Chapter XXXIV. That Virtues are to be gained by degrees, by Erercising ourselves in their gradual formation, and that our Attention must first be given to one step, and then to another

ALTHOUGH the true soldier of Christ, who aspires to the height of perfection, should not assign limits to his progress, still there are some forms of spiritual fervour which need to be checked with a certain discretion, lest, being ardently embraced at first, they should be soon exhausted, and thus desert us in the middle of our course. Therefore, besides what has been said about moderation in external exercises, we must also learn, that even interior virtues had better be acquired by degrees, and step by step; for in this way that which is small soon becomes great and abiding. Thus, for example, we should not as a rule practise patience in the high degree, which consists in rejoicing in afflictions and desiring them, before we have passed through the lower degrees of the virtue.

Neither do I advise you to endeavour to give your attention to all the virtues at once, but to one only, and afterwards to others; for thus the habit of virtue is more easily and firmly rooted in the soul. If you are striving to acquire one particular virtue, you remember it more readily on all occasions; your mind too is sharpened by the discovery of new ways and motives for cultivating it, and the will bends itself more easily and earnestly in the pursuit of it, than if it were occupied with many virtues at once.

And with this uniform exercise, the acts which concern one single virtue are performed with less fatigue, in consequence of their resemblance to one another. The performance of one act facilitates the performance of the next, which is like unto it; and by this common likeness they make a deeper impression on us, the seat of the heart being already prepared and disposed for receiving those which are newly produced, having already made room for similar acts before.

These reasons have the greater force, as it is quite certain that every one who practises himself in one virtue at the same time learns the exercise of the rest; and thus, through the inseparable bond which exists between them, when one virtue grows the rest increase with it, as rays proceeding from one and the same Divine Light.