Letter XIII. To a Young Lady

Counsels relating to a vow of chastity.

MADEMOISELLE — I consider that the desire which you have of vowing your chastity to God has not been conceived in your heart without your having first and for a long time considered its importance: for this reason I approve your making it, and making it on Whit Sunday itself. Now to make it well, use your leisure time during the three days beforehand to prepare your vow properly by prayer, which you can form on these considerations.

Consider how agreeable a virtue holy chastity is to God and the angels, he having willed that it shall be eternally observed in heaven, where an end is put to every sort of carnal pleasure and to marriage. Shall you not be very happy to begin in this world the life which you will continue eternally in the other? Bless God, then, who has given you this holy inspiration.

Consider how noble is this virtue, which makes our souls white as the lily, pure as the sun; which makes our bodies consecrated, and gives us the advantage of belonging wholly and entirely to his divine Majesty, heart, body, spirit, and feelings. Is it not a great delight to be able to say to Our Lord: My heart and my flesh have rejoiced * in your goodness, for the love of which I give up all love, and for the pleasure of which I renounce all other pleasures? What a happiness to have reserved no earthly delights for this body, in order to give our heart entirely to Our God!

Consider that the Blessed Virgin was the first to vow her virginity to God, and after her so many virgins, men and women. But with what ardour, with what love, with what affection, was this their virginity, this chastity, vowed! Ah! it cannot be described. Humble yourself greatly before this heavenly band of virgins, and by humble prayer beseech them to receive you amongst them, not indeed as professing to equal them in purity, but at least that you may be acknowledged as their unworthy servant, imitating them as nearly aa you can. Beseech them to offer with you your vow to Jesus Christ, King of virgins, and by the merit of their * Ps. Ixxxiii. 3.

chastity to make yours acceptable. Above all, recommend your intention to Our Lady; and then to your good Angel, that it may please him thenceforward to preserve with a particular care your heart and your body pure from everything contrary to your vow.

Then on Whit Sunday, when the priest is elevating the sacred Host, offer with him to God the eternal Father the precious body of his dear child Jesus, and together with this your body, which you will vow to keep in chastity all the days of your life. The form of making the vow might be such as this: " 0 eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I, N., thy un worthy creature, here in thy presence and in that of all thy heavenly court, promise to thy divine Majesty, and vow, to keep and observe, all the time of mortal life which it shall please thee to give me, an entire chastity and continence, through the favour and grace of thy Holy Spirit. Vouchsafe to accept this my irrevocable vow as a holocaust of sweetness, and since it has pleased thee to inspire me to make it, give me the strength to perfect it, to thy honour, for ever and ever."

Some persons write this vow, or get it written and sign it, then hand it to some spiritual father, in order that he, may be, as it were, the protector and sponsor of it; but this, though useful, is in no way necessary.

Then you will communicate, and you will be able to say to Our Lord that he is indeed your Spouse.

But speak of this to your confessor; for if he tell you not to do it you must believe him, since he, knowing the present state of your soul, will be able to judge better than I what is expedient.

But, my good daughter, when this vow is made, it is necessary that you never permit any one to solicit your heart with any proposal of love or marriage, and you must have a great respect for your body, not now as your own body, but as a most sacred body, a most holy relic. And as one dares no longer to touch or profane a chalice after the Bishop has consecrated it, so when the Holy Spirit has consecrated your heart and your body by this vow, you must show it a great reverence.

For the rest, I will recommend all this to God, who knows that I love you very affectionately in him; and on the same day of Pentecost I will offer him your heart and what may proceed from it unto his glory. May Jesus be for ever your love, and his holy Mother your guide! Amen.

Your servant in Jesus Christ, &c.