Twelfth meditation. To assist us to know our misery and weakness

First point.

What is a human being but miserable smoke which is soon dissipated, or, as Job says, " a leaf of a tree agitated by the wind, the sport of evils, inconstancy without firmness, and in the end the prey of the tomb"? Still more, this misery has attained to such a degree by the liberty of his depraved will, that it converts almost everything into his own wretchedness, and, finally, breaks his neck on the sharp stone placed for his support and protection.

Second point.

Eeflect that> being so impotent, what can you do of yourself i Ah! you can do much evil and no good. You can fall into a thou^ sand sins, and remain in this lamentable condition without being able to arise from it of yourself, until Our Lord, by sending light, fears, remorse, and salutary warnings, makes you return to Him. Exclaim, then, with St. Augustine: " O Lord, without Thee I can die, but without Thee never shall I be able to find the road to life."

Third point.

Keflect, moreover, that your frailty is so intense that, being on the road of virtue, you could not walk of yourself, if Our Lord did not continually watch over you. You would disgrace yourself at every moment, and in the end you would go astray.

O religious souls, beware that Our Lord does not address this reproach to you: "Israel was weak, and I conducted her

Myself; but she escaped from My hand, and she is lost"

Affections.

O Lord, come to my aid! Make haste to help me! Alas! I am but an atom, a nothing, and I desire to elevate myself.

O my God, I exclaim with David, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation! Deliver me from the guidance of my self-will, and let Thy right hand support Thy foolish servant.

But, O my God, if in my misery I should chance to fall into the dreadful precipice of sin, do Thou regard me with a favorable eye! Without Thy assistance, I cannot even form the thought of leaving that abyss. My dear soul, understand your misery and, in consequence of it, remain profoundly humble and dependent upon your divine Spouse.

Lord, I acknowledge that my beginning, my perseverance, and my end depend upon Thee. Ah, if Thy goodness had not long assisted me in the past, I should have perished! O Leader of Israel, never, with the aid of Thy grace, will I leave Thy sweet hand, which guides and conducts me by the way of Thy holy will. Ah! rather, Lord, let Thy right hand be placed under my head, and Thy left hand embrace me! Then I shall see that I have nothing but what I have received from Thy bounty. In what can I glory except in being nothing, and in proclaiming that my God is all things to me?