15. Concerning the Gift of Devotion and the Virtues Arising Therefrom

IN accordance with the Holy Spirit's gift, adorning the soul with virtues, is Devotion, which makes a man kind, loyal, obedient, prepared for God and all men : considerate and looking benevolently upon all in their need who 'are placed amid sorrows and want. \ For from this kind regard an'd from devotion itself compassion or condolence originates whereby one compassionates the suffering Christ and likewise all mortals/ Further more from condolence all actions of charity flow forth, since God has committed and entrusted to Charity the SeVen Works of Mercy : Charity is that faithful servant whom the Lord appointed over His house hold, His whole kingdom and all the wealth and the treasures committed to him, that he may refresh them with food and drink, to receive them hospitably and to clothe with garments those who have need of them, and to visit the wretched, the exiles and the sick, as the need of each appears to demand ; captives too, whether rightly or wrongly, but specially those thrown into jail for God's name, — let him consider in accordance with the judgement or discernment of right reason : in the same \vaf let him accommodate his own business to the departed or to the dead who are to be buried ; and indeed if he should be rich, let him bury the dead by means of possessions given to him by God, and by his own wealth, out of true chanty ; but if he be poor, by means of good will and devotion and generosity of heart, with a mind ready to soipply what is necessary for the funeral, if he have the power, which assuredly has equal weight with God ; for devotion and compassion are virtues, not the external act itself, in those matters in which powers or temporal goods do not help ; so that finally he may show himself benevolent and compassionate, kind and faithful to his neighbours, not only in giving advice but also in deeds and matters themselves and in whatsoever ways he can. For patience proceeds from devotion, since he cannot be patient except he be gentle and devout. For patience adorns, fortifies and guards a man in whatsoever afflictions he be in, so that in lose of property, in injuries and shame, in ill health, and in everything finally which can befall him from God, or from all creatures, let him be patient and let him always maintain peace and calmness of mind. Christ says of persons of this kind ; " Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth ;" for the whole world belongs to the devout man in exercis ing deeds of compassion, and to him who serves God in snowing pity : since also he is complete together with all that he possesses, he desires too that whatever on earth is subject to his own power shall serve God and his needy neighbours, to the honour of God. Likewise let him hold his own body in patience and gentleness 4 truly he is blest by that very thing when he holds himself and "all things divinely created in accordance with the will, constitution and ordinance of God. Moreover he is very much like the Angels of another choir who are called Archangels, because they have other spirits under them : he belongs to their companionship and rank, since they too are associated with all men in devotion and goodwill, especially to those whom they recognise as like themselves-, who are such as exercise deeds of charity attentively and liberally. For it belongs to these to stimulate to charity and compassion all those who exercise themselves in such things ; for they excel in dignity the spirits of the lowest order. For they are the highest messengers who are sent under a human form by God toman. Of these the Archangel Gabriel brought to the Virgin undefiled the message of clemency, of devotion, of pity or sympathy and generosity — that is that God should become man. Thus indeed the Archangels do service from love in very truth, to all those who in love are occu pied with great zeal and much earnestness. The same person who is full of love and devotion is like to God both in respect of His divinity and His humanity ; for God in accordance with His divine nature abounds in so great tenderness and kindness that everyone who has touched Him abounds in all gifts; In the same way He is filled with pity, sympathy and generosity ; for He created and gave us the sky and the earth, and whatever is contained within their scope, that they may minister to man as far as he is faithful to God. Not content with these, He has promised that He will also bestow Himself together with ineffable joy, provided that they desire to fit themselves for it. Besides He waits most patiently for a man whilst he is being converted ; and suffers and bears with the manifold wickedness, perversity and unkindness of men with boundless forbearance. But Christ also is and ever was most devoted and kind in accordance with His own humanity towards all men whatsoever in His own manner of life, full also of compassion which perhaps those tears which He shed abundantly over Jerusalem and its inhabitants sufficiently prove, — that is to say His enemies, having compassion on their loss and destruction ; when through sympathy with most blessed Magdalen and Martha He joined His own lamentations and tears at the tomb of their brother Lazarus ; and when he sympathised with the widow and the people outside the gate of the city before which He raised up the widow's son. In the same way He was and is even now full of love and pity towards all who desire His pity. Out of love He refreshed those five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishes. Out of affection and pity He has never failed any man in his need, but neither could He fail if only He knows that he confides in Him. Further in all His distresses and sufferings and in that final dereliction of Him by God the Father and by all His friends, He was most patient. Finally all this sadness and desolation He bore even to the death, together with the denial of His bodily nature. Whosoever has followed up this divine gift of Devotion in that perfection by which it is named, has adorned with a singular ornament of notable virtues another element in man, that of water, that is to say the Concupiscible power of the mind.