Letter 10. To Madame Brulart

ON GENERAL CONFESSION AND DEVOTION.

.... As I told you, I found every token of a good, true, solid confession in your general confession. If you omitted anything, examine whether it was knowingly and deliberately; — ^in which case you ought doubtless to make your confession over again, if the omission was of mortal sin. But if it was an omission caused by mere forgetfulness, do not be imeasy. You are not obliged to renew your confession, but it will suffice if you tell your ordinary confessor what it was you omitted. Nor do you be afraid that you did not mate your general confession with sufficient earnestness, if there was no voluntary omission You ask what you should do to acquire a devout and peaceful mind? In truth it is no light query, but I will strive to answer you as well as I can. Devotion is really neither more nor less than a general inclination and readiness to do that which we know to be acceptable to God. It is that “ free spirit,” of which David spoke when he said, “ I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou hast set my heart at liberty.” * Ordinarily good people walk in God's way, but the devout run in it, and at length they almost fly therein.

I will give you some few rules to forward you in such paths.

Above all, you must obey the general commandments of God and the Church, which apply to all ffiithful Christians; — without this there can be no devotion whatever. But further than this each individual must carefully obey such special points as concern his or her own vocation, without which he cannot attain salvation, though he were able to raise the dead. For instance, Bishops are commanded to feed their flocks, to teach, comfort, guide them, and were I to spend the whole week in prayer, or to fast all my life, I should still be lost if I neglect this duty.

• Ps. cxix. 32.

If any married person could work miracles, while yet he broke his vow of marriage, that man “ is worse than an infidel” * These two kind of commandments must be scrupulously observed as the foundation of all devotion; but further still, the virtue of devotion lies not merely in observing them, but in doing so willingly and readily. And there are several things to be considered with respect to such readiness.

First, that it is God's Will — ^and we may well strive to do His Will, for we came into this world for no other end. Alas! day by day we ask that His Will may be done, and yet when it comes to the doing, we find it so hard! We offer ourselves so often to God, — we continually say, “ Lord, I am thine, I give Thee my heart,” and when He accepts it, we are such cowards. How dare we call ourselves His, if we cannot shape our will to His?

Next, consider how gracious and kind all God's Commandments, whether general or particular, are. What makes them hard to you? Nothing save self- \vill, which strives to reign within you at any price, so that it rejects the very things when commanded, which it would perhaps seek were they forbidden. Among a myriad of delicious fhiits. Eve chose the one which was forbidden, whereas probably but for the prohibition, she would not have touched it. In a ■ L Tim. V. S.

word, we want to serve God according to our own will, not according to His. So Saul was commanded to destroy all Amalek, and he did destroy all except that which he considered costly enough to offer as a sacrifice; but God declared that “ to obey is better than sacrifice.” * God sends me to serve souls actively, but I prefer contemplation: Well, — ^the contemplative life is good, but not to the neglect of obedience. We must not choose for ourselves, we must will what God wills, and if He would have me serve Him in one thing, I must not prefer to serve Him in something else instead. God chose Saul to serve Him as a King and a Captain, whereas Saul chose to serve Him as a priest; — doubtless the latter office is the highest, but all the same that did not matter; what God wills is obedience.

God gave manna to the children of Israel, but they despised it, delicious as it was, and longed after the leeks and onions of Eg5rpt Even such is our wretched nature, which always prefers its own will to that of God. But as we come to have less of self-will, we shall more easily obey His Will. It is well to remember that there is no vocation without its trials, bitterness, and weariness, and without hearty resignation to God's Will every one is tempted to wish he could change his troubles for those of other men.

Whence arises this universal dissatisfaction, save from our innate rebellion against constraint, and our perverse disposition to believe every one else better off than ourselves? Nevertheless, turn as we may, hither and thither, no one will be at rest who is not resigned. The fever-stricken patient finds no repose, he would for ever change his bed; but it is not the bed that is amiss, it is his own feverishness. He who is free from the fever of self-will is content with everything, so long as he is serving God. He does not care how God uses him, so long as His Holy Will is fulfilled.

We must go a step further, and to be truly devout, not merely do God's Will, but do it cheerfully. If I were not a Bishop, perhaps, knowing all I know, I would rather not be one; but as I am a Bishop, I am bound, not merely to fulfil the duties of that weighty charge, but to do so cheerfully, and to find pleasure therein. Thus S. Paul says, “ As God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk."* We have each got to carry our own Cross, not another man's; — our Lord bids us each renounce himself, that is, our own will I wish for this or that, — could do better here or there — all this is temptation. Our Lord knows perfectly what He is doing: let us follow His Will, and abide where He has placed us.

• I. Cor. vii. 17.

Google

You wish for some practical rule.

I. Make your daily meditation not longer than a good half-hour, and end it with considering our Lord's obedience to God the Father; you will find that all He did was done with reference to His Father's Will; and, studying that, you will seek to acquire a deeper love of that Will

II. Before entering upon any irksome tasks to which you are called, remember how cheerfully the Saints performed far greater and harder things; how some suffered the loss of all worldly honour, others death itself S. Francis, and many others, kissed the wounds of those they visited; some lived in deserts, others dwelt amid galley-slaves in order to convert them, and all alike in order to please God. What are any of our difficulties compared with such as these?

III. Remember often that the true measure of all we do is its conformity with God's Will If I eat and drink because it is God's Will, I am more acceptable to Him than if I suffered death without any such intention.

IV. I would have you invoke God often through the day, asking Him to kindle a love for your vocation within you, and saying with S. Paul, “ Lord, what wouldst Thou have me to do? " Wouldst Thou have me serve Thee in the lowest ministries of Thy House? too happy if I may but serve Thee anyhow. And when any special thing goes against you, ask “Wouldst Thou have me do it? " then, unworthy though I be, I will do it gladly. So doing, you will grow in humility, and acquire a treasure greater than you can possibly imagine.

V. Remember how many Saints have been formed in your vocation,* and with what gentleness and resignation they submitted to it: — Sarah, Rebecca, S. Anne, S. Elizabeth, S. Monica, S. Paula, and many more. Our business is to love what God would have done. He wills our vocation as it is: let us love that, and not trifle away our time hankering after other people^s vocation. Strive to combine the duties of Mary and Martha; be diligent in your active calling, and often retire within yourself, placing your soul at the Saviours Feet, saying, “Lord, Whether I move onwards or stand still, I am Thine and Thou aft mine; all I do shall be done for love of Thee." You will hear Mass daily, and read some spiritual book for half an hour. In the evening make your examination of conscience, and all through the day use ejaculatory prayer. Read the “Spiritual Combat" diligently; I recommend it strongly to you. On Sundays and festivals you can attend vespers and sermon, but not as being constrained to do so. Go eveiy week to confession, and when anything troubles * Le, of married life.

your conscience. As to Communion, if it displeases your husband, for the present abide by the rule I gave you at St. Claude; be firm, and make spiritual Communions j God will accept your preparation of heart.* Remember what I have so often told you, and do honour to your devotion by making it acceptable to all who know you, especially to your own family, so that every one may be attracted to it. When contradictions arise, resign yourself to them in our Lord, and take comfort, remembering that His favour is upon those who are holy, or who are seeking to become holy. I think much of you. God knows I never forget you or your family in my poor prayers; you are deeply graven in my soul May God be in your heart and life.

[68.] XI.