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 -37L 
 
 Rev. JOHN McCLOSKEY, &c. 
 
 PASTOR OF ST. JOSBPH's CHURCH, KEW YORK, 
 
 Wboee unaffected piety as a Christian Divine, splendid talenu as 
 
 an effective Preacher, extensive acquirements as an elegant 
 
 Scholar, and dignified jet amiable manners as an 
 
 accomplished Gentleman, have Ion? been the 
 
 admiration, the ornament, and the 
 
 model of his devoted flock, 
 
 THI3 LITTLE WORK 18 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 B T H I S 
 
 FORMER PARISHIONERS, 
 
 AND 
 
 Much obliged humble servaiiU, 
 
 THE PUBLISHERS. 
 
 New Tors, 
 
 Eve of the Feast of the Nativty. 
 
 'I- 
 
 __ :
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 In the midst of the alarming indiffer- 
 ence and deplorable incredulity of the 
 age, we ought to regard as peculiarly pre- 
 destinated to happiness eternal, all those 
 who, despite of every allurement, every 
 seduction, and every temptation to error 
 held out by a vain world,— have contin- 
 ued inviolably attached to the one true 
 Faith : — the source of all virtues, and the 
 only foundation of moral as well as of re- 
 ligious perfection. They at least know 
 the nature of man's origin,— why he has 
 been placed for some time a sojourner 
 on this earth, — what he ought to do while 
 here. — and what he is destined to become 
 hereafter, at the termination of a tran- 
 sient career. The rule of life adopted 
 by these pious souls, is not swayed by 
 chance, caprice, blind instinct, or the 
 cravings of mere animal existence. 
 While anxious to extend, enlighten, and 
 exalt the powers of the understanding;, 
 faith is ever kept in view, as the regula- 
 tor and director of the heart ; — purifying
 
 ' o 
 
 Vi PREFACE. 
 
 all its affections, and diffusing through- 
 out a delicious peace : thus while ever 
 watchfully and indefutigably employed 
 in clearing away the obstructions in the 
 road towards the joys of heaven, it al- 
 ready constitutes happiness on earth. 
 
 liut to recognize all the beauties of 
 virtue, to taste all the sweets of piety, 
 and present to the eyes of erring man, a 
 true and cjficii'.nl model of a Christian 
 Life, we must not rest strictly within 
 the boundaries which separate faith from 
 irreligion, and the dominion of morality 
 from that of the vices and passions. 
 This middle way — via media — hemmed 
 in by so many reservations in favour of 
 the gratification of the senses, — of pride, 
 — of worldly interests, — ever dissatisfied, 
 and too much taken up with mundane 
 attachments, — is consequently cold and 
 indifferent, sullied with numerous de- 
 fects, deprived ofdivine consolations, and 
 always exposed to the most dangerous 
 tendencies of fallinij into sin. It oxhib- 
 ite an incessant vaccillation between 
 good and bad — between virtue and vice : 
 like the feeble and languishing life of 
 a man who confining himself to a por- 
 tion of nourishment barely sufficient to 
 keep him from the jaws of death, may 
 ) . .Q
 
 o o 
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 struggle out a sickly existence, but he 
 will undoubtedly fall under the first at- 
 tack of a Violent malady. 
 
 To prevent the grievous and inevitable 
 consequences o('a life led in this manner, 
 — of -an halitual tepidity, — of a sloth 
 which is in direct opposition to the sub- 
 lime precepts and elevated hopes of 
 faith, it is absolutely necessary to enter 
 with a generous courage on the ro;id of 
 christian practice. For this end we must 
 above all things, be fully penetrated 
 with the spirit of our Saviour, Jksus 
 Christ, and apply ourselves to thorough- 
 ly understand His thoughts, His words, 
 and His actions ; in order to render our 
 thoughts, words, and actions in all 
 things conformable to His. For, xrhat- 
 cver Jksus Christ has done in the flesh 
 for all men, that, every one of us is 
 obliged to do for himself. It is only in 
 this way, we can participate in the 
 fruits of the redemption, and merit the 
 glorious title of children of God : — Jf 
 any vian have not the spirit of Christ, he 
 is none of His Whosoever are led by 
 the spirit of God, then are the Sons of 
 God.* It is then indispensable to dis- 
 engage our Christian sentiments from 
 * Rom. viii. 9, and 14. 
 
 o
 
 ) Q 
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 the impure intermixture of worldly 
 ideas — from secular prejudices by which 
 they are obscured and corrupted if not 
 entirely strangled. This is the first and 
 paramount requisite of a life troly 
 Christian. 
 
 We must not however confine our ef- 
 forts to bL'3iitifu] speculations, or bril- 
 liant theories, — to vain projects of ideal 
 perfection, — to reading and meditation 
 without profit. We must come to prac- 
 tice, — to practice full of serious earnest- 
 ness, — to a daily and sustained applica- 
 tion of Christian maxims, in nil the cir- 
 circumstances of our thoughts, our pro- 
 jects, our enterprises, and our occu- 
 pations. In all situations, in all the vi- 
 cissitudes of life. — in piospeiity and ad- 
 versity, in health and in sickness, — nil 
 our thou<rhts, words, and actions ought 
 to he inspired, regulated, and directed 
 by the principles of our holy faith and 
 of christi;in morality. If our soul is 
 deeply penetrated with these principles 
 and filled with these sentiments, they 
 will be reproduced and realized without 
 difficulty in all our connexions with 
 mankind. From the spirit of humility 
 and of charity, with which our hearts 
 shall be penetrated, will be diffused over 
 
 o o
 
 _ o 
 
 PREFACE. ix 
 
 our whole exterior, an amiable modesty, 
 
 a mildness, a deliy;htt"ul amenity, which 
 
 will enable all who approach us to per- 
 
 ' ceive that God is in all our actions, and 
 
 .that we are actuated by His divine in- 
 
 [ fluence. There will exhale, as it were, 
 
 from our whole person, an odour ot" 
 
 sanctity, which wilT bring back the 
 
 thoughts of God and of viiiue into souls 
 
 of the most abandoned character. 
 
 And although the faithful practice of 
 these evangelical virtues may cost us 
 not a little, shall we not be most amply 
 recompensed for all our trouble by the 
 immediate result of these virtues ] 
 
 How many are the evils from which 
 they will deliver us 1 In wha^nuinber- 
 less ways can they not alleviate the 
 burden oi' these evils interwoven with 
 our earthly sojourn ] What joy and se- 
 renity will they not maintain in our 
 souls ] What undiminished confidence, 
 what mutual condescension, what heav- 
 enly peace, will they not diffuse in 
 every domestic circle l And although 
 the world forsakes us, and although 
 doomed to experience desolation within 
 and without, can there be anything: pain- 
 ful, anything terrible, to a christian, who 
 has his mind and thoughts fixed on
 
 o o 
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 heaven 1 What can he fear, and for 
 what may he not liope, — he who has for 
 his defense and support, the arm of the 
 Must High 1 
 
 Among the productions, which are 
 powerlully adapted to nourish and sus- 
 tain the fervour of pious souls, and kin- 
 dle it anew in luliewarm christians, 
 must be placed in the first rank, the 
 works of these pious monks and hermits, 
 who after quitting the world, its vain 
 pleasures, and idle illusions, passed their 
 lives in subduing their passions, — in 
 probin<^ and purifying the most secret 
 Iblds of their hearts, — in contemplating 
 the things of heaven, and in advancing 
 every dav still farther in the way of per- 
 fection. Such among others are the 
 works of T/iomas a Kempis in the iSth, 
 and of Louis le Blois in the following 
 century. I heir works form a real treas- 
 ure of piety, and it has been long a 
 cause of regret, that they have not been 
 better known and more generally circu- 
 lated. 
 
 The principal works of piety written 
 by Thomas a KcvLpis. (exclusive of the 
 Jmitatiim of Ckrist, which some deny to 
 be his,) are the LUUe Garden of Roses,d^n(\ 
 the Valley of Lilies. These two (of which 
 
 c o
 
 o c 
 
 PREFACE. Xi 
 
 a correct translation is now for the first 
 time presented to the pious reader,) pos- 
 sess advantages over the Imilation itself; 
 — inasmuch as they are more practical, 
 more in detail, better adapted to the 
 individual wants of the faithful, and 
 more within the comprehension of the 
 many. Persons of every rank and con- 
 dition, will here find an i^iexhaustible 
 fund of the most solid advice, of the 
 sagest counsels, and of the various max- 
 ims applicable to their particular state, 
 interior and exterior. 
 
 The instructions of Thomas, a Kempis 
 are addressed to religious communities, 
 who were not entirely shut out from the 
 world by the impassable barrier of the 
 cloister. They were consequently ex- 
 posed to the contagion of its maxims and 
 examples. It is against these dangers, 
 that the pious author wishes to protect 
 them. L'angers similar to these, and 
 even still greater, await christians who 
 live altogether in the world, and who have 
 not the advantage of refreshing and re- 
 newing their pious dispositions, every 
 day in the solitude and hf)ly exercises of 
 a religious house. The LiiHe Garden of 
 Roses and Vallei/ of Lilies are therefore 
 perfectlv adapted to their spiritual wants. | 
 
 J o
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 Xll PREFACE. 
 
 There can be no doubt, that these tvTo 
 little works will contribute l;irf?ely to 
 the moral and relijE^ious amelioration of 
 those who will read them with suifahle 
 (iispoiiilions: for that which causes many 
 christians to lose much of the good fruit, 
 which they might otherwise derive from 
 spiritual reading, is, the careless, ineffi- 
 cient mannegf in which it is performed. 
 Those who wish to read with profit, are 
 earnestly requested to leisurely peruse 
 the following instructions ; which are a 
 compendium of all that hnve been hand- 
 ed down on this subject, by the masters 
 and directors of a spiritual life. — 
 
 RULES FOR PIOUS READING. 
 
 1, Before reading as before prayer, 
 prepare thy soul to receive the outpour- 
 ing of the divine grace. For this end 
 determine on a certiin time for rend- 
 ing, and during this time, forget the 
 world and all the affiirs thereof; keep 
 thy soul steadily fixed on God, and look 
 on Him only. Invoke His light, and 
 His inspiration, and dispose thyself to 
 follow them in every p:irticular. 
 
 2. Apply all thy mind to the subject 
 of thy leading. Read leisurely, atten- 
 
 c- ^ o
 
 O ■■ Q 
 
 PREFACE. Xiii 
 
 tively, and without a spirit of curiosity 
 or of criticism. Pause when God vouch- 
 safes to speak to thy heart, and pass not 
 on from one chapter, until thou wilt 
 have extracted the favours and graces, 
 which God has there enclosed for thy 
 benefit. 
 
 3. Sum up with devout and tender af- 
 fection, the pious thoughts, with which 
 thou hast been entertained ; form reso- 
 lutions on each particular ; and foresee 
 the occasions which may be presented 
 of putting in practice the instructions 
 and information derived. Thank God 
 for the graces, which He has vouch- 
 safed to grant, and for the pious thoughts 
 with which He has inspired thee. Im- 
 plore the strength, necessary to accom- 
 plish what He requires at thy hands, 
 and rec:il from time to time, — for in- 
 stance, — at the striking of the clock, or 
 the toll of the bell, — the promises made 
 to thy Crkator and Soverkig.v Lord. 
 At night, compare thy conduct, during 
 the day, with the resolutions made in the 
 morning; deplore in the presence of 
 God, the sins with which thou canst 
 charge thy conscience ; humbly hope for 
 the pardon promised the contrite and 
 penitent heart; renew thy holy purpose
 
 O ( 
 
 Xiv PREFACE. 
 
 of being more faithful for the future ; — 
 beg the aid of the divine grace, and al- 
 ways recomnrience with fresh ardour 
 and renewed courage. Be punctual and 
 exact in following this simple and easy 
 plan in all thy rending and meditation, 
 and God will load the.- with benefits and 
 blessings in all abundance. 
 
 THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN MAY REAP 
 
 MUCH BENEFIT BY OBSERVING 
 
 THE FOLLOWING METHOD 
 
 OF HOLY MEDITATION. 
 
 Be mindful of thy last end, and thou 
 shall never sin.* 
 
 All the earth is made desolate because 
 there is none that thinJ.eth in his heart.i 
 
 Reflections made on certain truths 
 for the purpose of becoming better, is 
 called McdUoHon. 
 
 To meditate then is to reflect, — to 
 think seriously. 
 
 To be saved, it is necessary to medi- 
 tate ; because there can be no salvation, 
 * Eccli. vii. 40. t Jer. xii. 
 
 o-
 
 o — 
 
 PREFACE. XV 
 
 without reflection on the means of ob- 
 taining it. 
 
 We must meditate to be fully penetra- 
 ted with the great truths of salvation, 
 and to conform our liie and manners to 
 that object. 
 
 We must meditate to oe enabled to 
 fight with courage against the three great 
 enemies of our salvation, — the devil, the 
 world, and ourselves. 
 
 We must meditate for the purpose of 
 attaining a knowledge of God and of 
 ourselves. 
 
 We must meditate to conquer our pas- 
 sions, and to clearly comprehend the 
 misfortune of those who may have aban- 
 doned themselves to their destructive 
 sway. .» 
 
 We must meditate to fully conceive 
 the vanity of all sublunary things, and 
 to detach ourselves therefrom. 
 
 In fine we must meditate to obtain an 
 Imitation of Jesus Christ, who is the 
 model, after which we should copy ; and 
 accordino; to which we- shall be judged. 
 
 *** We can meditate on all subjects 
 connected with Gdo, our salvation, the 
 correction of our defects and the prac- 
 tice of virtue. 
 
 o c
 
 o c 
 
 Xvi PREFACE. 
 
 MANNER OF MEDITATING. 
 
 To meditate with profit, we must — 
 1. Place ourselves in ihe presence of 
 
 God and adore Him. 
 
 '2. Rellect on our sins, and make an act 
 
 of contrition. 
 
 3. Unite ourselves to Jesus Christ ; 
 for without Him we can do nothing 
 pleasing to Gon. 
 
 4. Implore the light of the Holy 
 Ghost; whereas without His aid we 
 cannot form even one good thought. 
 
 f;;^ This is termed the Preparation. 
 We must afterwards — 
 
 1. Ponder on the subject or important 
 truth, on which we desire to meditate : 
 such as the Certainty of Death, the Ter- 
 rors of the Lrist Jiulginent^ the Fear of 
 Hell, the Jnys of Heaven, &c., &c. 
 
 2. Excite in the heart, holy sentiments 
 and tender affections on that particular 
 subject, or important truth. 
 
 3. After these reflections and pious 
 sentiments, we must take an introspec- 
 tive view of ourselves, to examine first 
 regarding the past, how we have con- 
 ducted ourselves in reference to the sub- 
 ject under meditation ; afterwards to ex- 
 amine how we are disposed for the pres-
 
 u 
 
 PREFACE. Xvii 
 
 ent ; and lastly to form resolutions for 
 the future. We must not however con- 
 tent ourselves with general resolutions, 
 we must always form our resolutions, by 
 particulars,— each one by itself; in order 
 to put them afterwards in practice. 
 
 This is called the Body ur SubsLance of 
 the JMt'ditatiov. 
 
 To conclude our Meditation, we 
 must — 
 
 1. Thank God for having permitted us 
 to appear in His presence, and for the 
 grace, which He vouchsafed to grant, 
 during our Meditation. 
 
 2. Ask pardon for our distractions. 
 
 3. Otler up our resolutions, and im- 
 plore the grace of God to accomplish 
 them. 
 
 4. Place our resolutions under the 
 protection of the Blessed Virgin. 
 
 5. Finally, make choice of some holy 
 thought, with which we have been par- 
 ticularly affected : or of some pious sen- 
 timent in connection with the subject of 
 our meditation, in order to recall it to 
 mind sometimes during the day : this is 
 termed a Spiritual Nosegay. 
 
 1a
 
 O c 
 
 Xviii PREFACE. 
 
 ADVICE ON MEDITATION. 
 
 For a due consideration of the subject, 
 every one should ask himself: — 
 
 1. What ought I believe and know on 
 this subject'] 
 
 2. What ought I do in reference to 
 this subject ? 
 
 3. What have I done up to the present 
 timel 
 
 4. What shall I do for the future 1 
 
 5. How and by what means shall I do if? 
 To produce suitable affections we 
 
 should excite the following sentiments : 
 
 1. Sorrow for our sloth, our tepidity, 
 and our numerous defects. 
 
 2. A firm resolution of correcting our- 
 selves. 
 
 3. Watchful distrust of our fickleness 
 and weakness. 
 
 4. To call forth sentiments of the love 
 of God, and to excite ourselves to over- 
 come all difficulties in the way of our 
 eternal salvation. 
 
 Jn the iMine of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 the pious Header is earneslly req^iest' 
 ed to pray for the spiritual welfare of 
 
 THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 O : (
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 1. On .seeking the company of the good, 
 
 and flying that of the bad . . 1 
 
 2. On flying the world, and the snares of 
 
 the devil 5 
 
 3. True wisdom must be sought of God 10 
 
 4. On warring against our own vices . 13 
 
 5. On tlie necessity of acquiring tiie grace 
 
 of devotion 18 
 
 6. Of hearing and reading the divine 
 
 word 20 
 
 7. On divine consolation in tribulation . 24 
 
 8. On the joy of a good conscience in 
 
 tiie iloiy Spirit .... 28 
 
 9. On the edifying demeanor of an hum- 
 
 ble brother 33 
 
 10. On the instability of the human heart 40 
 
 11. On trust in God in time of trouble . 45 
 
 12. On the efficacy of prayer, and the ad- 
 
 vantages of pious reading . . 49 
 
 13. On the praises of charity and its fruits 61 
 
 14. On watching andstnvingagainst temp- 
 
 tations 70 
 
 15. On bearingone another's burthens . 73 
 Ifi. On the love of Christ, and hatred of the 
 
 world 80 
 
 17. On the imitation of the most holy life 
 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 
 18. On the eternal praise of God . . 100
 
 o c 
 
 XX CONTENTS. 
 
 THE VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 Prologue 115 
 
 1. On the three-fold state of human life . 117 
 
 2. On the praise of God, during the bar- 
 renness or tepidity of devotion . 123 
 
 3. On the probation of the just by adver- 
 sity 127 
 
 4. Of the true lover of God . . . liO 
 
 5. On the gratitude of the soul, for every 
 good 133 
 
 6. On the conformity of the devout soul 
 to the cross 136 
 
 7. On the walking of a pure soul with God 13b 
 
 8. On the peace of heart, and rest in God 141 
 
 9. On recollection of the heart with God . 144 
 
 10. On watching and prayer against ten:ip- 
 tations ... . . 147 
 
 11. On the fear ofeternal punishment, as 
 a preservative against the vices of 
 tlie flesii and pride of spirit . . 152 
 
 12. On the memory of our Lord's passion, 
 as a remedy agamst dissipation or 
 distraction of mind .... 156 
 
 13. On the invocation of the holy name of 
 Jesus, and of the blessed Mary, His 
 Virgin Mother . . . . IGl 
 
 14 On the necessity of struggling manful- 
 ly against vice, after the cvample of 
 the saints 169 
 
 15. On the love of retirement and holy 
 perseverance 1T4 
 
 16. On divine consolation in tribulation for 
 Christ's sake 177 
 
 17. On watching over the conscience, in 
 
 I every place and at all limes . . 182 
 
 o '■
 
 o ( 
 
 CONTENTS. Xxi 
 
 18 On solitude and silence . . .189 
 
 19 On the refuge of the poor, in God their 
 
 helper 199 
 
 20. On the poor and sick Lazarus . . 205 
 
 21. On tlie clear understanding of the 
 
 Hoiy Scriptures .... 211 
 
 22. On the great merit of patience for the 
 
 sake of Christ 219 
 
 23. On the good conversation of the hum- 
 
 ble christian 222 
 
 24. On prudent conversation, and brother- 
 
 ly compassion 226 
 
 25. On the uncertain hour of death, and 
 
 the speedy end of this life . . 232 
 
 26. On the eternal praise of God, and the 
 
 desire of eternal glory . . . 241 
 
 27. Of the praises sung by the holy Angels 
 
 in Heaven 249 
 
 28. A prayer of the devout lover of God . 253 
 2J. On union of the heart with God . . 233 
 
 30. On true peace, to be sought for in God 
 
 alone 264 
 
 31. That our intention should be pure and 
 
 always directed towards God . 269 
 
 32. The prayer of an humble and a con- 
 
 trite spirit 275 
 
 33 Of holy fellowship with .Tesus and with 
 
 his saints 278 
 
 34 On placing our sovereign good and 
 
 farthest aim in God alone . . 289
 
 o 
 
 GARDEN OF R 08 E^". 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 ON SEEKING THE COMPANY OF THE 
 
 GOOD, AND FLYING THAT 
 
 OF THE BAD. 
 
