Book III, Chapter VIII

A true lover of Christ, and a diligent ! follower of virtue, does not fall back on comforts, nor [ seek such sensible sweetnesses

(On these words) — “ A true lover of Christ, and a diligent follower of virtue, does not fall back on comforts, nor seek such sensible sweetnesses.’* B. ii. c. 9.

Question. — What is it to fall back on comforts?

Answer. — Not to receive comforts, but ardently to seek them, and to rest in them; to act like a man pressed with hunger, who throws himself on his food, and is not master of his appetite. We will explain how this is done.

A man truly spiritual, and strongly attached to the Divine Will, in whatever necessity he finds himself, and whatever favours he receives from Heaven, finds Support only in virtue, and does nothing but what God requires of him, persuaded that to do otherwise would be to seek himself, and not God. But if, through natural inconstancy or violent temptation, he quits that support, and falls from the high state of perfection at which he had arrived, he must necessarily sink to the earth. If he remains firm, being supported by love alone, he tries to desire nothing but God, renouncing his own interest, and even all the

BACK ON SENSIBLE COMFORTS. 125 comforts and spiritual joys that the Holy Spirit pours on his soul.

Not that he rejects them, unless he is strongly drawn and inspired to do so. He knows that there are occasions on which they are necessary, or at least useful, to enable him to love and enjoy God more; but he comports himself so wisely, and depends so little on these comforts and sensible joys, that when he is entirely destitute of them, he still preserves great evenness of spirit, and is never cast down or dejected but when he feels his own fervour diminish; for then, fearing to fail in fidelity towards God, he trembles, mourns, and implores aid from above with his whole heart.

On the contrary, a lukewarm and imperfect man, who knows not what is meant by simple love, feasts himself on these passing pleasures; and if God tries him as He tries His most beloved, he is afflicted, uneasy, and troubled. Unable to endure, he sighs for that which he regards as his only refuge, his supreme good. But when our Lord sees fit to comfort him by a fresh visit, immediately he forgets himself, because his great object is not to please God, but to satisfy himself. He thinks only of enjoying the pleasure that he receives from sensible comfort on that he dwells and reposes himself; instead of imitating those holy persons who, when filled with spiritual joy, and favoured with the gift of tears, hardly bestow a thought on it, or think of it only sufficiently to give thanks to the Divine Goodness, because they go straight to God, and seek only to do His pleasure in all things.

Question. — How is this done?

Answer. By lifting up the spirit to God in such manner as to love Him Alone, and only for Himself. To this disinterested love leads us; and when we

TRUE LOVE OF CHRIST FALLS NOT have arrived at it, we offer ourselves Courageously for all sorts of sufferings and labours; we even desire them, and wish ardently for nothing but to render God some considerable service for the motive of love alone, in which consists true integrity of heart.

When a soul is not yet fully detached from the earth, her natural weight, joined to her evil habits, hinders her from rising, and attracts her towards herself; so that she likes no place where she does not find her own comfort and advantage she seizes upon things which please her, and in them sets up her rest. Thus those things which God has given her to be used as means of salvation, become the instruments of her ruin a; whereas, if she were disengaged from all earthly affections, she would look to God Alone; she would love none but Him; she would rejoice in no other; she would receive and use His gifts without attaching her affections to them.

This is difficult to practise, and of a great perfection; for perfection consists in this, that the soul, looking simply to God, not only gives the preference to the Creator over all creatures in her esteem, but in truth wishes and desires nothing but Him; has no other care than to be faithful to Him, and passes through visible things without delaying till she reaches that Divine Object, and begins to taste the ineffable delights of simple love. One who has thus learned not to look superficially on God, but, if I may dare to say so, to look into His depths, does not suffer himself to be carried away by excessive joy when comforts come; he remains firm, and is at all times equal unlike the feeble and imperfect, who think rather of enjoying the benefits of God than God Himself.

This pure and disinterested love is not difficult to

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obtain, when we have acquired true poverty of spirit; for then we may enjoy all blessings and pleasures, whether natural or supernatural, that are given by God and approved by reason. We can make use of them without any diminution of Divine Love, which is but inflamed when we use them rightly; for in this case we lose nothing of that perfect indifference which we ought to feel with regard to the good things and joys of this life; we are no less insensible to them than if we were already dead; and at the very time that we are enjoying them, we are quite ready to renounce them. We always prefer the Cross and shame to glory and pleasure, in the hope that by this means we shall be more closely united to the Saviour, for Whom Alone we feel esteem, attachment, and love.