulties, for as long as you hold to it, all will be well with you.

Five grades of humility.

The first grade is that, recognising his own baseness, a man should treat his own will with contempt.

The second is outwardly to show this selfcontempt both in dress and manners, and by choosing work of a mean and servile character.

The third is to be patient when despised by others.

The fourth is to rejoice in being despised.

The fifth is to desire with the whole heart to be despised by others.

Twelve other degrees of humility . 1 The first degree is the fear of God.

The second, is to deny our own will.

The third, is obedience.

The fourth, is patience.

The fifth, is the confession of sins.

The sixth, is contempt of oneself.

The seventh, is to prefer others to oneself, esteeming them more highly.

The eighth, is to avoid singularity in outward things.

The ninth, is to be silent unless spoken to.

The tenth, is not to be prompt to laughter.

The eleventh, is to speak little and with gravity.

The twelfth, is to prefer a low estate and occupation.¹

Ten counsels to lead the soul in the way of salvation.

I. At once to reject from your mind not only rash judgments of your neighbour but the very thought of his faults or sins. Turn your mind towards God and show Him the wounds of your own soul that He may cure them.

II. If you have not the strength to desire sufferings, censures, vexations, or affronts, rudeness and hard work, at least endure them patiently and in silence : do not concern yourself to know from whom they come, but look upon them as sent from the hand of God. Pray to Him for those who are the cause of these trials and beg Him to give you grace to bear them for His love, reflecting that patience in suffering is a sign of salvation.

III. Return thanks to God for all your spiritual graces, natural gifts and every other yourself except your sins, faults and imperfections.

IV. When any feeling of jealousy arises in your mind on account of the spiritual, natural, or temporal advantages of your neighbour, lift up your heart to God, begging of Him to increase these gifts in your brethren; rejoice in the well-being of others and be sorry for their short-comings.

V. Let it be your firm conviction that you should neither desire nor strive for anything but to possess the grace and love of God, to avoid offending Him and to please Him in all things. Whether death or life, sickness or health, joy or sadness, honour or shame, be your lot, — whether you be the Rector or the cook, either here or at the other end of the world, — it will matter nothing, except in so far as it brings you nearer to God.

VI. Be persuaded of this truth, that as long as you live you will have to suffer trials, sorrows, temptations, and the cross, for this is the livery of the servants of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bear these patiently, remembering that your sins are many and deserve far greater punishments : “The life of man upon earth is a warfare.” (Job VII. i.) and: “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.” (St. Matth. X. 22.)

VII. Whenever you give way to any thought, word, or work of pride, such as, that you are better, or more useful, or in any way preferable to others, reject it instantly as most abhorrent to God. Confess your sins and faults to Him and beg Him to remedy them: “For God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace.” (i. Pet. V. 5.)

VIII. When reason tells you that others are guilty of some matter as to which you are innocent, do not excuse yourself, though you are not blameworthy, but accuse yourself and praise your brother, even if it bring upon you punishment, or reproof, or pain. Though upon 3 1 this occasion you have not deserved it, yet your past sins have merited this penance; thus you can never suffer as one wholly innocent, and therefore never exculpate yourself.

IX. Frequently during the day, but especially when you make your examination of conscience, remember to render thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for having redeemed you and made you a friend of God, and for having gained so many benefits for you by His Passion and sufferings. Bless God for having given Him to you; you should also glorify God for His own Perfections.

X. The fruit of Holy Communion and of all Other spiritual exercises should be to obtain for us greater strength to serve and love our Lord, to resist temptations, to bear our trials with patience, and not to afford us sweetness or pleasant feelings, which are usually signs of imperfection and may even be sent by the devil to deceive us. Do not therefore strive to gain these sentiments if our Lord does not send them to you, and if He should, beware of presumption by despising your neighbour because he is without them, for, very possibly, he is holier and more dear to God than you are.

Fifteen rules for one who purposes entering the religious state.

I. Keep your sins ever before your mind and repent or them daily.

II. Consider yourself most vile and negligent in all things and unworthy of the company or sight of other men, and so, despairing of any of God.

III. Not only must you abstain from judging others, but you must keep your mind solely fixed upon your own faults, so that you may neither perceive nor reflect upon the defects of other people.

IV. Neither show nor feel anger towards anyone, nor bear them any ill-will or hatred, but keep your heart quiet, peaceful and humble, and let your demeanour be grave and modest.

V. Show yourself prompt and willing to help others.

VI. Use no idle word nor joke, nor speak lighdy, unless charity to your brethren demand VII. Bear patiently all annoyances, contradictions, abuse and hard words sent you by God to try you: sufFer them cheerfully and even desire them; be resigned and do not let your soul rebel against them.

VIII. Mortify all desires to know, hear, experience, or possess anything which is unnecessary; let your one earnest effort be to profit your soul.

IX. Instandy drive away all thoughts which would lead you from God.

X. Let your only care in this life be to please the Almighty.

XI. Do not puzzle over events which happen If 33 or wonder why such and such things occur, but take them all thankfully from God’s hands, trusting firmly that He watches over you and all men, and will never permit anything to happen jpt fo^ qur greater gopd, hqwevpr little yre pay understand it.

XII. Be content with the food which is given to the community in general, and do not ask for anything extra as long as you are well. If you cannot eat what is set before you, givp thanks for the opportunity of mortifying your appetite.

' XIII. Do not concern yourself about what is no business of yours, particularly in respect to the faults of your brethren or the actions of superiors.

XIV. Always render obedience, respect and sincere affection to your superiors; hold them in high esteem and never allow anything to be said or done in your presence either against them or other people.

XV. Let your soul as well as your body keep solitude; neyer be idle, and endeavour to despise all earthly things. Diligently observe the rules and constitutions in foe proper placed time and manner, and all other necessary circumstances, for these are the weapons of your warfare, and unless ypu wish to, run foe risk of temptation, you must be most strict on this point Hetter tit

Footnotes

1. These are a short epitome of the famous twelve degrees of humility, contained in the 7th chapter of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, ↩