 " Cum sancto sanctus eris, et cum 
 perverso perverteris* 
 
 " With the holy, thou wilt he holy ; 
 and with the perverse, thou wilt be 
 perverted.''^ 
 
 1. Be diligently on thy guard, 
 beloved brother in Christ, lest thou 
 be seduced by the company of false 
 and wicked men, or of those who 
 
 * Ps. xvii. 26. 
 
 -0
 
 o o 
 
 2 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 live without discipli'ie ; but draw 
 near to the virtuous, to those who 
 cr3 iViends of oidei and to the well 
 inrsir-.K.ted ; from whom thou wilt 
 only hear words that are good, full 
 of comfort and edification. 
 
 For as the unkindlcd coal warms 
 and tjlows when thrown on a burn- 
 ing fire, so a lukewarm Christian, 
 in the company of a pious and fer- 
 vent brother, often recovers his 
 piety and fervour ; and as he grows 
 in the knowledge of good, acquires 
 also the sweet odour of virtue. 
 
 It was thus that the apostles, from 
 following Christ, became holy men, 
 and received the fulness of the Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
 It was thus that Mark from fol- 
 lowing St. Peter, became learned 
 in the holy gospel ; which with much 
 gladness he heard from the very lips 
 of that blessed apostle. 
 
 It was thus that bv following St. 
 O (
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEX OF ROSES. 3 
 
 Paul, Timothy became learned in 
 the Holy Scriptures which he had 
 studied from his early youth ; and 
 furthermore, when the grace of 
 God advanced in him, was ordain- 
 ed bishop, at Ephesus, by the mas- 
 ter who loved him, as a loving fa- 
 ther does his only child. 
 
 2. It was thus that Polycarp, the 
 disciple of Saint John the Apostle, 
 became a glowing preacher of the 
 faith to the people, and suffered 
 with Saint Ignatius a glorious mar- 
 t\Tdom ; — that our blessed father 
 Augustine, instructed and baptized 
 by Saint Ambrose, became that glo- 
 rious doctor of the holy Church, 
 whose fame is spread over all the 
 earth ; — and so of that holy youth 
 Maurus, who, following the foot- 
 steps of Saint Benedict, was there- 
 after, by God's blessing, a holy ab- 
 bot, as famed for his virtues as for 
 his miracles. 
 • O
 
 Q O 
 
 4 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 And tliijs it was that Bernard, 
 that man well beloved of God, in 
 the school of the venerable Ste- 
 phen, Abbot of Citeaux, became 
 the light of religion in his order : 
 shining like a clear star in the fir- 
 mament. 
 
 Innumerable are the examples, 
 both ancient and modern, which 
 prove that the society of the good 
 tends to the safety of the soul, and 
 that of the wicked to its perdition ; 
 that good instruction is profitable, 
 and evil conversation dangerous ; 
 and that silence and solitude in- 
 crease our spiritual advancement, 
 while the dissipation and tumult of 
 the world retard its growth. 
 
 Then either live alone as much 
 as possible and labour in the ser- 
 vice of God ; or join thyself to the 
 devout and holy, with whom thou 
 mayest discourse on the virtues of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 O (
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN' OF ROSES. 5 
 
 But see that thou dost not fathom 
 through vain curiosity, the holy 
 mysteries of religion ; seek rather 
 to search into thy own faults, and to 
 apply to the wounds of thy soul, all 
 necessary and wholesome reme- 
 dies. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 ox FLYING THE WORLD, AND THE 
 SNARES OF THE DEVIL. 
 
 " AudienSf sapiens, sapientior 
 eritr* 
 
 " A wise man shall hear, and shall 
 be wiser." 
 
 1 . Young man, who yet lovest 
 virtue, hearken to. the words of eter- 
 nal wisdom ; from these thou wilt 
 
 > 
 
 * Prnv. i. 5.
 
 o o 
 
 6 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 draw more instruction than from the 
 combined discourse of all the wis- 
 dom of the world. 
 
 According to the Avords of the 
 Apostle St. John ; " Love not the 
 world, nor the things which are in 
 the world."* Cast them away as 
 dung — reject them as poison. 
 
 Think always of eternity, and 
 temptations shall cease to allure. 
 
 Avoid every thing that may hurt 
 thy soul : be not an object of scan- 
 dal to any one : and watch well 
 that thou drop not one unbecoming 
 word. 
 
 Should thy father according to 
 the flesh seek to turn thee from the 
 service of God, answer him that 
 thou hast a Father who is in hea- 
 ven. Should thy mother or sister 
 oppose the execution of thy de- 
 signs, tell them they are mortal, 
 and may be deceived ; adding, 
 
 i * 1 John ii. 15. 
 
 o o
 
 : o 
 
 GARDEX OF ROSES. 7 
 
 " He who made me, He shall 
 guide me." 
 
 He that jrives himself up to the 
 service of God, shall want for noth- 
 ing. 
 
 Commend to the keeping of God 
 all thy friends ; pray for their con- 
 version and perseverance in well- 
 doing ; ask above all that their at- 
 tachment to the things of this world 
 may never make them offend God, 
 and thereby lose the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 The dissipation of frequent visits 
 will bring trouble on thy soul. The 
 world passes away, and the concu- 
 piscence thereof.* 
 
 Even so thou also shalt pass 
 away, and all that are dear to thee. 
 
 2. " Many are the. snares of the 
 devil, and they that are anxious to 
 become rich, or gTeat, fall into 
 
 * 1 John ii. 17.
 
 o o 
 
 8 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 temptation, and into many unprofi- 
 table and hurtful desires."* 
 
 We have daily snares in our meat 
 and drink, in our wandering eye, 
 our idle tongue, the inconstancy of 
 our hearts, and distaste for good 
 works. 
 
 Honour, riches, and power, are 
 but vanity ; and what seekest thou 
 in the world, or what dost thou de- 
 sire to see in the world, which is 
 nothing and vanity ? for all is van- 
 ity, frailty, and deceit, except the 
 love of God, and perseverance in 
 well-doing. 
 
 Thou canst not love God per- 
 fectly, till thou despisest thyself, 
 and the world, for the love of God, 
 who will render thee " an hundred 
 fold now in this time, and in the 
 world to come life everlasting.''! 
 
 3. Oh, fellow pilgrim and broth- 
 er, let it not seem hard to be with- 
 
 * 1 Tim. vi. 9. t Mark x. 30. 
 O : 'v
 
 GARDEN' OF ROSES. 
 
 drawn from thy friends and ac- 
 quaintance, who are often an ob- 
 stacle to thy eternal salvation, and 
 the means of lessening the divine 
 consolations. 
 
 Where aro those friends with 
 whom thou hast laughed and sport- 
 ed ? Alas ! I know not : — they are 
 gone, and I am left alone. Where 
 are the visions of yesterday ? They 
 have melted away. Where is our 
 meat and our drink? They are past 
 for ever. And have thy privations 
 been injm-ious, or hath thy absti- 
 nence been hurtful ? — Thou must 
 reply that they have hurt thee not at 
 all. Therefore is not he alone wise 
 who renounces the world and its 
 pleasures for the service, — the rea- 
 sonable service, — of God ? Most 
 assuredly he is. Woe to all those 
 whom the world inebriates with its J 
 charms ; for soon all pleasant com- 
 i pany flieth away, and is lost in |
 
 o 
 
 10 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 death. Behold ! all those I loved 
 are dead, and never more will they 
 return : nay I too shall soon follow 
 them at the call of God. They 
 were as passing guests on earth — 
 I too am a pilgrim. They have 
 left all — as 1 must forsake all. As 
 a shadow they have passed away 
 — I too like them shall pass away. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 TRUE WISDOM MUST BE SOUGHT OF 
 GOD. 
 
 " Bcatus vir, qui invenit sapien- 
 tiamr* 
 
 " Blessed is the mein that Jindeth 
 wisdom.^' 
 
 1 . Seek the true wisdom, which 
 
 • Prov. iii. 13.
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 11 
 
 Christ hath taught us, and pointed 
 out by his example. 
 
 He is truly wise who hates ini- 
 quity, who speaks the truth, and 
 works the works of justice : — who 
 leads a sober and chaste life, who 
 is pious, humble, and devout ; and 
 who shuns the perilous rocks of 
 temptation : — he possesses true wis- 
 dom, and is pleasing to God. He 
 enjoys the favour of men — his con- 
 science is pure — sorrow assails him 
 not — peace is his possession — and 
 God often pours into his breast, con- 
 solations, that the world can neither 
 know nor relish, 
 
 2. But the wisdom of the world 
 is vanity, and is reputed as foolish- 
 ness in the sight of God. It leads 
 into error those that love it, and 
 finally becomes their torment. For 
 the Avisdom of the flesh is the death 
 of the soul, and striketh alike both 
 those who tjive themselves up to 
 
 o —c
 
 O 
 
 12 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 the alluring pleasures of sense and 
 those who wallow in delights ; for 
 pain and sorrowful regret are all 
 that remain after the shameful en- 
 joyments of the flesh. 
 
 But true wisdom is drawn from 
 the profound words and holy actions 
 of Christ ; by which He invites us 
 to despise the world, to fly from its 
 pleasures, to curb our flesh, to bear 
 with sorrow, to bow to toil, and to 
 cherish virtue.
 
 O 
 
 GARDEX OF ROSES. 13 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 ON WARRING AGAINST OUR OWN 
 VICES. 
 
 " Rcgnum cczlorum vim patitur y* 
 
 " The kingdom of heaven suffer- 
 eth violence^ 
 
 1 . Many begin well, yet few per- 
 severe ; but how very small is the 
 number of those who attain perfec- 
 tion ! 
 
 For either we too easily fall be- 
 fore the allurements of the flesh, 
 or we are puff'ed up with pride, or 
 we are cast down by adversity. 
 
 Alas ! how seldom is found one 
 who loves God purely, overcomes 
 himself completely, and makes an 
 entire renunciation of all his affec- 
 tions. 
 
 * Matt. xi. 12. 
 
 C (
 
 o ^ o 
 
 14 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 '* Perfection," said a devout per- 
 son, " is a rare bird ; because it is 
 too difiicult to overcome oneself." 
 Bui he that works not hard to at- 
 tain virtue, shall never be filled 
 with its sweetness. 
 
 Every virtue hath a sweetness 
 peculiar to itself, to refresh him 
 that worketh well ; but he that 
 clings to vice, begets for himself 
 an evil end, makes shipwreck of 
 his honour, destroys repose, lays 
 up a store of infirmities, increases 
 sorrow, and deprives himself of the 
 relish of what is good and virtuous. 
 But he that denies himself lawfnl 
 pleasures, increasca me surety of 
 resisting such as are unlawful. 
 
 2. He that muzzles the mouth of 
 the hound, needs not fear his bark ; 
 so he that keeps strict silence shall 
 not olTend with his lips. 
 
 He that willingly lives retired 
 and in silence, is far removed from 
 O O
 
 o ^ 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 15 
 
 falsehood and bickering ; — from 
 evil speaking and detraction ; — 
 from anger and murmuring. 
 
 He that hearkens not to evil dis- 
 courses, and shuts his eyes on the 
 vanities of this world, more easily 
 avoids its snares, and turns away 
 his thoughts from its vain imagina- 
 tions : for a watch over the senses 
 is the foundation of purity, the dis- 
 cipline of peace, and the mirror of 
 devotion. 
 
 When wrath takes possession of 
 the breast, wisdom takes to flight 
 even from the wise. He that speaks 
 hastily is like a snarling hound ; 
 but a meek answer breaks the vio- 
 lence of wrath, and gives to the af- 
 flicted, roses in the stead of thorns. 
 
 Blessed is the prudent tongue ; 
 for it heals the wounds of the an- 
 gry. 
 
 3. He that resisteth his evil in- 
 clinations in their birth, and whilst 
 1 O
 
 Q C 
 
 16 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 they are yet weak, shall more easily 
 destroy them than when they will 
 have acquired more strength. 
 
 4. He that is constant in the 
 heavenly exercises of prayer and 
 meditation, is like the prudent gar- 
 dener, who plants roses and lilies 
 in his borders — and has sweet joy 
 in store : for he will greatly rejoice 
 hereafter with the holy angels, in 
 the heavenly paradise. 
 
 He that preserves purity in soul 
 and body is like the holy angels ; 
 but he that yields to liis evil incli- 
 nations, arid takes pleasure in the 
 depravity of his thoughts, is the 
 bondslave of Satan. 
 
 It may be a hard struggle to re- 
 sist the seductions of vice ; but it 
 shall be a much harder punishment 
 to awake in the fire of hell, there to 
 be tormented forever. 
 
 One heat allays another ; and 
 nail drives out nail ; but idle lausrh- 
 
 -O
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 17 
 
 ter is put to flight by a grave and 
 edifying sadness. 
 
 When the love of God enters the 
 heart, all earthly and transitory af- 
 fections flee away. 
 
 He is wise that can despise the 
 countless allurements of this world. 
 The dignities of the tiara or the 
 crown, with all their privileges, are 
 as nothing : the end of all is death 
 and the grave, w^orms, and ashes. 
 How high soever man may exalt 
 himself, he is nothing — death strips 
 him of all Happy is that pilgrim 
 whose home is in heaven. 
 
 O O
 
 c-^ o 
 
 18 GARDEN' OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 ON THE NECESSITY OF ACQUIRING 
 THE GRACE OF DEVOTION. 
 
 o- 
 
 " V(B vobis, qui ridetis, quia Jie- 
 hitisr* 
 
 *' Woe to you that laugh^for yon 
 shall weep^ 
 
 1. As virtue cannot exist with 
 vice, so devotion is not to be ac- 
 quired in the joyousness of feast 
 and festival, but in sorrow and si- 
 lence. 
 
 Perfection in virtue cannot be ob- 
 tained at once, but by little and lit- 
 tle ; — by much groaning and sor- 
 row, — upheld by the firm resolve 
 by increasing in virtue every day, 
 — of frequently doing violence to 
 ones'self; — by fasting, watching, 
 
 Luc. vi. 25.
 
 o ' 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 19 
 
 prayers, meditation, study, holy 
 reading, manual labour, abstaining 
 from idle talk, and willingly re- 
 maining in secret. 
 
 2. All joy that comes not from 
 God, passes quickly away, and 
 leaves the soul stained and wound- 
 ed. 
 
 Words that edify, bring joy to 
 those that hear them ; harsh words 
 give pain to our friends : but idle 
 words rob us of the fruit that time 
 would have produced 
 
 Be diligent in do'"g good ; pa- 
 tient in bearing with evil ; and thou 
 wilt be nappy an me days of thy 
 life : for in both thou wilt contin- 
 ually glorify God. 
 
 It seldom happens that a person 
 is not in one or other of these 
 states, — sadness or joy ; but happy 
 is he who turns all to good, and 
 who draws profit from adversity. 
 
 Whoever loves God, receives 
 
 o o
 
 . Q 
 
 20 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 from His hand, the bitter as well as 
 the sweet ; and both with equal 
 gratitude. Well and firmly does 
 he stand, who placeth not his hope 
 in himself nor in man, but in God. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 ON HEARING AND READING THE 
 DIVINE WORD. 
 
 6 
 
 " Beati,quiaudiunt VerhumDeiy* 
 
 " Blessed are they who hear the 
 word of God and keep it.'''' 
 
 1 . Worthless are all human con- 
 solations if they hinder such as are 
 divine. 
 
 When thou hearest the Holy 
 Scripture read, remember it is God 
 who speaketh to thee ; humble thy- 
 
 * Luc. xi. 28. I
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 21 
 
 self then, and receive His words 
 with a grateful heart. 
 
 The truth is not to be despised 
 because of the simplicity and want 
 of learning in him who declares it : 
 for he that leads a good life tcach- 
 eth well ; and he that readeth or 
 lectureth well, is a messenger from 
 God. 
 
 A faithful teacher passes over 
 in silence what would be hurtlul, 
 proclaims what is profitable, and 
 speaks without pretence or var- 
 nish ; for pure simple truth always 
 sounds agreeably in the ear. 
 
 Subtle discourses are hurtful to 
 simple souls; and those which 
 sooth our vanity often lead the 
 spirit into error. 
 
 He who in his discourse, devi- 
 ates from truth, is the enemy of 
 peace : those who hear him shall 
 hardly avoid scandal. 
 
 He that passeth judgment with
 
 I o 
 
 22 GARDEN OF ROSES 
 
 discretion is worthy of praise ; but 
 he that judges harshly and without 
 mercy, is unworthy of mercy. 
 
 He that is of a hasty temper does 
 himself much harm — he often op- 
 presses tlie innocent, secretly rails 
 at those in power, and openly casts 
 ridicule on all good men. 
 
 2. He that is of deceitful lips, 
 abuses the confidence of those that 
 listen to him ; therefore his friends 
 shall be few. 
 
 Publish not scandal ; for it is 
 well to be silent : proclaim the 
 truth ; for it is salutary : be mod- 
 est ; for it is reasonable : hurt no 
 one ; for it is just : be useful to 
 all ; for such is piety : and edify 
 thy neighbour by word and deed ; 
 for such is religion. 
 
 The prudent man thinks before 
 he acts; changes not unreasona- 
 bly ; speaks with reserve concern- 
 ing that of which, he is ignorant ;
 
 ) G 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 23 
 
 and affirms not lightly what is 
 doubtful. 
 
 The silence of the mouth is most 
 profitable to the peace of the heart ; 
 but the mouth of the fool is always 
 open and ready for strife. 
 
 He that seeks to please God, 
 watches over his heart and lips ; 
 and trembles lest he lose the grace 
 of devotion, or give ofTence to those 
 who love peace. 
 
 Fair words, albeit many, fill not 
 the bag ; nor shall a blaze of elo- 
 quent words sanctify the idle or 
 the proud; but he that doth good 
 shall find good. 
 
 -C
 
 24 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. YII. 
 
 ON DIVINE CONSOLATION IN 
 TRIBULATION. 
 
 " Juxta est Dominus hts, gut 
 tribulato sunt corded* 
 
 *' The Lord is nigh unto them 
 that ore of o. contrite hearth 
 
 1 . There is no one in this 
 world, howsoever good and pioii.s 
 he may be, who has not some bur- 
 then, — some trouble to endure. 
 
 When therefore thou shalt \w, 
 in tribulation and sorrow of heart, 
 then art thou with Jesus Christ on 
 the cross. But on the other hand, 
 whenever in tlie time of prayer, 
 thou art sweetly consoled by the 
 grace of the Holy Spirit, then as it 
 were, art thou raised again from the 
 
 * Ps. xxxiii. 19. 
 
 o ^ o
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 25 
 
 dead ; coming forth like Christ 
 from the sepulchre ; and together 
 with Him thou celebratest the 
 Pasch in newness of life, rejoicing 
 in heart. 
 
 When words of harshness or of 
 : insult are addressed to thee, then 
 art thou made to drink of the chal- 
 ice of the Lord, for the welfare of 
 thy soul. 
 
 2. Murmur not, but drink the 
 bitter draught of thy salvation in 
 silence and resignation — the Lord 
 himself will be thy sure defence 
 in life and in death. God will never 
 forget thee. 
 
