Part 1, lesson 14. Of the obligation we are under tc love pains, sufferings, and persecutions, founded upon the fact that by ourselves we are sin

Q. For God's sake, explain to me the truth you have just pro posed, and impress it upon my heart so deeply that it may never be effaced, in order that I may love sufferings, persecu tions, calumny, in a word, the penance that I am bound to perform in this world which is the sojourn for it.

A. This is the second branch of the cross; for we have al ready seen the obligation we are under to love abjection and contempt, which forms the first branch of it, and suffer them through justice, as well as through religion. We must now see how we are obliged to love also pains and sufferings, and bear patiently persecu tions and calumnies, not only because the Holy Spirit we have received in baptism has given us these inclinations, but also through justice, on account of our demerit.

Q. Explain that to me, if you please.

A. To understand it well, you have only to know that we are sin by ourselves.

Q. I have indeed heard it said that we were sinners, but n^t that we were sin.

A. We are not only sinners, but also sin.

Q. If that is so, there is no sort of opprobrium, calumny, vexation, or persecution, that we do not deserve. But I beg you to show me how we are sin.

A. The Christian, according to the doctrine of St. Paul, is composed of two things; one is called flesh, the other spirit. Thus is man divided in the Scriptures.

Q. I understand very well that man is composed of body and soul; but I do not know whether this is what you mean, when you say that the Christian is composed of flesh and spirit.

A. No; by the spirit, I mean the Holy Spirit and all the gifts which originate with him, such as faith, hope, charity, humility, patience, and other like gifts, graces, and virtues, as St. Paul teaches us, after our Lord, who says in St. John, 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the spirit is spirit."

Q. And what do you mean by the flesh ?

• Quod natum est ex came caro cst, quod natum est ex spiritu spiritus est. Joan, iii, 6.

A. You see it by the word of our Lord; it is that which is not the Holy Spirit, nor born of the Holy Spirit, but is born of the flesh.

Q. The body and soul are then called ilesh in the Holy Scripture ?

A. Yes; the soul particularly, when it follows the flesh and its inclinations, and even our spirit, when it acts with a view to attain to the designs of the flesh, are called flesh; in fine, all their thoughts are called flesh, because they originate in it, arid the Scriptures condemn them, as things of death: the prudence of the flesh is death, says St. Paul,* and we have had thoughts of flesh, says again the same Apostle.

Q. What is born of the Holy Spirit, and is called spirit, does not then belong to us; it is not born of us; it is not ourselves?

A. No; for it is God himself, and the effects of his holy pre sence, which are his light, wis dom, love, etc.

Q. We must not glory in it then, nor place it in the num ber of the things that are ours?

A. You are right; they are gifts of the pure liberality and great mercy of God, moved with compassion for our misery arid

• Prudentia carnis mors est. Rom. viii, 5.

actuated by the charity of his Son who died for us upon the cross.