Book V, Chapter VIII

Drink of the Lord’s cup heartily.. As for comforts, leave them to God

(On these words) — “ Drink of the Lord’s cup heartily.... As for. comforts, leave them to God.” B. ii. c. 12.

Question. — How can we drink of the Lord’s cup heartily, and with regard to comforts leave them to God?

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Answer. — In three manners; the first of which is, following our Lord in the narrowest way, when we think it better than a wider path, in which we can neither follow nor serve Him so perfectly. There is nothing more common than to see people who make a profession of virtue, corresponding but little to the good feejjngs which God gives them, though they seem to receive them rightly, or at least do not entirely reject them. Spiritual progress no way consists in this, but in putting into execution those good desires with which God inspires us; in living a life under rule; in loving meditation, silence, and prayer; in mortifying the appetite; in hearkening attentively to the voice of God within the heart; and in doing all these things with extreme carefulness and fervour.

This path, which is that of perfection, is not easy to follow; it is a thorny path; few walk in it, and much courage is required to enter it. We cannot too earnestly exhort most men to combat sensuality, to resist the tendency of nature, not to seek their own ease, to live as children of the Cross, and, above all, to practise what Jesus says to all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross. Matt. xvi. 24. This is the first way of loving the sufferings of the Saviour.

Question. — What is the second?

Answer. — It is not only to strive to keep the Law of God, but truly to love suffering, knowing that there are hidden treasures in the afflictions and labours of this life. The great advantage obtained from this is, that we learn to avoid self*indulgence, and grow stronger day by day in virtue, and in the love of our Lord. The best portion of the heirs of I the Cross is pain and grief; and, when all is well I; considered, he who suffers most may be called the j

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richest. But few know the value of this great treasure. Our Author, who knew it well, counsels spiritual persons to place their satisfaction and happiness in self-denials. We have elsewhere spoken amply of sufferings, and of the good effects which they produce.

Question. — What is the third manner of embracing the Cross of the Saviour?

Answer. — It is not only to embrace mortification and contempt with our whole heart, but to love them principally with the design of being made like unto our Lord, according to the rule which St. Ignatius gives us in his exercises, that if we could glorify God equally in adversity and in prosperity, we ought to prefer the former state to the latter, through the sole desire of resembling Jesus, and of showing Him that we love His Person infinitely more than His Gifts and Favours. Love, which, by attaching our hearts to the Son of God, fills us with all manner of things that are good, makes us know what He is, and what He suffered, better in proportion as we try to feel His Sufferings in ourselves, in the manner spoken of in the preceding chapter.

Our Lord ordinarily joins Himself to those whom He loves, because it is natural for love to tend towards union; and according to the different states in which He was during the course of His mortal life, He unites Himself to them; now as a Child, impressing on their soul the character of His holy Childhood; now as glorified and transfigured on Mount Tabor, communicating to them some ray of His Glory; now as suffering, causing them inwardly to feel His afflictions; now as dying on the Cross, causing them swoonings and mortal agonies. Thus He unites them so intimately to Himself, that it might be said that henceforth they are but one with i Him. A soul which has found this hidden treasure!

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HOW TO DRINK THE LORD’S CUP HEARTILY. 197, renounces all to obtain it R; takes tribulation for her portion, loves it, delights in it, and regards it as the means of drawing nearer to her Saviour and her God.

Question. — How can we renounce comforts, and leave them to the will of God?

Answer. — By doing nothing to obtain comforts, but always, on the contrary, desiring crosses, like that pure lover of Christ, St. Catharine of Sienna, who once seeing her Beloved offer her two crowns, the one of gold, the other of thorns, left the first, and taking the last, fixed it on her head. Every faithful and generous soul should do as much. With regard to joy and sensible comfort, she must leave all to that Gracious Saviour, Who, seeing her thus resigned, will give her a hundredfold more than she would desire. If so be that we suffer with Him, says the great Apostle, we may also be glorified together. Rom. viii. 17.