 For oh! what is more glorious, 
 than by silence and patience, to 
 close the mouth of him who speak- 
 eth evil against thee : following 
 the example of Jesus Christ, who 
 was silent before Pilate, when they 
 brought false witness against Him.* 
 
 * Matt. xxvi. 
 
 ) o 
 
 2a
 
 O ( 
 
 26 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 Thou art not bettcir, doubtless, 
 than thy God, who, for the love of 
 thee, was cruelly scourged, mock- 
 ed and at last put to death by the 
 wicked. 
 
 Man knows not how far his virtue 
 and worth may go, till he has been 
 tried in the furnace of tribulation. 
 
 Christ has many servants, who 
 willingly come to Him, and seat 
 themselves at His table ; but He 
 finds few who would follow Him 
 fasting, into the desert. 
 
 3. The true lover of the cruci- 
 fied Jesus refuses not to suffer, 
 and to be persecuted by the wick- 
 ed ; that he may thereby become 
 more conformable to his Saviour, 
 who bowed Himself to the igno- 
 miny and scandal of the cross. 
 
 Because for him who lives the 
 life of Christ, it is a great gain to 
 suffer and to die for Christ.* 
 
 * Phil. i. 21. 
 
 -O
 
 O ' 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 27 
 
 The more fervent is thy love for 
 God, the less shalt thou fear 
 death ; and the more lively shall 
 be thy desire for the dissolution of 
 the body, that thou mayest live 
 happy with Christ, and share in 
 the joy of His holy angels for all 
 eternity. 
 
 Happy is the soul that loveth 
 Jesus tenderly ; — in whom the love 
 of eternal good begets contempt 
 for such as pass away ; — who en- 
 dures with patience the evils of 
 this life for the name of Jesus ; — 
 who prostrates himself humbly at 
 His feet and begs of Him the grace, 
 to advance still more and more with 
 perseverance and constancy in the 
 paths of virtue. 
 
 'W 
 
 o
 
 o o 
 
 28 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 ON THE JOY OF A GOOD CON- 
 SCIENCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 " Gaudcte in Domino semper.^'* 
 " Rejoice in the Lord always." 
 
 Rejoice together with the good : 
 patiently endure the bad : partici- 
 pate willingly in the sufi'erings of 
 the afflicted : pardon those who of- 
 fend thee; and pray for all. 
 
 Drive far from thee that gloomy 
 melancholy which begets disgust 
 and rancour in the soul. 
 
 Learn the sweet and holy prac- 
 tice of meditating on the life and 
 passion of Jesus Christ ; and thou 
 wilt find real consolation both 
 against heaviness of heart and 
 against temptation. 
 
 * Phil. iv. 4. 
 O O
 
 Q 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 29 
 
 A good life is worthy of praise ; 
 but lukewarm conversation is bur- 
 thensome to all. 
 
 A good conscience begets in- 
 ward joy ; but an evil conscience 
 engenders to itself remorse. 
 
 Strive always to do well, and 
 thou shalt enjoy lasting peace. 
 
 From the malice of the sinner, 
 thou hast nothing to fear, if thou 
 keep steadfast in the path of jus- 
 tice. 
 
 Edifying conversation produces 
 joy of heart, and just praise abroad. 
 
 Unmerited praise speedily melt- 
 eth away in the mouth of him Avho 
 giveth it : for the flattery of a fool 
 is more hurtful than the harsh cen- 
 sure of the wise and just. 
 
 2. Humble prayer pierces the 
 heavens, disarms the anger of 
 God, obtains His grace and mercy, 
 and defeats all the artifices of the 
 evil one. 
 O O
 
 O ( 
 
 30 GARDEx\ OF ROSES. 
 
 An humble confession deserves 
 forgiveness ; but a frivolous excuse 
 aggravates the offence. 
 
 Sincere contrition wipes away 
 tlie stain of sin ; and fervent medi- 
 tation alleviates the penance. 
 
 Idle talk weakens the grace of 
 devotion, but pious conversation in- 
 creases the joy of our soul. 
 
 We ought in every place to keep 
 a cautious watch over our senses ; 
 and a spiritual retreat is profitable 
 to him whose occupations call him 
 abroad. 
 
 Frequent prayer is a sure pro- 
 tection ; and the silence of the lips 
 is the secure abode of peace. 
 
 Many begin their course with 
 ardour, but those only who perse- 
 vere unto the end shall obtain the 
 crown of glory. 
 
 The yoke of Christ is sweet to 
 those who love ; burthensome to 
 the lukewarm ; bitter to the proud ; 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 31 
 
 light to the meek, and dear to the 
 humble. 
 
 Sweet Jesus maketh all things 
 sweet and light. 
 
 The carnal man seeks only the 
 gratification of the senses ; but the 
 spiritual man has a horror of such 
 things, and avoids them. 
 
 The heaviest affliction of the 
 just man is, that he cannot extin- 
 guish in his soul all vicious emo- 
 tions. But why does God permit 
 their existence ? That man may be 
 continually humbled, and may im- 
 plore the Divine aid unceasingly. 
 
 3. Even as the proud man glo- 
 ries in his honours, and the rich in 
 his riches, so he that is truly hum- 
 ble rejoices in self-abasement, and 
 the poor in spirit, in his penury. 
 
 Christ, the King of Heaven, is 
 the exceeding glory and riches of 
 the servants of God. 
 
 Out of God, all affection is cor- 
 O
 
 32 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 nipt, all pleasure vain, all abun- 
 dance poverty. 
 
 Nothing, indeed, can satisfy the 
 thirst of the soul, but God alone. 
 Who created it. 
 
 The spirit of that man is truly 
 free, which covets none of the 
 things which are of this world. 
 
 4. To act well, to sufTer evil, to 
 praise God in all things, and never 
 to draw vanity from His good gifts 
 — such is the life of the just. 
 
 He that despises himself, and 
 ascribes to God all that he has of 
 good in his thoughts, words, or ac- 
 tions, gives to Him the praise that 
 is truly His due. 
 
 When thoughts, then, of vain 
 glory occur to thy mind, consent 
 not to them, but forthwith cry out 
 humbly with the prophet, " Not 
 unto us, O ! Lord, not unto us, but 
 to thy name give glory."* 
 
 * Ps. cxiii. 1. 
 
 ■o
 
 0— o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 33 
 
 Man's most glorious triumph 
 consists in overcoming his affec- 
 tions, in surmounting his dislikes, 
 and in bearing with resignation 
 whatever grievously afflicts him. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 ON THE EDIFYING DEMEANOR OF 
 AN HUMBLE BROTHER. 
 
 ^^ Humilibus autem Deus dat gra- 
 tiam"* 
 
 *' God givcth grace to the humble." 
 
 1 . A person consecrated to God, 
 ought to be adorned with humility 
 and modesty in all his Avords and 
 actions, and should never be occu- 
 pied in trifles. 
 
 There is every reason to believe 
 
 * Jac. iv. 6. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 34 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 that a younCT man engaged in the 
 service of God, will lead a holy 
 life, when, during his novitiate, he 
 practices humility, and speaks lit- 
 tle, particularly in the presence of 
 his elders. 
 
 He that does not accustom him- 
 self to listen, and who learns not to 
 keep silence, will seldom attain a 
 reputation among men of knowl- 
 edge and wisdom. 
 
 Many pass for ignorant, for this 
 only reason, that they are of rude 
 manners. 
 
 To obey promptly, to pray fre- 
 quently, to meditate devoutly, to 
 work diligently, to study cheerful- 
 ly, to fly the tumult, of the world, 
 to love solitude, are the virtues that 
 impart true devotion and inward 
 peace, to souls consecrated to 
 God. 
 
 We read in Genesis, " That God 
 had respect to the offerings of Abel, 
 O (
 
 o ^ 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 35 
 
 but rejected those of Cain ;" and 
 why ? because Abel was innocent 
 and humble, Cain envious and per- 
 verse. 
 
 Be then as Abel, in bearing pa- 
 tiently with everything irksome 
 and grievous; strive not like Cain, 
 lest thou lose the peace of thy soul, 
 and the reputation of a good name. 
 For it is better to lose thy property, 
 than to offend God, to outrage thy 
 brother, and to wound charity. 
 
 2. If thou wouldst gain treasure 
 in heaven, cast away the burthen 
 of earth. If thy aim be eternal 
 glory, despise the passing grandeur 
 of this world. 
 
 If thou desire peace, beware of 
 the house of contention, and the 
 root of wrath. If thou wouldst be 
 great in heaven, be as a little one on 
 earth. 
 
 Seek not to be justified in the 
 eyes of man ; for ail human praise is 
 
 -G
 
 o ^ < 
 
 36 GARDEN OF ROSES 
 
 delnsiv'C, when the witness of a bad 
 conscience accuseth. 
 
 The bold and the babbler are 
 alike blame-worthy ; both overstep 
 the bounds of rectitude. 
 
 Many among the strong have 
 perished, for they presumed too 
 much on their own strength : but 
 many of the weak are strength- 
 ened, for they call on the name of 
 the Lord, and put their trust in 
 Ilim. 
 
 The humble and the meek are 
 loved by all — but the stern and 
 severe man is shunned by his 
 neighbours. 
 
 The patient and the silent man 
 triumphs over his enemies by con- 
 descension and charity. 
 
 He that willingly lends his ser- 
 vice to others, and sympathizes 
 with them in their sorrows, in- 
 creases the number of his friends. 
 He that cannot keep silence in 
 6 O
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 37 
 
 season, shall be covered with con- 
 fusion before many. 
 
 3. He that knows how lo ad- 
 vance in virtue, to amend himself, 
 and to deserve esteem by the prac- 
 tice of virtue is wise, and posses- 
 ses true knowledge. 
 
 He is strong in power who vig- 
 orously resists his vices. He is a 
 sovereign lord who reigns over 
 the depraved affections of his 
 heart He is a brave soldier, and 
 armed at point, who by the arms of 
 continence subdues his flesh : — but 
 he that lives chastely on earth, de- 
 serves a place among the angels of 
 heaven. 
 
 The chaste man is the friend of 
 God, the companion of angels, the 
 brother of virgins, the beloved fel- 
 low-citizen of the saints. He that 
 joins humility to chastity, triumphs 
 over the evil one, while he puts to 
 flight the immodest. 
 
 0-^ o 
 
 'io5c5548
 
 O Q 
 
 38 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 That prelate is truly eminent, 
 who rules over himself with the 
 rod of virtue, and gives a good ex- 
 ample to those subject to him. 
 
 He that imitates the virtuous is 
 worthy of their praise : and that 
 man is truly noble and free, who is 
 ennobled by virtue. 
 
 Fair and comely is he who is 
 unsullied by sin ; but howsoever 
 adorned the sinner be outwardly, 
 he still is foul and hideous within. 
 
 He that is full of the grace of 
 God, and covets not worldly hon- 
 ours, is both rich and happy; but 
 ignorance and folly is the lot of 
 him who rejects what is beneficial, 
 and embraces what is injurious, to 
 his soul. 
 
 To seek the things which are 
 eternal, and to despise such as 
 " perish in the using," — this is di- 
 vine wisdom. 
 
 4. Wise is he who departeth not 
 G (
 
 ) -o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 39 
 
 from the doctrine of the holy fath- 
 ers and doctors of the church, and 
 who preserveth in its integrity, the 
 deposit of the faith. 
 
 The love of God, and the keep- 
 ing of His commandments — this is 
 true and honourable wisdom. 
 
 If any one apply for instruction, 
 point out to him the path of humil- 
 ity, and walk thyself before him. 
 
 He that is truly humble, knows 
 not vanity — disclaims praise — re- 
 joices in contempt — and keeps no 
 place in his memory for wrong or 
 insult. 
 
 O
 
 o o 
 
 40 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 ON THE INSTABILITY OF THE 
 HUMAN HEART. 
 
 " Qui manct in me, et ego in co, 
 hie fert fruclurn multum.'"* 
 
 " He that abideth in Me and I in 
 him, the same beareth much fruit ." 
 
 1 . The thoughts and affections of 
 man change and vary unceasingly ; 
 but all are vain and impure which 
 are not of God. 
 
 Oh heart of man ! ever too gree- 
 dy and insatiable ! what misery 
 and bitterness is thine in forsaking 
 thy God ! why toil after so many 
 empty trifles that can bring thee no 
 consolation nor satisfy thy wants ? 
 
 What then art thou doing, or 
 
 * Joan. XV. 5
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 41 
 
 whither dost thou oro lookincr for 
 happiness ? 
 
 Return, return speedily into 
 thine own heart ; see in how many 
 things thou hast offended, and take 
 care to repair the evil thou hast 
 done. 
 
 Make ready a dwelling place 
 for thy God ; and cast away the 
 rush of vain imaginings, and all 
 external cares, that thou mayest 
 be filled with the consolations of 
 the Holy Spirit. 
 
 2. He that often goes abroad is 
 rarely the better for it ; for all that 
 glitters so fair in the world, leads 
 to nothing real. 
 
 The eye is not satisfied with 
 what it sees ; and what strikes 
 the ear filletn not the heart; and if 
 all be not referred to the praise of 
 the Creator, all that thou seest is 
 but an empty vision. 
 
 Hence the holy David sings — 
 
 ■ — c
 
 o 
 
 42 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 " Thou hast given me, O Lord, a 
 delight in Thy doings, and in the 
 works of Thy hands shall I re- 
 joice."* 
 
 In no created thing is there any 
 stability ; there is nothing perma- 
 nent or enduring but God, our sov- 
 ereign good. 
 
 Abide in the truth ; it will deliver 
 thee from falsehood, from iniquity, 
 and from the malice of thy enemies. 
 
 The slander that is falsely cir- 
 culated against one's neighbour, 
 shall return on the head of the in- 
 ventor. 
 
 Christ is truth ; and he that fol- 
 lows Him loves the truth, and all 
 virtue. 
 
 He that sacrifices truth to tem- 
 poral advantage, fortune or honours, 
 makes shipwreck of his faith, and 
 bids adieu to the glory which is 
 the reversion of virtue. 
 
 * Ps. xci. 5. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 43 
 
 God is truth, and permits not 
 liars to remain long concealed. 
 
 The evil doer may for some time 
 disseminate his falsehood, but the 
 truthful man shall at last prevail, 
 and the hypocrite be ' confounded 
 in the hour he thinks not of. 
 
 Let not thy thoughts or thy de- 
 sires be set on any thing but what 
 is just or pleasing to God ; so shalt 
 thou practice virtue, and work 
 good works for the glory of God. 
 
 3. He that speaks the truth, and 
 hates iniquity, shall be great in the 
 kingdom of heaven: but he that 
 works iniquity, and hates the truth, 
 shall be tormented with eternal 
 punishment. 
 
 Abide in truth and in charity, 
 and thus shalt thou be pleasing to 
 God, to angels, and to men. 
 
 Fear not — the wicked may hap- 
 ly deprive thee of some transitory 
 £jood, but God will grant to him 
 O^ O
 
 ) o 
 
 44 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 who patiently suffers from injus- 
 tice, goods that are infinitely great- 
 er and eternal. 
 
 Dost thou wish thy soul to dwell 
 in peace, and thy conscience to re- 
 proach thee in nothing 1 Be hum- 
 ble, be patient, be obedient— for 
 
 There is no enemy so danger- 
 ous as thyself, when thy passions 
 are roused. 
 
 Look carefully into thy own 
 faults, and thou wilt find little in- 
 clination to weigh the actions of 
 others. 
 
 O C
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 45 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 ON TRUST IN GOD IN TIME OF 
 TROUBLE. 
 
 " Spera in Domino^ et fac honi- 
 tatem."* 
 
 " Trust in the Lord and do good." 
 
 1 . Let no man glory in the tem- 
 poral advantages he may enjoy, 
 nor put his trust in friends and fa- 
 miliars ; for all things are uncer- 
 tain, and full of peril : but he that 
 puts his trust in the Lord, and will 
 call upon Him in the time of need, 
 shall not be forsaken in his worst 
 tribulation. 
 
 He whose life is good — whose 
 words are edifying — who offends 
 no one — who keeps a strict watch 
 against iniquity, and over his evil 
 
 * Ps. xxxvi. 3. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 46 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 thoughts, shall enjoy much peace. | 
 Shut the door of thy house, and 
 thou shall sleep in peace. 
 
 2. He that provides not every 
 day some good thought or edify- 
 ing action, to oppose as a shield 
 to the attacks of the evil one, shall 
 fall an easy prey to the enemy. 
 
 Many cease to pray, and to re- 
 sist temptations, when all goes not 
 well with them ; but virtue is not 
 to be acquired without pain and 
 strife, nor maintained without as- 
 siduous care. 
 
 A dissipated and inconstant mind 
 abhors discipline and a retired life, 
 as a bird abhors a state of cap- 
 tivity. 
 
 Art thou violently tempted or 
 hardly pressed, or mocked, or load- 
 ed with confusion ? — despair not : 
 reflect forthwith that thy sins just- 
 ly deserve the censure and despite 
 of men : suffer patiently, and sav 
 -O
 
 o ( 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 47 
 
 trustfully, " It is good for me that 
 thou hast humbled me, O Lord, 
 that I may learn Thy justifica- 
 tions."* 
 
 In temptation or tribulation, man 
 learns his entire dependence on 
 God; for then he .acknowledges 
 his indigence, and feels the griev- 
 ousness of his defects. He is both 
 an unfaithful and a foolish servant, 
 who makes use of his master's 
 goods to minister to his own van- 
 ity, and thence to despise others. 
 
 3. He that despises his brethren 
 and fellow servants, or thinks him- 
 self better than they, outrages God 
 and all His saints : and the princi- 
 pal cause of this error — is, that we 
 cease to be humble, and cast aside 
 the remembrance of our own faults, 
 while we cease to watch and weep 
 over them. 
 
 It is enough for each to bear his 
 
 * Ps. cxviii. 71. 
 
 -o
 
 ■o 
 
 48 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 own burthen ; why then do we 
 busy ourselves, intermeddling with 
 the conduct of others ? Why 
 charge ourselves with a burthen 
 heavier than we. can bear ? 
 
 It sometimes happens that a 
 man's faults, errors, and negli- 
 gences become public, in order to 
 teach him more humility, and more 
 compassion towards the weak- 
 nesses of his brethren, and to dis- 
 pose him to guide with all charity 
 into the way of peace, those who 
 err. Taught by his own experi- 
 ence he says, — " This is a man, 
 and not an angel ; it has happened 
 to him, as it has already happened 
 to me ; we are brethren — my in- 
 tentions were bad, and his may 
 perhaps have been good. He 
 who has never erred, nor ever 
 done wrong, is God alone. 
 
 Why mock est thou when thy 
 brother falls ? " Let him that 
 
 o — o
 
 Q ' 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 49 
 
 thinketh himself to stand, take 
 heed lest ho fall."* Is thine own 
 fall a cause of mockery ? 
 
 The shame of an open fall often 
 entirely extinguishes all emotions 
 of vain glory. 
 
 CHAP. XIL 
 
 ox THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER, AND 
 
 THE ADVANTAGES OF PIOUS 
 
 READING. 
 
 " Sine inter mi ssione orate.^^f 
 
 *^ Pray vnthout ceasing^ — And 
 why? Because we are girt about by 
 tribulations and temptations ; by the 
 snares and suggestions of bad angels. 
 
 1 . Tidings of good come rarely ; 
 war pervades all ; fear within : 
 
 * 1 Cor. X. 12. t 1 Thess. v. 17. 
 
 D O
 
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 50 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 combat without: there is no day- 
 free from toil or trouble, no hour 
 without the dreadful apprehension 
 of death. 
 
 By the just judgment of God, 
 are nations ravaged by fire and 
 sword. By these scourges He 
 punishes ihe crimes of the wicked, 
 and leadeth His elect to seek for 
 eternal blessings. 
 
 Unceasing prayer, then, is of 
 the highest importance, not only 
 against the dangers of the world, 
 but as a breastplate, proof against 
 the fiery darts of the enemy. 
 
 He that ceases to pray, aban- 
 dons the conflict ; and he that 
 strives not in battle, is already 
 overcome, and has lost the crown 
 of victory. 
 
 But, who can pray always? and 
 fight always ? 
 
 All things are possible to him 
 that calls on the Lord, and puts his 
 
 -O
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 51 
 
 trust in him ; for " the Lord is 
 nigh unto all that call upon 
 Him, — to all that call upon Him in 
 truth."* 
 
 If thou canst not pray always 
 with the lips, pray with the spirit, 
 and in the heart ; pray by the fer- 
 vour of thy desires, and the purity 
 of thy intentions. 
 
 A firm desire to do good, and to 
 serve God, is a continual sacrifice 
 off'ered to Him on the altar of our 
 hearts ; for he " prays without 
 ceasing," who never ceases to do 
 well. 
 
 He that mourns over his past 
 transgressions, and who sighs for 
 farther growth in virtue, " prays 
 without ceasing." Say then with 
 holy David : — " Lord, all my de- 
 sire is before Thee and my groan- 
 ing is not hidden from Thee."* 
 
 2. The word of God and pious 
 
 * Ps. cxliv. 18. * Ps. xxxvii. 10. 
 
 > 6
 
 O G 
 
 52 GARDEX OF ROSES. 
 
 reading are most useful to recal 
 and calm our spirit, when dis- 
 tracted by external cares, or by 
 some passion from within, that 
 would domineer over it. 
 
 Pious reading teaches us the 
 right path of life ; good examples 
 excite our imitation, and prayer ob- 
 tains from heaven the needful 
 grace to follow them. 
 
 Reading of God is good ; pray- 
 ing to God is better ; but prayer 
 for God, is the best of all. 
 
 Blessed is he, who in all his 
 words and actions, proposes to 
 himself no other end than the glo- 
 ry of God ; desiring that in all and 
 above all, He may be praised and 
 blessed forever. 
 
 3. How can a religious man be 
 called devout ? or how can he be- 
 come so, if he prefer idle babbling 
 before reading, study, and prayer? 
 
 He that takes pleasure in speak- 
 O O
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 53 
 
 ing or listenmcr to, frivolous things, 
 barters his soul for a pitiful price. 
 
 In all temptation or tribulation, 
 flv^ to prayer, as to the secure har- 
 bour of thy soul : — humbly implo- 
 ring the divine assistance. The 
 more readily thou wilt have re- 
 course to it, the more efficacious 
 will it be. The more thou delay- 
 est, the less advantage shall thou 
 obtain : the more frequent it be, 
 the more profit wilt thou draw 
 from it : the more fervent it be, 
 the more pleasing to God. 
 
 God, who is good and merciful, 
 loves us to ask of Him : He fur- 
 nishes us with occasions for 
 prayer, and He hath promised that 
 we shall be heard ; since he hath 
 said, " Ask and it shall be given 
 unto you."* 
 
 He invites us to prayer by His 
 discourses, — leads us thither by 
 
 * Matt. vii. 7. 
 
 ) c
 
 54 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 His example, — constrains us by His 
 threats and encourages us by His 
 favours : — He punishes our negli- 
 gence by adversity ; — rewards our 
 submission, by prosperity ; and in 
 this evenincr and mornirtg of pains 
 and consolations, is our one day 
 of life accomplished.* 
 
 Moreover, God often commu- 
 nicates to those who pray devoutly, 
 — who love retreat and silence, in- 
 terior consolations, which he re- 
 fuses to those who love the world, 
 and its idle conversation. 
 
 4. But ye who love good tidings, 
 come and entertain yourselves with 
 Jesus Christ ; listening to Him 
 as He speaks of the kingdom of 
 God, — of the judgment to come, — of 
 the Heavenly Jerusalem, — of the 
 happiness which the inhabitants of 
 heaven, the orders and choirs of 
 angels, enjoy, — of the glory and 
 
 + Gen. i. 
 
 O
 
 ) c 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 55 
 
 honour of the elect, and of the 
 recompense of the saints, exuh- 
 ing in joy and gladness for all 
 eternity. 
 
 Hearken to the prophets an- 
 nouncing the hidden mysteries of 
 Christ, and thundering with the di- 
 vine vengeance against the unre- 
 pentant sinner. 
 
 Listen to the apostles and evan- 
 gelists, as they publish abroad the 
 wonderful works and miracles of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Listen to the doctors of the 
 Church, as they speak with elo- 
 quent tongues of holy things, and 
 explain what is obscure in the 
 Scriptures ; adorning their lives by 
 the splendour of their virtues, and 
 refuting heresy and schism by the 
 solidity of their reasoning. 
 
 May each one of us choose in 
 ihese instructions, the truths most 
 suited to our taste or w^ants. Let
 
 O (J 
 
 56 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 US not pass over with disdain such 
 as seem simple, nor censure those 
 which are above our intellect : for 
 it is folly to reprove the wise ; but 
 it is impiety to condemn the saints 
 and men inspired of God. 
 
 5. Labour steadfastly then to 
 learn first the most simple truths, 
 and humbly resolve to practice the 
 least, however small ; and if it be 
 to thy advantage, God will soon 
 impart a knowledge of higher mys- 
 teries : for it is written : " To him 
 who knoweth to do good, and doth 
 it not, to him it is sin."* 
 
 He that is stored with knowl- 
 edjje, and makes not use of it to 
 regulate his conduct ; and he that 
 reads, but profits not by what he 
 reads, arc like those who go away 
 empty and famished, from a table 
 that is abundantly spread. 
 
 As he that works little, shall be 
 
 o-
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 57 
 
 lonof in want ; so he that seldom 
 prays, shall be long lukewarm. 
 
 He that discourses against vice 
 in others and corrects not his own 
 scatters good seed among thorns : 
 and little fruit will be gathered from 
 many words, if one comes to pray- 
 er without first casting out his evil 
 thoughts. 
 
 Happy is he that with earnest 
 care, casts forth from his soul all 
 impurity ; suffering nothing to re- 
 main in the secret of his heart, that 
 can offend in secret the eves of 
 God. 
 
 By an humble confession of sins, 
 a soul humble and contrite before 
 God, is purified from all vices. 
 
 6. The pious man finds pleasure 
 in prayer ; the studious man in his 
 books ; the devout soul, in the 
 practice of virtue ; the proud, in 
 honours ; the humble, in contempt ; 
 the rich, in his riches ; the beggar,
 
 9 ' 
 
 58 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 in his alms ; the glutton, in eating 
 and drinking : the idle in frivolous 
 talk ; the abstemious man, in tem- 
 perance ; the wise, in wisdom ; the 
 good monk, in submission to his 
 rule ; — but none of these enjoy- 
 ments are to be compared with 
 those which flow from the love of 
 God, and the peace of a good con- 
 science. 
 
 Wouldst thou triumph over the 
 enemies most dangerous to thy 
 soul ? — have recourse to flight — 
 to silence — to solitude — to prayer 
 — to fasting — to study — to labour. 
 
 A holy man thinks on holy things, 
 speaks the truth, and acts justly ; 
 despises things present, and med- 
 itates on those that are eternal. 
 
 The humble man receives the 
 advice that is given to him ; the 
 prudent man avoids danger ; the 
 patient suffers with resignation ; 
 the diligent neglects not his occu- 
 
 O-
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 59 
 
 pation ; and he that shuns not small 
 faults, shall fall into great ones. 
 
 7. He that is lukewarm in the 
 mornino-, will rarely be found fer- 
 vent at the close of the day. 
 
 He that promptly shakes off sloth- 
 ful torpidity and forthwith betakes 
 himself to labour, acquires thereby 
 great inward satisfaction, and hon- 
 our ; although he may not be re- 
 compensed by men, he certainly 
 will by God : which is far better 
 and infinitely more to be prized by 
 all. For God giveth Himself to 
 the saints, to be their reward and 
 the eternal recompense of their 
 good works, their toils, and their 
 sufferings. 
 
 The idle man is never satisfied 
 with the idle frivolities of the world, 
 but the virtuous man denies him- 
 self even of things that are lawful. 
 
 He that makes humility, the 
 foundation of all his actions, and 
 
 6 (
 
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 60 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 counts as nothing the honours of 
 this world, shall walk with an as- 
 sured step in the way that is good. 
 The wisest of men is he, and 
 wisely doth he live, who studies 
 to please God alone, who disenga- 
 ges himself from exterior objects 
 and attaches himself to interior 
 things only ; who despises every 
 thing which is of earth, and aspires 
 to the glories of heaven alone ; — 
 who ever prefers the love of God 
 to all the goods of this world. 
 
 c^ 
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 61 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 OX THE PRAISES OF CHARITY, AND 
 ITS FRUITS. 
 
 " Omniavestraincharitatejianty* 
 
 " Let all your actions be done in 
 charity.^^ 
 
 1 . Charity is a noble virtue, and 
 surpasses all virtues, knowledge 
 and gifts. Charity embraces God 
 Himself; it unites angels to men ; 
 it elevates the children of men to 
 the dignity of children of God, and 
 friends of the saints. Hence also 
 did Christ condescend to be born 
 of a virgin, and to be crucified for 
 the salvation of the human race. 
 
 Charity purifies the soul from 
 sin ; it warms and inflames, and 
 fills us with a wondrous sweet- 
 
 * 1 Cor. xvi. 14. 
 
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 62 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 ness, making us love God, with all 
 our heart, with all our mind, and 
 with all our strength. 
 
 It justifies the sinner, and sets 
 the bond-slave free ; of an enemy- 
 it makes a friend ; of a foreigner, a 
 fellow-citizen ; of a stranger, a fa- 
 miliar. It teaches the inconstant, 
 constancy ; the proud, humility ; 
 the perverse, meekness : it gives 
 to the lukewarm, fervour; to the 
 broken heart it brings joy ; it 
 opens the hand of the avaricious ; 
 it awakes the worldly man to 
 spiritual life ; it gives wisdom and 
 knowledge to the ignorant. ' Such 
 are the effects of charity when it 
 comes into the soul of the faithful, 
 through the Holy Spirit, which is 
 given to them from heaven. 
 
 Its flight is bold and daring, for 
 it rises above the Cherubim and 
 Seraphim, and all the angelic 
 choirs. 
 6
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 63 
 
 It comprehends both the means 
 and the extremes ; forming but one 
 and the same whole of things most 
 opposite. 
 
 It infuses joy into the heart of 
 all men — of one and all — not that 
 joy which has its foundation in 
 personal complacency, but that 
 which maketh glad the heart, 
 whose every affection is for God. 
 
 Charity pervades both heaven 
 and earth, sea and land ; — all that 
 the eye can see or ear can hear of 
 the wonders of creation, it refers 
 to the praise and glory of the 
 Creator. 
 
 Throughout all nature there is 
 not anything, howsoever small or 
 contemptible, which, by the perfec- 
 tion of its being, reveals not the 
 hand of its Sovereign Maker, the 
 power of the Creator, the wisdom 
 of the Disposer, and the provi- 
 dence of Him who rules and gov- 
 
 o ^
 
 O : i 
 
 64 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 ems all supremely well : and this 
 consideration leads the devout soul 
 to praise God, to bless Him and 
 celebrate His praises, at all times, 
 and in every place. 
 
 As wax melts before the fire, so 
 by charity the soul is kindled in- 
 wardly : it ceases to be chained to 
 earth ; then mounting upwards, it 
 soars above the stars of heaven, to 
 seek the only object of its love, — 
 God, the Creator and Ruler of all 
 things : in whom it can repose in 
 absolute security, and rejoice in 
 perfect beatitude. 
 
 2. Oh, what sweetness and 
 happiness does he taste, who is 
 joined with God, and inwardly re- 
 joices in Him ! 
 
 Oh ! how happy should we be, 
 if we could taste but a little of that 
 eternal blessedness, which appears 
 unclouded to the angels forever. 
 
 But alas ! we are recalled from 
 
 o o
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 65 
 
 these soaring aspirations, to an 
 active life, and are obliged to fight 
 courageously with the arms of 
 charity, against the temptations 
 which daily assault us. 
 
 For oftentimes after joy comes 
 affliction ; after consolation, sad- 
 ness ; after laughing, weeping ; af- 
 ter peace and repose, inward war 
 and trouble of soul : — great conso- 
 lations are often succeeded by pro- 
 found desolation, or by a trouble- 
 some temptation, or a corporal in- 
 firmity, or some human contrari- 
 ety, or the loss of friends, or the 
 assaults of our enemies, or trouble 
 of soul, or the railleries of the 
 younger, the censure of the old, 
 or the severe reproof of our su- 
 periors. 
 
 All these things are sent to 
 
 humble the pride of our hearts ; or 
 
 to make us show compassion to 
 
 the weaknesses of others, or to 
 
 O O
 
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 66 GARDEN OF ROSES 
 
 such as are in temptation or af- 
 fliction. 
 
 Let us not then trust in our- 
 selves, nor he over wise, nor look 
 to our own advantage ; but let us 
 humble ourselves to all, being sub- 
 ject to God, and to every creature 
 for God's sake.* Such is true 
 charity. 
 
 By charity God came down into 
 the world : by charity were the 
 gates of heaven re-opened to man. 
 
 By charity, Christ came down 
 to save sinners. By charity and 
 the ignominy of the cross, He as- 
 cended to the right-hand of His 
 Father, and thus assured to man 
 the highest of honours. 
 
 3. Charity is never idle ; for it 
 is busied with things the highest 
 and the most exalted : it also de- 
 scends graciously and willingly to 
 the humble and lowly. 
 
 * 1 Pet. ii. 13. 
 
 O (
 
 c ' 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 67 
 
 It labours with diligence in 
 honourable callings, and it delights 
 in the meanest employment that 
 obedience imposes. 
 
 It shows no repugnance to 
 clean the wounds of the sick, to 
 wash their feet, to make their 
 beds, to clean their clothes, or 
 sweep up their filth. 
 
 It suffers in patience, and re- 
 joices in the midst of reproach 
 and evil speaking. 
 
 4. As fire burns faggots, so the 
 fire of charity consumes the fuel of 
 vice. It purifies the heart by con- 
 trition, — washes it by confession, — 
 cleanses it by prayer,~enlightens it 
 by holy reading, — inflames it by 
 devout meditation, — fosters it by 
 holy retirement, and unites it to 
 God, by the fervour of its love. 
 • Charity excites the mouth of 
 man to sing the praises of God, — 
 his hands to labour for Him, — his 
 
 -O
 
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 G8 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 feet to walk in his service, — his 
 eyes to contemplate His glories, — 
 his memory to recal His benefits, — 
 all his body to minister to Him, 
 and all his faculties to love God 
 above all that is in heaven or on 
 earth. 
 
 Charity, when joined with hu- 
 mility, repairs the past ravages of 
 sin, — fortifies it against future dan- 
 gers, — gives it discernment of 
 things present, — delivers it from 
 many doubts, — sets a guard against 
 curiosity, — retrenches all super- 
 fluities, — casts aside all vain things ; 
 discovers such as are false, — in- 
 spires horror of such as are shame- 
 ful, — softens what is hard, — gives 
 understandinorof things obscure, — 
 reveals in prayer the secrets of 
 heaven ; and, in a word, governs 
 all, within and without. . 
 
 Charity, in a holy soul, is that 
 prompt good \vill which ceases 
 
 o o
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 69 
 
 not to work for God ; although the 
 weakness of human nature, and 
 imperious circumstances, perm-it it 
 not always to realize the good in- 
 tended. 
 
 5. Happy is the pure soul, to 
 whom God is all ; who feels no 
 pleasantness nor worth out of God, 
 and who sees nothing that de- 
 serves its affection — yea, rather, 
 all bitter and burthensome. Such 
 is the soul God seeks, such is the 
 soul God loves ; because for His 
 love it has despised and renounced 
 all, even its own affections, and be- 
 cause it fights courageously to pre- 
 serve its purity. 
 
 Free from all earthly affection, 
 the pure soul springs forth swiftly, 
 and impatient of all control, and 
 above created worlds, to lose itself 
 in the bosom of its God. 
 
 Charity breaks all bonds that 
 chain it to the world : makes lioht 
 
 -O
 
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 70 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 its heavy burthens, and hastens to 
 fulfil with faithfulness whatever is 
 pleasing to God. Whence it prays 
 with Christ, its divine model, say- 
 ing : " Father, not my will but 
 Thine, always and every where, 
 be done. Amen."* 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 ON WATCHING AND STRIVING 
 AGAINST TEMPTATIONS. 
 
 '* Resistite diaholo, et fugiet a 
 
 " Resist the devil, and he will flij 
 from ynu^ 
 
 1 . Wherever the just man unites 
 his soul to God, by prayer, by 
 meditation, by study, by writing, 
 
 * Matt. xxvi. 39. t Jac. iv. 7. 
 
 O ' o
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 71 
 
 or any other useful labour ; there 
 are on one side holy angels who 
 rejoice with him, and on the other, 
 evil spirits who send distractions 
 and temptations. 
 
 When thou beginest to pray, the 
 devils take to flioht, as from the fire 
 of the Holy Spirit ; hut when thou 
 wilt begin to indulije in frivolous 
 idle talk, they quickly return to ex- 
 cite and increase thy distraction. 
 
 But a good and watchful supe- 
 rior, prudently interposing, will put 
 an end to all idle conversation ; 
 reprove those who waste the pre- 
 cious hours, and neglect good 
 works. 
 
 Dwell then in silence, and let 
 God be in all thy thoughts, and all 
 thy consolations, and thou wilt 
 find no longer that disrelish for 
 good works, which hinders thee 
 from pursuing with ardour, thy 
 holy enterprise. 
 
 -O
 
 O 1 
 
 72 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 2. Be faithful in little thinj^s, 
 and thou shalt be rewarded with 
 talents beyond measure, in the 
 kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Be neither idle in solitude, nor 
 a babbler in public, and the evil 
 one, overcome by thy diligence 
 and silence, shall depart ; for he 
 loves not a man who works and 
 maintains silence, — who loves 
 prayer and holy meditation. 
 
 Wherever thou art, alone, or in 
 company, it is indispensable to 
 fight, to watch, and to pray against 
 the temptations of the flesh and the 
 spirit. 
 
 Fight valiantly, pray with fer- 
 vour, perform thy work with dili- 
 gence, study often, love silence, 
 and suffer patiently. Put all thy 
 trust in God, how great soever the 
 tribulations or desolation may be, 
 that are sent for thy trial. 
 
 He that learns in every place 
 
 C)
 
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 GARDEN- OF ROSES. 73 
 
 and at all times, to practice pa- 
 tience, shall overcome his ene- 
 mies, and enjoy in this world a 
 peace which knows no change, 
 and in the world to come, a 
 brighter crown of glory with the 
 elect. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 ON BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S 
 BURTHENS. 
 
 " Aller aherius cmera portote.''^* 
 
 " Bear yc one another^s burdens.'''' 
 
 1 . As we all are but one body in 
 Christ, so we ought to preserve 
 fraternal charity, knit together in 
 the bond of peace ; and ever be 
 united in the pursuit of virtue. 
 
 * Gal. vi. 2. 
 
 :)
 
 o c 
 
 74 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 We are all members of Christ, 
 regenerated in baptism, by the 
 grace of the Holy Spirit ; re- 
 deemed by the passion of Christ ; 
 purified by the blood of Christ ; 
 fed by the body of Christ ; in- 
 structed by the words of Christ ; 
 confirmed by the miracles of 
 Christ ; and led to virtue by the 
 example of Christ ; why then, my 
 brethren, would ye seek to hurt 
 one another ? 
 
 He that offers an affront to his 
 brother, be it in word or deed, of- 
 fers an affront to Christ; and 
 He shall avenge and punish the 
 wrong, if the offender shall not 
 speedily repair the injury and 
 atone for his conduct. 
 
 We all have God for our Father 
 in Heaven ; we are consequently 
 all brethren in Christ ; whatever 
 be the country or kindred whence 
 we are collected here below, and 
 O G
 
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 GARDEN OF ROSES. 75 
 
 whether we be of obscure or of 
 noble blood. 
 
 One God hath made us all ; it 
 is the same God who preserves 
 and governs us ; it is the same 
 God who called us, — who still 
 daily calls us by His word from 
 without, by contrition from within, 
 to the same beatitude. It is the 
 same God, who promises to mani- 
 fest Himself eternally to us, in the 
 presence of His angels, and to be 
 oiu- eternal recompense, in the har- 
 monious blessedness of all the 
 inhabitants of the heavenly king- 
 dom. 
 
 If, therefore, we are all called 
 by the same God, redeemed by the 
 same price, imbued and sanctified 
 by the same spirit, let it be our 
 constant endeavour to love and 
 serve one another. 
 
 If we would be pleasing to 
 Christ, " let us bear one another's 
 
 ) o
 
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 76 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 burthens," for Christ's love ; and 
 let us pray one for another in char- 
 ity, for God is equally in each of 
 us, and each of us in Him. 
 
 Whatever imperfection or folly 
 we observe in our brethren, we 
 ought charitably and considerately 
 to excuse them, as we would that 
 they would excuse us. 
 
 2. Beloved brother, bear with 
 others, and they will bear with 
 thee ; excuse, and thou wilt be 
 excused ; pity the weaknesses of 
 the sinner, and thou wilt be 
 pitied ; comfort him that is af- 
 flicted, and thou shalt be com- 
 forted by him that is in joy ; 
 raise up him that falls, and thou 
 shalt be raised up by the help of 
 God. 
 
 As th(m wilt have done to 
 another, so also shall it be done 
 unto thee, by the just and terrible 
 retribution of God. 
 
 o c
 
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 GARDEX OF ROSES, 77 
 
 Be not astonished, nor indig- 
 nant, if man, who is frail, fall in 
 this world ; angels fell in heaven ; 
 and Adam, in the earthly para- 
 dise, overcome by the attraction of 
 a pitiful apple. 
 
 A very little thing often tempts 
 a man violently : and a trifle that 
 hardly deserves notice, often griev- 
 ously affects him. God justly per- 
 mits this to be so, to teach us that 
 if we do not resist small trials, we 
 cannot overcome great ones. 
 
 3. Be full uf indulgence and 
 kindness to thy brother when he 
 is tempted ; and pray for him 
 when he is in tribulation, as for 
 thyself. 
 
 The good which happens to 
 thee, becomes mine, when I re- 
 joice with thee for it ; and thy mis- 
 fortunes are mine, when I sympa- 
 thize with thee in them ; for all 
 men are frail, and therefore it is 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 78 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 the duty of all charitably to pray 
 one for another. 
 
 We must not upbraid others with 
 defects, and despise them for such, 
 when we overlook the like in our- 
 selves ; for it would be as a blind 
 man mocking the blind, or the deaf, 
 him that cannot hear, or a fool that 
 laughs at a fool. 
 
 Never speak to the disadvantage 
 of one over whose conduct thou 
 hast no charge ; look rather to thy- 
 self, and repair the evil thou find- 
 est there. 
 
 If thy intention be good, and 
 thou really mean to correct the 
 faults of thy brother, begin by cor- 
 recting thy own ; thou msfcyest then 
 proceed to the reformation of his, 
 not with ill natured or over heated 
 zeal, but with prudence and mod- 
 esty. 
 
 If thou lovest me sincerely, and 
 with a brother's affection, be as in- 
 O ■ O
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 79 
 
 diligent to me as thou art to thyself, 
 and pray for me. 
 
 He that would correct his broth- 
 er, and thinks that he is dis- 
 pensed with praying for him, and 
 excused from having compassion 
 for his infirmities, is neither a kind- 
 hearted nor a sensible physician, 
 but a cruel enemy and a burthen- 
 some railer. 
 
 He that prays for others, as well 
 as for himself, does two good 
 actions. 
 
 The more deeply thou art pene- 
 trated with just sentiments of fra- 
 ternal charity, the more cheerfully 
 and promptly wilt thou pray for thy 
 brother, asking God to grant him 
 grace to amend, and to cease to be 
 a scandal to the weak : so the deep- 
 er will thy sorrow be, if he refuse 
 to listen, or if he take thy warnings 
 ill. 
 
 For each one is to his brother, 
 O O
 
 O- G 
 
 80 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 either a fragrant rose, or a trouble- 
 some thorn. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST, AND 
 HATRED OF THE WORLD. 
 
 " Mane in dilcctione medy* 
 ^^ Abide in my Jove^ 
 
 1 . These are the words of our 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : 
 sweet is the voice of Christ unto 
 the hearing, and sahitary unto obe- 
 dience for all. 
 
 The love of Christ is the joy of 
 the mind, and the paradise of the 
 soul ; it shuts out the world, and 
 overcomes the devil ; it closes the 
 mouth of hell, and opens wide the 
 gates of heaven. 
 
 * Joan, aV. 9. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 81 
 
 The love of Christ, and the love 
 of the world, are coiitrar}-, the one 
 to the other, and have nothing in 
 common ; nor can they dwell to- 
 gether. 
 
 The love of Christ, like the 
 chariot of Elias, carries the soul 
 lip to heaven ; but the love of the 
 world like the conveyance of Satan, 
 draors it down to hell. Self-love 
 is like that of a suicide ; it is self- 
 destruction : — the total forgetful- 
 ness of the world conducts to 
 the certain discovery of heaven. 
 
 The flattering words of a false 
 friend, are more hurtful than the 
 harsh reproof of the just. 
 
 The imagination of the deceitful 
 invents falsehood ; but the spirit of 
 the just man seeks truth at the 
 fountain head. 
 
 He that scandalizes his brother, 
 shall himself be scandalized. 
 
 God, who knoweth and ruleth 
 > O
 
 O ^ ( 
 
 82 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 over all, suffereth not His poor 
 sheep to wander long, or to fill the 
 air with empty bleatings ; but eith- 
 er by the correcting staff of fear, 
 leads back the strayed one to the 
 fold, or looking down on it wilh the 
 eyes of love, sweetly guides it 
 home by the interior voice of con- 
 science. 
 
 2. Where peace and concord 
 dwell together, there is God, and 
 with Him all good. 
 
 Where strife and dissension 
 dwell together, there is the devil 
 and with him all evil. 
 
 " Where pride is, there also is 
 the root of all evil ; but where hu- 
 mility is, there also is wisdom."* 
 
 Trample pride under foot, and 
 thou shalt find much peace. 
 
 Where harsh and wrangling 
 words are heard, the bowels of 
 charity are wounded. 
 
 * Prov. xi. 2. 
 
 -o
 
 I o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 83 
 
 Where solitude and silence 
 reign, there persons devoted to 
 God, find repose. 
 
 Where strict discipline and the 
 love of labour prevail, religious 
 souls make rapid progress in vir- 
 tue. Where laughter and dissipa- 
 tion meet, the sweets of devotion 
 take wings and fly away, for the 
 idler and the babbler are seldom 
 contrite, and rarely free from sin. 
 
 Where obedience is ready, the 
 conscience is joyful : but where 
 frivolous conversation is prolonged, 
 work is neglected. 
 
 Where there is overmuch deli- 
 cacy or self-seeking, there, is char- 
 ity defective or cold : where the 
 doctrine of Christ flourishes, the 
 path of salvation is made secure. 
 
 Where brethren dwell together 
 in unity, there, sounds the most 
 harmonious rise to heaven. 
 
 Where moderation is observed, 
 C) O
 
 O ( 
 
 84 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 the virtue of concord shall last the 
 longer. 
 
 Where those who offend are re- 
 proved with prudence and modera- 
 tion, no one can justly complain, 
 or accuse his superior : whence 
 some one hath said, " In all things 
 be moderate, for moderation is a 
 most seemly virtue." 
 
 Where patience dwells, a great 
 enemy is overcome ; but wdiere 
 disquiet or disorder enters, peace 
 soon takes its departure. 
 
 Put a guard on the entrance of 
 thy mouth, and weigh well thy 
 words before giving them utter- 
 ance. 
 
 Where faith and. truth meet to- 
 gether, peace dwells secure ; but 
 with fraud and iniquity, foolish 
 imaginings and bootless prudence 
 alone shall be thy guests. 
 
 Where charity is, there is the 
 Holy Spirit. 
 O (
 
 
 
 GARDEX OF ROSES. 85 
 
 Where the disposition is mis- 
 trustful, there will be no lack of 
 fuel for anger and strife; but 
 where there is the knowledge of 
 the truth, there will be joy to the 
 upright of heart. 
 
 Under a deceitful tongue often 
 skulks a false friend ; the humble 
 confession of a fault obtains a ready 
 pardon. 
 
 When the wisdom of man can 
 do nothing, it is then that we must 
 implore with more earnestness the 
 divine protection. 
 
 He that makes choice of the 
 way of malice and injustice, shall 
 come to an evil end ; but peace 
 in abundance shall light upon him, 
 who follows the footsteps of vir- 
 tue, and who strives to be pa- 
 tient. 
 
 Woe to the impious man who 
 does evil: woe to the hypocrite 
 who seems to do good: because 
 3 O
 
 o — o 
 
 86 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 none shall suffer more than them- 
 selves from their huquity. 
 
 "A double-niintled man is in- 
 constant in all his ways,"* and 
 very wicked ; but blessed is the 
 simple and the just, in whom there 
 is no guile : for God is with him 
 assisting him in all his works, and 
 guiding his feet into the right path. 
 
 When a man has once been 
 faithless tj his word, who shall 
 lightly trust him ? but he that 
 changes his former opinion for a 
 better, breaks not the word of truth. 
 
 3. It is pleasant to listen to the 
 recital of acts of virtue, but it is still 
 more praiseworthy to put them in 
 practice. 
 
 The best examination of con- 
 science is that which leads to a 
 change of life ; and the fruits of a 
 good examination are, abstaining 
 from sin, and advancement in virtue. 
 
 * Jas. i. 8. 
 
 C O
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 87 
 
 o- 
 
 The worthy fruits of devout 
 prayer, is the union of the heart 
 with God, in the fervour of the 
 Holy Spirit : he prays devoutly 
 who drives av/ay all frivolous 
 thoughts. 
 
 He that places before him the 
 image of the crucifix, shall drive 
 away the illusicms of the devil ; 
 and that soul has a most salutary 
 employment, which meditates con- 
 tinually on the passion of Christ. 
 
 He that meditates daily on the 
 sacred wounds of Jesus, pours a 
 healing and a cleansing balm on 
 the wounds of his own soul. 
 
 He that utterly despises the 
 goods of this world as mere dirt, 
 and thirsts not after its honours, 
 shall obtain purity of heart, and 
 shall without hindrance give him- 
 self up to the service of God. 
 
 He that would give perfect 
 praise and honour to God, will
 
 o o 
 
 88 GARDEN OP ROSES. 
 
 practice profound humility of heart, 
 and constantly meditate, groan, and 
 weep over all his defects. 
 
 The sincere and humble contri- 
 tion of a sinner is like a powerful 
 voice, which penetrates to the ear 
 of God. 
 
 4. Whatever good you do, do all 
 to the glory of God. 
 
 He tramples under foot, and 
 wounds to death, all pride, envy, 
 and vain glory, who refers simply, 
 purely, and wholly, to the honour 
 and glory of God, all the virtues 
 which he practices, as well as all 
 the good works of others ; ascribing 
 everything to God, and attributing 
 nothing to his own merits, nor to 
 his own strength, but stripping 
 himself of all, acknowledges God 
 as the first author of all that is 
 good. That man renounces eternal 
 honour who takes complacency 
 and glory in himself, and not in 
 
 o ■ --o
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN OP ROSES. 89 
 
 God alone, who is the sovereign 
 good. 
 
 And thus it was that the blessed 
 Virgin Mary, when she sought to 
 express the delight of her heart, 
 for the inestimable benefits she 
 had received from her Creator, ex- 
 claimed in her sublime Canticle : 
 " My spirit hath rejoiced in God 
 my Saviour."* 
 
 " If any man think himself to 
 be something, whereas he is noth- 
 ing, he deceives himself," saith St. 
 Paul the Apostle;! who, even 
 though rapt to the third heaven, 
 gloried in nothing of himself, but 
 refered to God alone all the good 
 that he did, whether by his preach- 
 ing or his writings : "by the grace 
 of God," says he, " I am what I 
 am. "I 
 
 * Lukei. 47. t Gal.vi. 31. t 1 Cor.xv. 10. 
 
 4a
 
 90 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 ON THfr IMITATION OF THE 
 
 MOST HOLY LIFE OF OUR 
 
 LORD JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 Q- 
 
 " Quamdiu fecistis uni ex his 
 fratribus mcis minimis^ mihi fe- 
 cistis:'* 
 
 "As long as you did it to one of 
 these, my least brethren, you did it 
 to me.'''' 
 
 1. Note these words, — weigh 
 well the mysteries they contain, and 
 let them be unto thee as a rule of 
 life. 
 
 He that comforts a brother in 
 distress, stretches out his hand to 
 Jesus. 
 
 He that bears with patience the 
 burthen which Providence has laid 
 
 * Matt. XXV. 40. I
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 91 
 
 on him, carries on his shoulders 
 Jesus, and Him crucified. 
 
 He that addresses words of con- 
 solation to the afflicted, gives to 
 Jesus a loving kiss. 
 
 He that mourns over the faults 
 of his brother, and supplicates for 
 his pardon, washes and wipes the 
 feet of Jesus. 
 
 He that turns the anger of his 
 brother to peace, prepares in his 
 soul a bed of flowers for Jesus. 
 
 He that at table gives up to a 
 brother, the better portion set aside 
 for himself, feeds Jesus with the 
 bread and honey of charity. 
 
 He that meditates piously and 
 fervently on the adorable perfec- 
 tions of God, introduces Jesus into 
 the secret chamber of his soul. 
 
 He that presents a book of holy 
 wisdom to his brother, offers choice 
 wine to the lips of Jesus. 
 
 He that prohibits frivolous con- 
 
 o
 
 O- ( 
 
 92 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 versation, drives away the flies 
 from the stable of Jesus. 
 
 He that will not hearken to de- 
 traction, but reproves unseemly 
 conversation, arms himself with 
 a staff" to drive away an inaus- 
 picious animal from the house of 
 Jesus. 
 
 He that during refection reads to 
 his brethren correctly and distinct- 
 ly, serves up a heavenly cup to 
 the guests of Jesus, and inebriates 
 them with the wine of joy ; but he 
 that reads ill, takes away the relish 
 of the food ; and he that stammers, 
 stains the cloth which covers tne 
 table of Jesus. 
 
 He that hears his neighbour 
 slandered, and feels therefrom 
 much grief and deep sorrow, 
 anoints with balm, the sacred 
 wounds of Jesus. 
 
 2. He that speaks of the good 
 example and virtues of his neigh- 
 O O
 
 O Q 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 93 
 
 hour, presents to Jesus, a nosegay 
 of fair flowers. 
 
 He that reads devoutly, and an- 
 nounces piously the words of 
 Jesus, diffuses sweet perfume in 
 the nostrils of those that hear him. 
 
 He that bears charitably with 
 the faults of his neighbour, and 
 gives them a favourable construc- 
 tion, shall readily obtain mercy 
 from Jesus. 
 
 He that throws a veil over the 
 vices or scandals of his neighbour, 
 spreads a garment over the naked 
 limbs of Jesus. 
 
 He that meditates on the hum- 
 ble life and divine miracles of Je- 
 sus, and therewith sw^eetly nour- 
 ishes his soul, drinks in milk and 
 honey from the mouth of Jesus. 
 
 Thus spoke and thus acted the 
 blessed Agnes, who afterwards, had 
 the happiness of shedding her blood 
 for the love of Jesus. 
 I O
 
 o- 
 
 ) Q 
 
 94 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 He that reads or sings in the 
 place of a weak or sick brother, 
 sweetly plays on the harp with 
 the angels before the cradle of 
 Jesus. 
 
 He that prays devoutly, abstains 
 from delicate meats, and renounces 
 all his possessions, comes with the 
 holy Magi to lay three costly of- 
 ferings in the hands of the infant 
 Jesus. 
 
 He that washes the feet and 
 garments of his brethren, and does 
 the meanest offices, baptizes Jesus, 
 with St. John the Baptist. 
 
 He that lores solitude and si- 
 lence, enters the desert with Jesus. 
 
 He that does violence to his in- 
 clinations, and chastises his body, 
 fasts with Jesus. 
 
 He that speaks words of salva- 
 tion to his brethren, preaches with 
 Jesus of the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 He that prays constantly for
 
 o ■ — o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 95 
 
 such of his brethren as are weak 
 or in temptation, visits Lazarus with 
 Jesus, and weeps with Martha and 
 Mary at His tomb. 
 
 3. He that offers or frequently 
 hears the holy sacrifice of the mass 
 for the faithful departed, or recites 
 the office for them, comes with 
 Jesus to the tomb of Lazarus, to 
 beg that He would mercifully de- 
 liver their souls from suffering. 
 
 He that goes to the common re- 
 fectory with his brethren, to hear 
 spiritual reading, eateth and drink- 
 eth with Jesus and His disciples. 
 
 He that lays up in his heart the 
 words of God, which he has heard 
 in the refectory, reposes with the 
 Apostle St. John, during the last 
 supper, on the breast of Jesus. 
 
 He that submits humbly, and 
 without delay, to do what is painful 
 to him, truly follows Jesus with His 
 disciples to Mount Olivet, where he 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 96 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 was betrayed and delivered to His 
 enemies. 
 
 He that has instant recourse to 
 fervent prayer in tribulation or 
 temptation, contends together with 
 Jesus in His agony, against the as- 
 saults of Satan. 
 
 He that entirely renounces his 
 own will, fulfils the will of God 
 the Father, with Jesus, and with 
 courageous resignation carries his 
 cross even to Calvary. 
 
 He that prays for his enemies, 
 and willingly pardons those that 
 have sinned against him, prays 
 with Jesus that his enemies may 
 not perish, but rather that they may 
 be converted unto God and live. 
 
 He that voluntarily renounces 
 the things of this world, and casts 
 aside the flattery q( the senses, ex- 
 pires with Jesus on the cross ; and 
 his spirit, like that of the Apostle 
 St. Paul, is rapt even to Paradise. 
 O (
 
 o c 
 
 GARDEX OF ROSES. 97 
 
 4. He that keeps his heart clean 
 and peaceful, wraps up Jesus in 
 fair white linen, and entombs Him 
 in his breast. 
 
 He that perseveres unto the 
 end in the service of Jesus, sweet- 
 ly reposes with Him in the 
 peaceful slumber of the holy sep- 
 ulchre. 
 
 He that weeps for the sorrows 
 of the blessed Virgin Mary, de- 
 serves that she and her holy Son, 
 should console him in his afflic- 
 tion, and last agony. 
 
 He that in spirit recalls the 
 words and actions of Jesus, and 
 makes thereof a spiritual food, pre- 
 pares sweet spikenard to soften 
 the bitterness of his passion. 
 
 He that gives humble and de- 
 vout thanks for the blessings he 
 has received, comes with Mary 
 Magdalen, bringing sweet perfume 
 to the sepulchre of Jesus. 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 98 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 He that after contrition and con- 
 fession of sins, firmly resolves to 
 amend his life, rises with Jesus 
 from the death of sin. 
 
 He that shakes off his spiritual 
 torpor and lukewarmness, and be- 
 comes animated with new fervour, 
 celebrates in spirit a new pasch 
 with Jesus, and sings with Him in 
 choir a hallelujah of joy. 
 
 He that despises the pleasures 
 of the world, — flies from its dan- 
 gers, — loves a religious life, and 
 accepts its obligations, enters with 
 Jesus and his disciples into " the 
 upper chamber," there to serve God 
 in freedom and in secret ; there to 
 lead a life more pure, and to re- 
 ceive more abundantly the graces 
 of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 He that is cold and indifferent 
 
 on earthly things, and enflamed 
 
 through holy meditation, with such 
 
 as are heavenly, forsakes the earth 
 
 O— ^ O
 
 ; O 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 99 
 
 with Jesus, and mounts with Him 
 to heaven. 
 
 Blessed is the soul in which " to 
 live is Christ, and to die is gain,"* 
 for he that would live to Christ, 
 must die to himself: and he that 
 would be wise and happy in the 
 sweetness of Christ, must renounce 
 all perishable things. 
 
 Total separation from the thingrs 
 of this world, is painful, and death 
 is grieA'ous : but to reign in joy 
 with Christ, is salvation and life 
 eternal. 
 
 Oh ! when shall the moment 
 come when God shall be my all ? — 
 when I shall be all for Him ! — 
 when I shall be united to Him ! 
 
 For ah ! the faithful soul cannot 
 be fully blessed, till it be united to 
 God in glory. 
 
 Guided then by divine love, fol- 
 iu>v Jesus all the days of thy life ; 
 
 *Phil. i. 21. 
 O (
 
 o 9 
 
 100 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 filled with a lively faith and ani- 
 mated with an ardent charity : — 
 that thou mayst at length be found 
 worthy to see Him face to face, 
 there, where he is Himself, the 
 blessing- and the joy of the angels. 
 To which beatific vision may 
 Jesus Christ our Lord lead us 
 hereafter : — He who, for us, en- 
 dured the bitter death of the cross. 
 Amen. 
 
 CHAP. XVHI. 
 
 ON THE ETERNAL PRAISE OF GOD. 
 
 ** Semper laus ejus in ore men"* 
 
 " His praise shall he always in 
 my mouthy 
 
 1 . Oh ! words full of sweetness 
 in ihe ears of all devout christians^ 
 
 * Ps. xxxiii. 1 
 
 o o
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 101 
 
 but sweeter far when uttered in 
 the high court of heaven in pres- 
 ence of the Almighty King, and 
 His blessod ministers, the holy an- 
 gels. Were, ail the' instrinncnts 
 of music in the world brought to- 
 gether, in ccncert ?rid noi rt scund* 
 with the praises ol' their God, vein 
 would be their melody : to a pious 
 soul, they could afford neither 
 pleasure nor satisfaction : because 
 God and His glory must be the 
 prime source of all our music, and 
 not the gratification of miserable 
 vanity : for thus only can our 
 praise be grateful or acceptable to 
 God. When thy songs are anima- 
 ted with pure intentions, then canst 
 thou exult in transports of holy joy 
 with blessed Mary in her sublime 
 canticle. Sweet is the symphony 
 both on earth and in heaven, to 
 praise the Lord, with heart unde 
 filed, and voice in harmony with all 
 
 O-
 
 o ( 
 
 102 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 creation, for His goodness un- 
 speakable, and glorious magnifi- 
 cence. Delightful task to praise 
 God at all times to ]o^h^ \he Creator 
 of Iteaven and earth., Wnd to honour 
 abundantly the Giver . of eternal 
 iiO-^ : So'indeed the life, the hon- 
 our,' the glory of the holy angels 
 are entirely expended in praising 
 God with all their powers; never 
 ceasing from their song divine : in 
 this, they never tire in singing forth 
 His praise, nor ever praise in vain. 
 In this manner are the souls of 
 the saints incessantly occupied in 
 their heavenly abodes : — now freed 
 from the chains of the body, and 
 secure from the wiles of Satan and 
 all temptation : united to God in 
 perfect charily, and filled with 
 never ending joy, and happiness 
 unspeakable. Now at rest from 
 all their labours, they look back 
 with infinite dcliirht at the severe 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 103 
 
 trials, the grievous afflictions en- 
 dured in this life : — at the vari- 
 ous dangers and temptations, from 
 which they have escaped. Now all 
 their groans and lamentations are 
 changed into canticles of joy, while 
 the stripes and bufl'etings inflicted 
 by a vile world, are become a 
 greater augmentation to their crown 
 of glory. 
 
 2. Oh ! happy country, where all 
 is peace, where grief or sadness is 
 unknown, where everything is re- 
 fulgent with joy, ever resounding 
 with praise divine and sweetest 
 melody. Therefore praise thou 
 also faithful soul, praise the Lord 
 of heaven ; and do thou, O Sion, 
 bending imder the load of terrene 
 and grovelling propensities, — do 
 thou praise thy God ! Do thou in- 
 voke Jesus from the scene of thy 
 conflict ; — that attended by His ho- 
 ly anoels He mav descend to thy 
 
 O — ^ ^O
 
 o o 
 
 104 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 aid. and shield thee by His power- 
 ful protection. Beseech him that 
 the power of the evil one may not 
 
 prevail against thee, that the 
 
 wickedness of the flesh may not 
 seduce thee, — that neither the sal- 
 utary strictness of religious disci- 
 pline nor the severity of thy neces- 
 sary labours may overcome thee. 
 For the sake of thy Saviour, cheer- 
 fully undergo the burthen of the 
 holy cross, which will hereafter 
 open unto thee the gate of the 
 heavenly kingdom. What wilt 
 thou more ? 
 
 The royal road leading to Christ, 
 is, to conquer thy headstrong will, 
 — to patiently bear the weakness of 
 thy brother, — and mortify thy flesh. 
 For a transient toil, thou wilt ex- 
 change eternal repose ; — for an 
 humble state and low degree, thou 
 shalt enjoy honour and glory with- 
 out end. Let the praise of God 
 O O
 
 ) o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 105 
 
 therefore, be always in thy mouth, 
 both in prosperity and adversity : 
 for in this, there is abundant merit, 
 if thou resign thyself with all sin- 
 cerity to the will of God. What- 
 soever affliction may happen, whe- 
 ther from within or from without, 
 receive all with humble thankfuU 
 ness from the hand of a' most cle- 
 ment and merciful God who hath 
 care for all His creatures high and 
 low. 
 
 He who hath made thee accord- 
 ing to His own image and like- 
 ness, will not according to his un- 
 speakable goodness, forsake thee 
 in thy necessity. 
 
 3. Open then thy mouth to sing 
 the praise of the Omnipotent, by 
 whose providence are directed and 
 governed all things whether in 
 heaven or on earth, in the sea, or 
 the uttermost depths of the abyss. 
 Praise thv Creator who hath made 
 
 C-
 
 o ■ o 
 
 lOG GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 thee a man and not a beast : and 
 although He had even made thee 
 a fly, still would He merit thy 
 praise as having done well. A lion 
 may not boast of his strength oVer 
 the fly or the gnat ; because al- 
 though he can make the forests 
 ring with a louder roar, the tiny in- 
 sect can take a loftier flight. 
 
 Let no contention then take 
 place between the great and the 
 small, — between the rich and the 
 poor, — the strong and the weak, — 
 the man of wisdom and the simple 
 of heart, — between the prince and 
 the peasant ; but let all with one 
 accord, praise the Lord our God : 
 who hath formed every creature 
 of surpassing beauty and wonder- 
 ful variety, in order to more abun 
 dantly and openly proclaim the 
 honour and glory of His holy name 
 and the benefit of man. O ! faith- 
 ful soul, praise thy merciful Re- 
 
 O 1 o
 
 o ■■ o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 107 
 
 deemer, who by His death and 
 passion, and sufferings on the cross, 
 hath rescued thee from the sen- 
 tence of eternal death. Him thou 
 couldst not praise in a manner 
 worthy of these benefits, even if 
 thou couldst endure for His sake, 
 a thousand deaths on a cross. 
 Praise thy Protector who hath pre- 
 served thee from so many dangers, 
 and so many sins : praise thy Bene- 
 factor who hath bestowed so ma- 
 ny benefits as cannot be enumera- 
 ted. Behold still more, — He daily 
 showers down new favours, and de- 
 scends to thee, in person on the holy 
 altar; by which He communicates 
 unto thee, the most precious gift 
 even He can bestow, — Himself ; 
 and for all these inestimable fa- 
 vours, He requires nothing more. 
 He esteems nothing more than 
 this, — that with all purity and sin- 
 cerity, with all thy heart and all
 
 o o 
 
 108 GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 thy soul, thou wouldst love and 
 praise Him for His own sake. 
 
 4. When thou wilt have experi- 
 enced much joy and when things 
 have gone well with thee, offer thy 
 praises and thanksgiving, because 
 God in His mercy hath vouchsafed 
 to send thee consolation, lest thou 
 faint on the way : for as often as 
 thou hearest orreadestthe word of 
 God, as often as thou dost medi- 
 tate piously and devoutly on the 
 Incarnation or Passion of Christ, 
 so often doth the Lord send bread 
 from heaven to cheer and comfort 
 thy soul. When on the other 
 hand, thou shalt have been overta- 
 ken with sadness or surprised with 
 weakness, offer thy praises and 
 thanksgiving : because God then 
 visits, tries, and purifies thee lest 
 thou become puffed up or presume 
 too much on thyself; for, ailliction 
 of body is not unfrequentlv a salu- ^ 
 
 )— ^ c;
 
 o ^ o 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. 109 
 
 salutary recal to compunction of 
 heart. 
 
 When thou wilt have been fa- 
 voured with heahh of mind and 
 strength of body, then shalt thou 
 offer up praise and thanksgiving, 
 because God hath vouchsafed thee 
 these powers of mind and body, in 
 order that thou mayest give thyself 
 to useful labour or the service of 
 others ; never wasting thy valuable 
 hours in idleness. 
 
 Whenever thou art in a garden 
 or orchard, on beholding the va- 
 rious kinds of trees, the beautiful 
 flowers and fragrant roses, deli- 
 cious apples, and mellow pears, the 
 verdant plants and odoriferous lil- 
 ies, offer up thy praise and thanks- 
 srivinsf, because God deions to 
 show thee so many of his won- 
 drous works, springing and bud- 
 ding forth from the earth : all of 
 which in admirable power and wis-
 
 o o 
 
 no GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 dom, He renews from year to year, 
 in accordance with His benignity 
 and for man's use and benefit. 
 
 Therefore at all times and in 
 every place, praise the Lord and 
 give Him thanks because all the 
 earth is filled with His majesty, 
 and His glory is above the heav- 
 ens. Together with all the saints 
 upon earth, do thou praise the 
 Lord, Who is praised without end, 
 by all the Angels in heaven. In 
 praising God thou art made like unto 
 Angels ; in neglecting His praise, 
 thou art base and ungrateful ; — 
 yea, worse than the brute beasts. 
 
 Behold the birds of the air, how 
 they sing, the fishes of the sea, how 
 they swim, the dogs of the earth, 
 how they bark, the cattle and 
 flocks of the field, how they bleat 
 and low ; — all these, each in its 
 way, show forth the praise and 
 glory of God : nay, more the very 
 
 ! O
 
 o a 
 
 GARDEN OF ROSES. Ill 
 
 elements themselves are moved, 
 elevated, and affected with the glo- 
 ry of God, and by their natural mo- 
 tions and regular changes, proclaim 
 the magnificence of their Creator. 
 Therefore in all thy actions, 
 have God ever before thy eyes ; 
 carefully avoiding aught that may 
 offend Him. Thank Him for all 
 the benefits so abundantly bestow- 
 ed ; and at the conclusion of every 
 business and every employment, 
 thus pour out thy liveliest gratitude 
 from the bottom of thy soul, — re- 
 peating, — " Praise be to God now 
 and forever more! Let every 
 spirit praise the Lord ! Amen." 
 
 THE END 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LITTLE GARDEN OF ROSES. 
 
 c o
 
 o o 
 
 THE PROLOGUE 
 
 TO THIS LITTLE BOOK. 
 
 0- 
 
 *' Justus germinabit sicut lilium, et 
 fiorebU in aienium ante Dominum."* 
 
 " The just shall spring as tlie lily, 
 and his root shall spread forth before 
 the Lord for ever." 
 
 This little book may be called the 
 Valley of Lilies, to distinguish it from 
 that which precedes it, under the 
 title of the Little Garden of Roses ; 
 for as that treats of many virtues, 
 which spring forth as fair roses, in 
 the Garden of Jesus, so this discour- 
 ses of many other virtues, which as 
 so many lilies of exceeding white- 
 ness, are planted by our Lord Jesus 
 in the valley of humility ; where 
 they are sweetly bedewed and fer- 
 tilized by the inward infusion of the 
 Holy Spirit. For, according to the 
 * Osee xiv. 6.
 
 Q : O 
 
 116 PROLOGUE. 
 
 testimony of St. Gregory, to seek to 
 acquire all other virtues, without hurnil 
 ity, is to carry dust against the wind. 
 
 It is of these lilies that the spouse 
 of Christ, out of tlie humility and de- 
 votion of her soul, speaketh, in the 
 Canticle of Canticles, when wishing 
 to declare the inward joy and conso- 
 lation she experienced from the visit 
 of the Divine Spouse, and the graces 
 He had heaped upon her, she says : 
 " I to my beloved, and my beloved to 
 me, who feedeth among the lilies."* 
 And again : " My beloved is white 
 and ruddy." " So shall he repose 
 upon my bosom." 
 
 To Him be praise, honour, and glory, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 * Cant. vi. 2.— v. 10. 
 
 (^ 
 
 O 3
 
 o 
 
 THE 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. L 
 
 ox THE THREE-FOLD STATE OF 
 HUMAN LIFE. 
 
 " Ego flos campi, et lilium con- 
 valhum."* 
 
 '* I am fhejlower of the field, and 
 the lily uf the valley s.^^ 
 
 1 . This is the voice of Christ, to 
 his holy Church in general, and to 
 ev^ery devout soul in particular ; for 
 Christ is the goodly and sovereign 
 Spouse of the Church, and the 
 head of all the faithful. He is the 
 
 * Cant. Cantic. ii. 1. 
 
 -o
 
 O 
 
 118 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 flower of all virtues, the lily of the 
 valleys, the lover of humility and 
 chastity. 
 
 If thou wouldst serve Christ, 
 and please the Heavenly Spouse, 
 overcome thy passions, gather the 
 lilies of virtue, eschew idleness, 
 study diligently, work at some use- 
 ful manual labour, pray often for a 
 more intimate union with God, turn 
 away from the turmoil of the world, 
 love retirement, and avoid all idle 
 or hurtful conversation. 
 
 2. If virtue be not in thy heart, 
 how seemly soever the outward 
 habit, it is worth nothing in the 
 sight of God. The vessel may be 
 of fair proportions outwardly, but 
 within it is empty. 
 
 Even as a vessel filled with good 
 wine, exhales a pleasing odour, so 
 from the good heart of a religious 
 man, whose affections are pure, 
 spring forth holy words and edify- 
 O '
 
 o c 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 119 
 
 ing works, which contribute to the 
 glory of God, and the profit of his 
 neighbour. 
 
 Weigh well then, my brother, 
 the great importance of the state in 
 which thou art engaged, the out- 
 ward marks of which thou bearest 
 before the eyes of men, that so 
 thou mayest study both to please 
 God worthily, and to edify thy fel- 
 low-men by thy life and conversa- 
 tion : ever remembering that whe- 
 ther thou dost good or evil, both 
 are done in the sight of Him who 
 will render to every one according 
 to his works. 
 
 When therefore thou wilt eat or 
 drink, when thou wilt sleep or 
 take repose, when thou wilt follow 
 the bent of thy desires, thou dost 
 the works of the flesh, and thy 
 conduct is like that of the beasts of 
 the earth ; that wander about, that 
 eat, drink, and fill their belly, till 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 120 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 they are satisfied ; that butt with 
 their horns, that tear with their 
 claws or teeth, that scowl with 
 threatening looks on those who re- 
 sist them, and fill the air with 
 hideous cries, — such are carnal 
 men, — such the glutton — the miser 
 — the proud — the passionate and 
 the brawler ; — for the spirit of God 
 is not in them, and they are sub- 
 ject to their passions only. 
 
 3. But when thou dost watch or 
 pray, when thou wilt read or sing 
 psalms and hymns to the glory of 
 God and His saints, when thou wilt 
 fast, and abstain from vice, and 
 make thyself useful to thy neigh- 
 bour, when thou wilt mourn and 
 weep over thy own disorders, or 
 confess them, and supplicate par- 
 don of God ; then thou dost the 
 works of the Holy Spirit, follow 
 His inspirations, and fulfil the du- 
 ties of a religious life. Such con- 
 O
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 121 
 
 duct is like that of the angels in 
 heaven, who ever sing the praise 
 and glory of God, from whose face 
 they never turn away. 
 
 But when thou wilt give way to 
 sentiments of anger, when thou 
 wilt nourish pride, when thou wilt 
 give loose to detraction and mur- 
 muring, when thou wilt commit 
 a fraud or practice lying, when 
 thou wilt disturb others or rejoice 
 over the evil that has happened to 
 thy neighbour, when his prosper- 
 ity afflicts thee, when thou despi- 
 sest him in thy heart, or when thou 
 labourest diligently for thy own in- 
 terest only ; then thou foUowest 
 the suggestions of the devil, and 
 thy conduct, full of malice and 
 teeming with disorder, resembles 
 his : for that spirit of iniquity owns 
 no counsellor but his passions, — 
 no motive but his perverseness. 
 He does all the evil he can, or 
 
 O 
 
 5a
 
 o o 
 
 122 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 dare ; and because there is no good 
 in him, he strives hard to seduce 
 and pervert the sons of men. 
 
 The life of the just is like that 
 of the angels, and the life of the 
 carnal man like that of the beasts ; 
 but the life of the proud is like 
 that of devils. 
 
 Servants of God, take heed, lest 
 you fall into the snares which the 
 spirits of malice lay for you ; for 
 you will be accused by them at the 
 awful tribunal of God, and there 
 confounded. 
 
 O-
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 123 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 OF THE PRAISE OF GOD DURING 
 
 THE BARRENNESS OR TEPIDITY 
 
 OF DEVOTION. 
 
 " Pauper et inops laudahunt no- 
 men iuum, Dominey* 
 
 " The poor and needy shall praise 
 thy na/ne, Lord /" 
 
 1 . If in prayer or holy meditation, 
 thou shouldst fall into a state of 
 dryness, coldness or sadness, be 
 sure not to give way to despair, or 
 cease to call humbly on the name 
 of Jesus. 
 
 But in poverty of spirit, perse- 
 vere in giving praise and thanks- 
 giving to God ; and take comfort 
 abundantly when reading these 
 
 I * Ps. Ixxiii. 2L 
 
 D- O
 
 O 
 
 124 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 words : " The poor and needy shall 
 praise thy name, O Lord !" 
 
 For, many holy and devout souls 
 have been proved by dryness, and 
 seemed for a long while as it were 
 abandoned by God, that they might 
 thereby learn patience and compas- 
 sion for others, by the sense of 
 their own sorrow and need ; and 
 not to presume too nuich on them- 
 selves in the moment of fervour, 
 and in the season of spiritual jubi- 
 lation. 
 
 Say with the Psalmist, " I am 
 needy and poor."* In the Lord will 
 I put my trust, for He is my 
 strength and my salvation, and all 
 good comes from God. 
 
 2. Restrain thyself then from 
 presumption, when gladness is 
 vouchsafed, and beware of discour- 
 agement, when the clouds of sor- 
 row gather around : receive each 
 
 * Ps. xix. 6. 
 
 O
 
 Q- 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 125 
 
 of these as it shall please God to 
 send them, and in all be content ; 
 for thou hast nothing of good in 
 thyself : all is from God. 
 
 When the grace of devotion is 
 granted, the sun of justice shines 
 on thee I'rom the heights of heav- 
 en ; thy soul walks in brightness 
 and rejoices in its riches. But, if, 
 permitting thyself to be deceived 
 by any feeling of vanity or pre- 
 sumption, thou will confide on thy 
 own strength, thou wilt indeed be 
 wretched. 
 
 When the grace of devotion is 
 withdrawn on account perhaps of 
 the abuse made of it, thy soul be- 
 comes really poor and weak, capa- 
 ble of but very little, and with no 
 relish for prayer : receive these 
 privations with gratitude, for in 
 withdrawing these gifts, and hum- 
 bling thee with His elect, God 
 giveth a new proof of His love. 
 
 o
 
 I o 
 
 126 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 His hand strikes thee with the 
 rod, with which He corrects His 
 children, for the hidden excesses 
 and numberless acts of negligence 
 of which thou art daily guilty, in 
 order to inspire thee with a con- 
 tempt for thyself, and to hinder thee 
 from having so high an estimate of 
 thy own merit ; as St. Paul says, 
 •' Be not high-minded but fear.*^ 
 
 The soul is a great gainer when 
 deeply penetrated with a sense of 
 self-contempt, it gives entirely to 
 God all the glory of the good it 
 may have done. 
 
 * Rom. xi. 20. 
 
 -0
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 127 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 ON THE PROBATION OF THE JUST 
 BY ADVERSITY. 
 
 " Exultate justi, in Domino J^* 
 " Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just." 
 
 1 . Joy is eternal in heaven ; sor- 
 row is ete^-nal in hell : both dwell 
 occasionally on earth, to prove the 
 good and the bad. 
 
 The sky is pure and serene in 
 summer, dark and cloudy in Avin- 
 ter ; so also is it with the devout 
 soul : — when the grace of God 
 comes and illuminates it, it discov- 
 ers many truths which were be- 
 fore unknown, and understands 
 what before it understood not. It 
 rejoices with great joy, and ex- 
 presses in songs of gladness, the 
 
 * Ps. xxxii. 3. 
 
 o o
 
 o c 
 
 128 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 happine^ which it feels. But the 
 season of trial comes at last, and 
 the grace of devotion is with- 
 drawn ; then winter comes, in ice 
 and cold, in the gloom of the intel- 
 lect and fear of soid. Then pa- 
 tience, most needful to our wants 
 as It is pleasing to God, comes to 
 our aid ; in such trials our advance 
 in virtue grows apace, and by pa- 
 tience, will our eternal recom- 
 pense hereafter be increased. 
 
 2. The chastisements of God 
 humble and purify the soul, con- 
 found our pride, and dissipate all 
 vain-glory. 
 
 So long as the soul is united to 
 the body, so long does God prove 
 man, in turn, under both relations, 
 that he may make greater progress 
 in the love of Christ. 
 
 Wherefore it is a proof of great 
 knowledge and virtue, to profit by 
 adversity as well as prosperity.
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 129 
 
 Bless then, my soul, bless the 
 Lord, at all times. Sing, Sion, 
 day and night, the praises of the 
 Lord, and thy reward shall be 
 great in the sight of God, in heav- 
 en and on earth ; for all shall tend 
 to thy spiritual advantage, wheth- 
 er prosperity or adversity, good or 
 evil, joy or sorrow. Whence the 
 apostle saith ; " We know that to 
 them that love God, all things work 
 together unto good ;''* and nothing 
 shall ever be wanted to those that 
 fear Him. Blessed are they who 
 in all things follow the will of God. 
 
 * Rom. vjii. 28.
 
 o o 
 
 130 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 OF THE TRUE LOVER OF GOD. 
 
 " Diligite Dominum, omnes sanc- 
 ti ejus.''* 
 
 " O Love the Lord, all ye his 
 saints.'' 
 
 1 . Love Him, rich and poor, love 
 Him great and small ; for it is He 
 who made both poor and rich, both 
 small and great. 
 
 He that would truly love God, 
 must love Him purely ; that is to 
 say, must love God for God, and 
 with none other wish but that of 
 enjoying Him alone. Such love 
 must have for its end neither tem- 
 poral advantage nor profit, nor in- 
 ward consolation — no — not even 
 eternal recompense ; but wholly 
 
 * Ps. XXX. 24. 
 
 o o
 
 O ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 131 
 
 and entirely for His infinite good- 
 ness and surpassing worth. 
 
 It is for this reason that the 
 Psalmist, inviting us to sing the 
 praises of God, says and repeats so 
 often, " Give glory to the Lord, for 
 He is good :"* — words which are 
 indeed sweet to such as love God ; 
 — but, for the consolation of the 
 contrite and repentant mourner, he 
 adds — " For His mercy endureth 
 for ever." 
 
 Ye weak and frail, taste ye the 
 sweetness of these words ; — what- 
 ever be your sins, despair not — 
 " for His mercy endureth for ever." 
 
 2. The deeper our humility, and 
 the more fervent our love, the more 
 pleasing shall we be to God. 
 
 Blessed is he that accounteth 
 himself the vilest of creatures, and 
 who shuns every thing contrary to 
 the will of God. 
 
 ■O
 
 G 
 
 132 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Blessed is he, who out of chari- 
 ty and with a pure intention, does 
 every action for God, and with a 
 view to please Him ; and who pro- 
 poses to himself no other end, than 
 His honour, praise, and glory. 
 
 Blessed is he who attributes 
 nothing that he possesses to his own 
 merits, but freely returns to God 
 all that he has received from Him. 
 
 -O
 
 o ■■ o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 133 
 
 CHAP. Y. 
 
 ON TILE GRATITUDE OF THE SOUL 
 FOR EVERY GOOD. 
 
 *' Magnijicate Duminum mecum^ et 
 exaltemus nomen ejus in idipsum"^ 
 
 " O magnify the Lord with me ; 
 and let us extol his name tngether^ 
 
 1 . He that for the least favour, is 
 most grateful to God, gives Him 
 worthy praise, and appreciates the 
 goodness and bounty of Him, Avho 
 above all is infinitely great ; for no 
 grace can be small or contempti- 
 ble, "that comes from the liberal 
 hand of the Most High. 
 
 God seeks and asks for nothing, 
 but that our love may be disinter- 
 ested ; and that by carefully avoid- 
 ing all offence against him, we 
 
 * Ps. xxjfiii. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 134 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 should everywhere and always give 
 proofs to Him of our sincere grati- 
 tude. 
 
 2. Great in the sight of God is 
 he, who is filled with deep humility, 
 and contempt for himself — who 
 judges himself unworthy to par- 
 take in His gifts and benefits, and 
 when he makes use of such as he 
 has received, seeks neither to sati- 
 ate his vanity, nor to court the es- 
 teem of men. 
 
 But greater is he, who although 
 like Job, afilicted, overwhelmed 
 with contempt and injuries, de- 
 spoiled of his goods, abandoned by 
 his friends, tempted by the devil, 
 loaded with derision, and covered 
 with confusion, — yet rejoices in 
 tribulation, giving thanks to God, 
 and blessing His holy name ; reck- 
 ons as great gain to his soul, the 
 evils and calamities, which weigh 
 heavy upon him ; and endures 
 C (
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 135 
 
 them all without murmur, for the 
 love of God. 
 
 3. Blessed is he, who after the 
 example of Job, leams to acknowl- 
 edge the hand which strikes him, 
 and to submit with pious resigna- 
 tion to the rod of affliction ; trusting 
 wholly to the mercy of God, and 
 bowing unreservedly to His holy 
 will. 
 
 Blessed is he who ever seeks 
 after, and prefers before all, the 
 will of God, and who takes plea- 
 sure in being accounted vile in the 
 eyes of man : — who rejoices in the 
 midst of insult and injury, and who 
 receives temporal losses as minis- 
 tering servants to the good of his 
 soul 
 
 -O
 
 <-N- 
 
 -o 
 
 136 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 ON THE CONFORMITY OF THE DE- 
 VOUT SOUL TO THE CROSS. 
 
 " Cum ipso sum in tribulationey* 
 " I am with him in tribulation y 
 
 1 . The faithful Soul. — Lord, what 
 mean those words that I hear ? 
 " Give to thy servant a right un- 
 derstanding ;" — unfold to me all the 
 consolation these words inclose. 
 
 The Lord. — Hearken unto Me, 
 my son. 
 
 When thy heart is fallen into 
 tribulation or anguish of soul, then 
 art thou fastened with Jesus to His 
 cross. 
 
 When consolations return in 
 the fervour of devotion, and thou 
 art constrained to express thy joy, 
 
 * Ps. xc. 15. 
 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 137 
 
 by the singing of hymns and holy 
 canticles, then art thou raised again 
 with Jesus, in newness of spirit ; 
 then dost thou rise again from the 
 dead, singing alleluias of joy. 
 
 2, When on bended knees, thou 
 implorest pardon of thy sins, la- 
 menting and deploring them in the 
 bottom of thy heart ; then with re- 
 peated blows, thou knockest loudly 
 at the gate of heaven. 
 
 When turning away from the 
 vanities of the world, thou givest 
 thyself up entirely to the meditation 
 of the good things of eternity ; then 
 thou mountestto heaven with Jesus, 
 to live there in the company of the 
 angels. 
 
 JBe then meek, humble, and re- 
 signed to the infirmities and rever- 
 ses which may come upon thee 
 in the service of God ; patiently 
 bear thy cross with Jesus ; die daily 
 on the cross, for thy eternal salva- 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 138 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 tion ; for every affliction of the 
 flesh, when borne with patience, i-s 
 a remedy for the evils of the soul, 
 a satisfaction for sins, and the hope 
 of future blessedness and glory. 
 Amen. 
 
 CHAP. YII. 
 
 ON THE WALKING OF A PURE SOUL 
 WITH GOD. 
 
 " Ambulate^ dum lucem hahetisy* 
 
 " Walk whilst youhave the light. ''^ 
 
 1 . He walketh with God, whilst 
 there is light, who has no desire for 
 what this world affords ; and who 
 fixes all his affections on God in 
 heaven : for the hidden treasure of 
 the faithful soul is Jesus Christ 
 
 * Joan, xii. 35. 
 
 O o
 
 Q 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 139 
 
 our Lord, in whom all goodness 
 dwells. , 
 
 He is always in indigence and 
 want, however great his riches, 
 who has not God for his friend : but 
 he that would have God for his 
 friend niust. love Him, and keep 
 His ';aPin&.ndraents. 
 
 9. y\e. Keeps the copimandments 
 of G A who avoids all idle and 
 \vi'J&iS words ; who shows by his 
 w«iks, an example of those virtues 
 )k'' recommends in practice ; when, 
 instead of seeking his own glory, 
 lie refers all the glory and the good 
 he may do,or observe in others, pure- 
 ly and entirely to the glory of God. 
 
 But he that is satisfied with him- 
 self, pleases a fool, and displeases 
 God. 
 
 Thus in all the good thou sayest 
 or dost, seek only the glory of God, 
 that thou mayest receive from Him 
 still greater favours. 
 
 6—^ o
 
 o o 
 
 140 VALLEY OF LILIES, 
 
 Why shouldst thou glory in nat- 
 ural advantages, whereas thou art 
 a mere mortal and must shortly be- 
 come the food of worms ? 
 
 Young man, hear the voice of an 
 ancient ; separate thyself from all 
 that might allure thy soul to idle- 
 ness and distraction; for thou shalt 
 find repose o(ily by descending into 
 thy heart, and disposing it to seek 
 God before all things, and to love 
 Him intimately. 
 
 O-
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 141 
 
 CHAP. YIII. 
 
 OX THE PEACE OF HEART, AND 
 REST IN GOD. 
 
 " In pace factus est locus ejus."* 
 " His place is in peace." 
 
 1 The faithful Soul.— Lord, 
 who is he ihat dwelleth in true 
 peace ? 
 
 The Lord. — He that is meek, 
 and humble of heart. But why 
 dost thou seek to inquire into the 
 state of others, while thou neglect- 
 est thyself in many things ? 
 
 Hearken then unto me ; it is the 
 heart the most humble, and the 
 most willing to suffer for the sake 
 of God, that enjoys the most abun- 
 dant peace. 
 
 To such ti one no burthen is 
 
 * Ps. \xxv. 3. 
 
 O O
 
 o ■ 
 
 142 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 heavy, for lie hatli God himsoJi in 
 his heart. 
 
 Blessed are they that conv^erse 
 with God in prayer, — in medita- 
 tion, — hy sacred songs, — by read- 
 ing ; and who keep silence on the 
 vanities of the passing world. 
 
 Wherever thou art, wheresoever 
 thou goest,. whithersoever thou fli- 
 est, thy thoughts still accompany 
 thee ; but pious meditation brings 
 joy to the soul, while evil thoughts 
 afflict it. 
 
 Anger brings forth trouble, and 
 envy blinds the soul ; but hatred 
 kills it. 
 
 Devout reading instructs ; prayer 
 enflames ; but good works are the 
 fulfilment of the law. 
 
 2. Holy words purify the heart ; 
 frivolous words defile it; idle words 
 scandalize it ; bitter words sadden 
 it ; words of mercy soothe dis- 
 quietude ; moral conversation edi- 
 O O
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 143 
 
 fies the heart ; learned or dog- 
 matic entertainments strengthen 
 the faith, and heavenl}^ words ele- 
 vate it to the throne of the Divinity. 
 
 Cleanse then thy heart from all 
 malice, if thou wouldst enjoy sweet 
 peace. 
 
 There is no sweet peace but 
 what comes from God, and dwells 
 in the virtuous soul, which performs 
 all things well for the sake of God, 
 whom it loves. 
 
 Abide in silence, and endure a 
 little for the sake of God ; and He 
 himself will free thee from every 
 burthen, and from all disquietude. 
 
 A holy life and a pure conscience 
 beget confidence in God in tribula- 
 tion and death ; but an evil con- 
 science is always in fear, always 
 at war, — tormented by remorse. 
 
 The angry man falls quigkly 
 from one evil into a worse ; but 
 the patient and the meek makes a 
 O O
 
 O Q 
 
 144 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 friend of his enemy, and God will 
 be propitious to him, for that he 
 hath shewn mercy unto him who 
 offended him. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 ON RECOLLECTION OF THE HEART 
 WITH GOD. 
 
 " Quis nan colligit mecum, spar- 
 
 git.''* 
 
 " He who gathcrnth not with mpy 
 scattcrcth,^^ — saith our Lord Jesvs 
 Christ. 
 
 1. When through the multiplied 
 temptations of the evil one, the bit- 
 ter passions of thy own heart, or 
 annoyances from thy fellow-men, 
 thou shalt have fallen into luke- 
 
 * Matt. xii. 30. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 145 
 
 warmness, dissipation or distrac- 
 tion of mind, retire into solitude, 
 and there prostrate and alone at 
 the foot of the Holy Cross, or be- 
 fore the image of the blessed Vir- 
 gin Mary or any other picture con- 
 secrated either to the honour of 
 God, or the memory of His saints, 
 use thy endeavour to calm and 
 gather up thy soul by reciting the 
 Lord's Prayer, and the Angelical 
 Salutation. 
 
 Invoke especially Jesus and 
 Mary, beseech the holy angels, 
 and all the heavenly court, to ob- 
 tain a return of the graces and con- 
 solations of which thou hast been 
 deprived, and say with holy Da- 
 vid, " Lord, all my desire is before 
 Thee, and my groaning is not hid- 
 den from thee."* Lord, from my 
 youth I have put my hope in Thee ; 
 unto Thee I fly in my tribulation. 
 
 * Ps. xxxvii. 10. 
 
 o o
 
 o o 
 
 146 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 A DEVOUT PRAYER. 
 
 Teach me, O Lord, ever to follow 
 Thy commandments, to do Thy will, 
 and to renounce my own ; for this is 
 well-pleasing to Thee and indispens- 
 ably necessary to the safety of my 
 soul. 
 
 O Lord, may T never think, nor 
 desire, nor do any thing displeasing 
 to Thee, or injurious to my neigh- 
 hour : — never act contrary to what 
 Thou hast commanded me, or Thy 
 devout and faithful servants. 
 
 Jfl transgress, correct me in Thy 
 mercy, and destroy me not in Thy 
 wrath. 
 
 Because thou art my God, and I 
 am Thy servant — ever poor — ever 
 weak, and ever most needy of Thy 
 grace and mercy in all things. 
 
 Blessed he Thy holy name above 
 all, now and for ever more ! Amen. 
 
 6 G
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 147 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 ON WATCHING AND PRAYER 
 AGAINST TEMPTATIONS. 
 
 o- 
 
 " Vigilate et orate ut non intretis 
 in tentationemy* 
 
 " Watch and pray that you enter 
 nut into tirmptation^ — either of the 
 Jlesh, or the spirit, of the world or 
 the devil. 
 
 1. The flesh excites us to concu- 
 piscence, the spirit to pride, the 
 world to vanity, the devil to envy : 
 but Christ hath taught us quite the 
 contrary. He exhorts us to prac- 
 tice chastity, humility, charity, and 
 contempt for the world ; if we 
 would avoid the pains of hell and 
 deserve the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 To this end we must watch and 
 
 * Mars. xiv. 38.
 
 o o 
 
 148 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 pray, at all times and in every- 
 place ; for no part is secure against 
 the attacks of our malignant enemy 
 who sleeps not, nor rests from his 
 temptations, •' who continually goes 
 about seeking whom he may de- 
 vour,"* — whom he may cast into 
 trouble and discouragement, and 
 whom he may inspire with dis- 
 gust for prayer, or other spiritual 
 exercises. 
 
 2. It is for this reason that our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, knowing the 
 malice of the evil one, the efficacy 
 of prayer, the strength of the ene- 
 my, and the weakness of man, ad- 
 monishes, in the most earnest man- 
 ner, His disciples, and all the laith- 
 ful, to watch and pray, if they 
 would not be overcome by their en- 
 emies, — that is, their vices. 
 
 Watch ye then and pray, that 
 ye enter not into the temptations 
 
 * 1 Pot. V. 8. 
 O V
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 149 
 
 of the devil, nor consent unto 
 him. 
 
 If thou art unable to recite the 
 whole psalter or other long prayers, 
 recite a psalm, a verse, a devout 
 hymn in honour of Jesus, of Mary, 
 or of some of the blessed saints, 
 that thou mayest raise up thy soul 
 to God, by the groanings of thy 
 heart or the holy words thy mouth 
 may utter. 
 
 For God is nigh unto all them 
 that call upon Him with humility ; 
 and " the prayer of him that hum- 
 bleth himself shall pierce the 
 clouds,"* — shall fill the soul with 
 trust in God, and thwart the 
 schemes, the efforts, the threats, 
 and the vanities of the devil. 
 
 3. If the presence of men keep 
 thee from prayer, " Enter," accord- 
 ing to the counsel of Jesus Christ, 
 " into thy chamber, and having 
 
 * Eccles. XXXV. 21. 
 
 o o
 
 ) Q 
 
 150 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 shut the door, pray to thy Father in 
 secret,"* who already knoweth the 
 thoughts and desires of thy heart, 
 and of what thou hast need. 
 
 Say unto Him, then, every time 
 thou wik address Him in prayer, — 
 " Father ! Thy will be ever done, 
 and not mine ; grant me nothing 
 but what may be conformable to 
 Thy glory, and the good of my 
 soul.'- 
 
 When thou art in choir with thy 
 brethren, or in church with the 
 faithful, read and sing with a re- 
 collection like that of the angels 
 before the throne of God. 
 
 Sing in such a manner that thy 
 heart may be inwardly penetrated 
 with compunction, and that thou 
 mayest please men without dis- 
 pleasing God and His holy angels ; 
 for God prefers compunction of 
 heart, to a loud or tuneful voice. 
 
 - Matt. vi. 6. 
 
 o-
 
 O ■ ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. lol 
 
 God is appeased by humble pray- 
 er, but offended by vain glory. 
 
 The groanings of a contrite heart 
 draw down the grace of God, and 
 impart strength to virtue ; but the 
 song of a wandering heart quench- 
 es devotion : for all such faults 
 and negligences we must give a 
 strict account. 
 
 May the divine mercy keep us 
 from all such offences, and lead us 
 to the kingdom of heaven ! Amen. 
 
 -O
 
 O ( 
 
 152 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 ON THE FEAR OF ETERNAL PUNISH- 
 MENT, AS A PRESERVATIVE AGAINST 
 THE VICES OF THE FLESH AND 
 PRIDE OF SPIRIT. 
 
 " Confge tirnore tuo carries 
 meas. 
 
 " Pierce thou my jlesh with thy 
 fearr 
 
 1 . Such a prayer is good to re- 
 press the evil incUriations of the 
 flesh, and humble the pride of the 
 spirit ; because these two enemies 
 fight against man and harass him 
 daily : for either the flesh torments 
 him by its irregular appetites, or 
 the spirit seeks the praise of men : 
 — applying its own good works to 
 the gratification of vanity. 
 
 * Ps. cxviii. 120 
 
 o o
 
 I o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 153 
 
 Both of these enemies are great 
 evils, and from either side there is 
 imminent peril. 
 
 When thou art drawn to evil, by 
 that miserable tlesh, so shortly 
 doomed to be the prey of death, 
 think of the torments of eternal tire. 
 Thns shalt thou extinguish the fires 
 of concupiscence, by thinking on 
 those of hell : for it is happily or- 
 dered that impressions more fee- 
 ble should disappear before those 
 which are stronger, that the soul 
 may be saved " so as by fire."* 
 
 Short is the duration of all car- 
 nal pleasure : — beauty of body, glo- 
 ry, honours, — all the enjoyments of 
 this world, are vain and deceitful. 
 
 As a violent headache forces 
 complaints and groans, even from 
 the thoughtless and the negligent, 
 so the fear of death, and the dread 
 of the punishment of hell, cause 
 
 * 1 Cor. iii. 15. 
 
 => ^I ^
 
 o o 
 
 154 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 the man subject to his passions, to 
 resist temptation, and abstain from 
 sin. 
 
 2. He that is without fear, shall 
 quickly fall into evil : and he that 
 refuses to humble himself, in the 
 presence of God and His saints, 
 shall be confounded by devils in 
 the day of judgment, and cruelly 
 tormented by them for ever. 
 
 Listen to an irrevocable decree, 
 applicable to every creature, — to 
 angels as well as to men : — " God 
 resisteth the proud, and givelh 
 grace to the humble."* 
 
 But the mercy of the Lord is 
 with His saints and elect, from 
 eternity unto eternity. 
 
 Tremble, then, proud man, at the 
 judgment of God in all thy actions, 
 and cease to glory in the vanity of 
 a passing reputation. 
 
 When thou hast done all that 
 
 * Jas. iv. 6. 
 
 O G
 
 o ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 155 
 
 thou canst, and all that thou oughtst 
 to have done, there yet remain 
 many things, and scarcely couldst 
 thou restore one for a thousand. 
 
 Tremble then at the rod and staff 
 of God's vengeance — tremble on 
 account of the judgment to come. 
 
 Every virtue shall be rewarded, 
 but every bad action shall be pun- 
 ished. 
 
 If fire were to break out in thy 
 dwelling, wouldst thou not fear ? — 
 wouldst thou not rise on the in- 
 stant and fly ? Such is the effect 
 that ought to be produced in thy 
 soul by the fear, and dread and 
 thoughts of the pains to come, 
 which shall never end ; and who- 
 ever entertains in his heart a lively 
 horror — a salutary dread — of the 
 punishments of hell, shall thereby 
 overcome lukewarmness, and re- 
 kindle his fervour. 
 
 C O
 
 O (J 
 
 156 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 ON THE MEMORY OF OUR LORDS 
 
 PASSION, AS A REMEDY AGAINST 
 
 DISSIPATION OR DISTRACTION 
 
 OF MIND. 
 
 " Beati qui lugent, quoniam ipsi 
 consolabuntur.^^'* 
 
 " Blessed are those who weep, for 
 they shall be cum for ted.'''' 
 
 1 . By whom shall they be com- 
 forted? most surely by Christ— in 
 the secret of the heart, and not by 
 the world with its vain consola- 
 tions and idle frivolities. 
 
 Light and trifling discourses, 
 pleasant jests, and frequent laugh- 
 ter, have no agreement with the 
 sacred passion and bitter sufferings 
 of Christ 
 
 * Matt. V. 3. 
 
 C) o
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 157 
 
 Were my head or my back 
 wounded, even by one of those 
 sharp thorns which formed the 
 crown of Jesus Christ, would I 
 laugh and be merry? no, surely, 
 but rather weep and cry aloud 
 through pain. 
 
 Were my foot pierced by one of 
 the nails which fastened Jesus to 
 the cross, whither could I go, or 
 whither could I run ? Doubtless 
 I could neither go nor run any- 
 where : I would lay me down in 
 sorrow, and learn by the experience 
 of pain, to mourn over the suffer- 
 ings of my divine Saviour. 
 
 Happy should I be, if the abun- 
 dance and bitterness of my tears 
 could then efface my sins. 
 
 Oh ! how holy is the grief we 
 feel, and how sweet the tears we 
 shed, when we weep over the sa- 
 cred wounds of our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ ! 
 ) O
 
 o o 
 
 158 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 2. Whenever, then, thou art in 
 distress, or assailed by any tempta- 
 tion, or on the point of yielding to 
 some concealed weakness, arm 
 thyself forthwith with the shield of 
 prayer, and the standard of the 
 Holy Crpss ; take refuge in ihe sa- 
 cred wounds of Christ, and there 
 in the fervour of prayer, and in se- 
 rious meditation on His passion, 
 find a salutary remedy for all the 
 wants of thy soul. 
 
 Consider well the ponderous, 
 high, and heavy. cross, on which 
 Jesus Christ hung naked ; — fas- 
 tened and transpierced with nails ) 
 for the love of thee. 
 
 Behold his crown ; — count there 
 the numerous thorns, which pierced 
 so sadly his sacred head, and be- 
 dewed it abundantly with his sa- 
 cred blood. 
 
 Place these, as well as the other 
 instruments used in the passion of 
 O O
 
 c c 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 159 
 
 Jesus Christ, beside thee as a 
 safeguard by day and night : lest 
 thy malignant enemy, the devil, 
 finding thy mind stripped of these 
 sacred representations, enter in and 
 pollute thy heart with vain thoughts 
 and danoerous suo-o-estions. 
 
 3. Let not therefore thy bed be 
 aid in softness : — in memory of 
 he holy nativity of our Lord Jesus 
 y 'hrist, think of that crib, poor and 
 r, irrow but replete with all virtues, 
 where Jesus was born, and where 
 Were heard His infant cries. He 
 had no ornament for His cradle but a 
 little straw, and no nourishment but 
 a little milk from His Virgin Mother. 
 Let the hardness and poverty of 
 thy couch, recal in some sort, the 
 hard and stony sepulchre of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ ; crucified for 
 thy sake, truly dead and buried in 
 the bosom of the earth, and cover- 
 ed with a great stone. 
 O
 
 c o 
 
 160 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 There then, seek repose, in the 
 peace of the Lord, forgetting the 
 world and all its vanities ; despi- 
 sing all that is reckoned great and 
 pleasing in the eyes of men ; that 
 rising with Him from thy slumber 
 thou mayest come forth refreshed 
 in virtue and grace, and at the last 
 day be raised again to share in the 
 eternal glory of the elect. Amen. 
 
 O O
 
 O : O 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 161 
 
 CHAP. XIII 
 
 ox THE INVOCATION OF THE HOLT 
 
 NAME OF JESUS, AND OF THE 
 
 BLESSED MARY, HIS 
 
 VIRGIN MOTHER. 
 
 " Dirige, Domine, Deus mens, in 
 conspectu tuo viam meamy* 
 
 '• O Lord, my God, direct my way 
 in thy sight.''^ 
 
 1. Thy ways, O Lord Jesus 
 Christ, are beautiful and pure ; and 
 to those that walk therein, thy 
 paths are safe, and right, and per- 
 fect. 
 
 All thy paths are peaceful and 
 holy, and lead the faithful and hum- 
 ble of heart, to the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Wherever thou mayest go, or 
 
 * Ps. V. 0. 
 
 -O
 
 162 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 mayest direct thy steps, wherever 
 thou shalt rest or sojourn, chII upon 
 Jesus, call upon Mary, His holy 
 Mother : vvith confidence repeat 
 these words of the psalmist, as the 
 guide of thy way ; " Direct, O 
 Lord, my way in thy sight :" then 
 add the following, — " Perfect thou 
 my goings," O Jesus, " in Thy 
 paths, that my footsteps be not 
 moved," to behold vanity, or to 
 wound my soul, by words of 
 idleness. 
 
 2. Next let this comfortable 
 prayer be for thy life's viaticum, — 
 a provision for thy journey ; — let it 
 be as a staff for thy firm support ; — 
 say it often, say it devoutly : — 
 
 " Jesus and Mary, be ever toilh 
 me in the way, as my good guards 
 at all times and. in every place, lest 
 I wander in bye-paths; lest rnxj 
 senses or my heart he seduced by the 
 many illusions within and without.'''' 
 
 o — o
 
 o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 163 
 
 This holy prayer. " Jesus and 
 Mary," is short, easily remember- 
 ed, and carried about without in- 
 convenience ; it is sweet and plea- 
 sing to the mind ; the poor pilgrim 
 who flies from the vanities of the 
 world, will find in it the consola- 
 tion, strength, and protection which 
 he is in need of, to hold on his 
 course in safety ; it will refresh the 
 fatigue of the journey, and calm the 
 disquietude of his soul ; it w411 fill 
 him with comfort, and aid him 
 mightily in resisting the obstacles 
 which he may meet with ; and it 
 will help to lead him by a path di- 
 rect to life eternal. 
 
 This holy prayer is addressed to 
 surer companions, and a more pow- 
 erful escort, than all the kings and 
 princes of this world, and to higher 
 saints than all the saints in heaven 
 or on earth. 
 
 This praver spoken fervently 
 ) ^O
 
 o o 
 
 164 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 will aid in procuring the favour of 
 all the court of heaven ; who with 
 all reverence, ever follow Jesus 
 Christ their Lord, and Mary, their 
 holy lady, the blessed mother of 
 Jesus, most w'orthy of all praise, 
 and of the homage and benediction 
 of all created things. 
 
 He that has these for his com- 
 panions in his earthly pilgrimage, 
 shall find in them devoted and 
 zealous patrons in the hour of death. 
 
 Never depart from Jesus and 
 Mary on earth, if thou wouldst live 
 and rejoice with Jesus and Mary 
 for ever in heaven. 
 
 Thy steps will be more secure, 
 with less fear of wandering, if 
 thou hast Jesus and Mary in thy 
 heart ; if they be the object of thy 
 praise, thy benediction, thy ap- 
 plause, thy transports, thy cries of 
 delight, the joy of thy heart, thy 
 tears and sighs, thy aim, thy em- 
 
 o o
 
 I o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 165 
 
 braces, thy regards, and thy ado- 
 ration. 
 
 3. Blessed are those who call 
 on Jesus and Mary continually, — 
 who salute them devoutly, — who 
 recall them lovingly to their mem- 
 ory, — who honour them above all, — 
 who sing their praise with lively 
 joy, — who glorify them to the ut- 
 most height, — who love them ar- 
 dently, — who make their love the 
 delight of their souls, — and who 
 deem it happiness to sing and cele- 
 brate their names for ever. 
 
 Oh, how sweet is Jesus ! how 
 sweet is holy Mary, his beloved 
 mother ! 
 
 Blessed is the pilgrim, who 
 in the time of his exile, is ever 
 mindful of the celestial country ; 
 where Jesus and Mary are sur- 
 rounded by angels and saints in joy 
 ineffable and glory without end. 
 
 Blessed is the pilgrim who seeks 
 U O
 
 o ( 
 
 166 VALLEV OF LILIES. 
 
 no dwelling-place on earth, who 
 desires " to be dissolved and to be 
 with Christ in heaven." 
 
 Blessed is the poor and needy, 
 who every day beg^eth the bread 
 of heaven, and who ceases not to 
 stretch forth his suppliant hands, 
 till he receives the crinnbs which 
 fall from the table of his Lord. 
 
 Blessed is he that is invited to 
 the Supper of the Lamb, who here 
 below receives the sacrament of 
 His love and waits in patience un- 
 til called to sit down to the ban- 
 quet in heaven. 
 
 4. Because, as often as a per- 
 son receives the communion de- 
 voutly, or as often as the priest 
 reverently and devoutly offers to 
 the honour of God the holy sacri- 
 fice ; so often does he sit at the ta- 
 ble with Jesus, and His blessed 
 Mother, to eat and drink spiritually 
 with them. 
 
 c o
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 167 
 
 Such a one is the disciple of 
 Jesus, the minister of the blessed 
 Virgin Mary, the companion of the 
 angels, the fellow-citizen of the 
 Apostles, the servant of God, is 
 nearly allied to the saints, and the 
 intimate friend of Heaven, 
 
 He flies the tumult of the world; 
 he turns away from idle talk ; he 
 meditates on the words of Jesus, 
 and watches carefully over his 
 heart and affections, that no thought 
 may enter there to offend Jesus, or 
 Mary, or the saints. 
 
 " He shall receive a blessing 
 from the Lord, and mercy from 
 God his Saviour."* Whensoever 
 he shall call upon Him, He shall 
 hear him from His holy heaven — 
 wheresoever he may be, and what- 
 soever danger may oppress him. 
 
 For the disciples were on the 
 sea, in danger of sinking, and they 
 
 * Ps. xxiii. 5 
 
 o-
 
 o o 
 
 168 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 called on Jesus, and Jesus ap- 
 peared forthwith, and said to them. 
 " Why are ye fearful ?"* " Be of 
 good heart, it is I. fear ye not."t 
 
 The voice of Jesus is a voice 
 full of sweetness to bring consola- 
 tion ; of power to protect ; of joy 
 to make the soul glad ; of indul- 
 gence to pardon, and of grace to 
 lead to life eternal. 
 
 * John vi. 20. t Matt. xiv. 27. 
 
 o o
 
 O ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 169 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 ox THE NECESSITY OF STRUGGLIXG 
 
 MANFULLY AGAINST VICE, AFTER 
 
 THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAINTS. 
 
 ^^Viriliter agile, et confortetur cor 
 vestrurny* 
 
 " Do ye monfiilhj^ and let your 
 heart be strengthened. '''' 
 
 i . As the passion and cross of 
 Jesus, and the sufferings of the 
 martyrs, teach lis to bear the pains 
 and crosses of this life ; so the pu- 
 rity of the blessed Virgin Mary, 
 the chastity of the holy virgins, 
 widows and saints of God, show 
 how we may overcome temptations 
 of the flesh, despise the riches, fly 
 the honours, and renounce all the 
 vanities of the world, to iiive our- 
 
 C> 
 
 Ps. XXX. 25.
 
 o o 
 
 170 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 selves up entirely to the love and 
 pursuit of heavenly things. 
 
 O servant of God, walk in the 
 foot-steps of those courageous 
 souls, who have given thee the ex- 
 ample of invincible patience : — like 
 them, resist the devil and all his 
 temptations. 
 
 Consider the unshaken constan- 
 cy of weak and delicate virgins, 
 and learn from them to despise and 
 cast from thee with contempt, all 
 sensual pleasures, and every other 
 vice. 
 
 If God in His mercy has grant- 
 ed thee temporal riches, — thou, 
 who art nothing, — use not these to 
 satiate vanity, — fix not on them thy 
 foolish heart ; for thou knowest 
 not how soon thou mayest be taken 
 away from them, nor how long thou 
 mayest enjoy them. 
 
 Ask not long life ; — seek rather 
 for a good and pious one ; — for 
 , o
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 171 
 
 the witness of a good conscience 
 is better than all the treasures of 
 this world : — because the greater 
 thy riches on earth, the more rigo- 
 rous the account to be rendered in 
 heaven. 
 
 2. Ah ! how deceitful is the fa- 
 vour of this world ! how short its 
 glory ! for after the enjoyment of 
 its riches, its honours, its dignities, 
 and its delights, come the tears and 
 groans, and dreadful punishments 
 of hell, whence, alas ! there is no 
 redemption. 
 
 But oh ! how great is the happi- 
 ness of the elect ! they are with 
 God, with His angels and saints ; 
 inebriated with a happiness which 
 comprehends all joys and shall 
 never end. 
 
 Happy men and wise virgins ! 
 oh ! how happy ye ! — who have re- 
 nounced all for the love of Christ, 
 anxiously endeavouring to walk in 
 
 o o
 
 O ( 
 
 172 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 the narrow path that leads to the 
 eternal kingdom. 
 
 3. Learn then, faithful and de- 
 vout servants of Jesus Christ, that 
 during this life, ye must watch, and 
 pray, and fast, and labour, and fight 
 against the divers temptations of 
 the fiesh and the spirit. 
 
 The flesh must be mortified, lest 
 it rise and kist against the spirit ; — 
 lest it seduce the soul and prevail- 
 ing over it, draw it down to hell. 
 
 To what purpose is the body 
 pampered delicately in this world, 
 if when it quits this passing life, it 
 must endure hell's fearful torments. 
 
 And what boots it to be praised 
 and honoured by men here on 
 earth, and so soon afterwards to be 
 humbled and condemned to dwell 
 eternally with the spirit of dark- 
 ness, and the impious sons of the 
 evil one "^ 
 
 To enjoy the reputation of a 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 173 
 
 great and learned man in this 
 world, and not be counted in the 
 number of the elect, is a subject of 
 shame and confusion in the eyes of 
 God and His saints : but to suffer 
 for Christ, and to be despised by 
 the wicked for His sake, is high 
 honour, praise, and glory supreme 
 with God and all His saints. 
 
 Hence the words of consolation 
 which Jesus Christ addresses to 
 His disciples, and to all who suffer 
 injury or distress for His sake : — 
 " Blessed are ye when they shall 
 revile you, and persecute you, and 
 speak all that is evil against you 
 for My sake ; be glad and rejoice, 
 for your reward is very great in 
 heaven."* 
 
 * Matt. V. 11-12
 
 o — c 
 
 174 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 ox THE LOVE OF RETIREMENT AND 
 HOLY PERSEVERANCE. 
 
 o- 
 
 " Stabiles estate — m opere Dom- 
 ini semper. ^^^ 
 
 " Be ye steadfast — in the work 
 of the Lord always.'''' 
 
 1 . Answer me, my dear brother, 
 what advantage, dost thou find to- 
 wards thy sanctification by hurrying 
 hither and thither, — by hearinjj and 
 seeing many and various things, 
 which of a certainty, tend to ex- 
 clude from the kingdom of heaven ? 
 
 Blessed is he that lives in retire- 
 ment and recollection, who enters 
 into himself, who keeps a strict 
 watch over his heart and body, and 
 who asks pardon of God with sighs 
 
 * 1 Cor. XV. 58.
 
 ( o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 175 
 
 and tears for his frequent distrac- 
 tions. 
 
 Woe to you, who so often and 
 so heedlessly mix in the vain bus- 
 tle of the world, who shun soli- 
 tude, who waste unprolitably a 
 portion of your precious time, and 
 who thereby cause scandal to 
 others. 
 
 Inward peace is laid up abun- 
 dantly for him who loveth soli- 
 tude ; — who gives his heart in se- 
 cret to God, — who prays frequent- 
 ly, — who is employed in useful oc- 
 cupations, — who feeds his soul 
 with Sacred Scriptures and other 
 holy studies, and meditates with 
 ardent affection, on the truths of sal- 
 vation. 
 
 2. The idler an-d the babbler de- 
 serve severe reproof, and their fel- 
 lowship must be shunned, lest they 
 corrupt the simple by the frivolity 
 of their discourse ; or, b\'' the ir- 
 
 o o
 
 176 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 regularity of their manners, bring 
 trouble and scandal into the souls 
 of the httle ones. 
 
 Oh ! brother, oh ! thou whose 
 heart is dissipated and fond of idle 
 jests, dread the pains of purgatory ; 
 where, for every act of trifling, 
 every idle word or evil thought, 
 thou must be punished by bitter 
 stripes from infernal tormentors. 
 
 It is much better then to live 
 here in fear and trembling, in pen- 
 ance and tears than to share the 
 lot of the reprobate hereafter, and 
 to be tormented together with 
 them, by devils for all eternity. 
 
 There is surely no joy nor mirth 
 in the fire of hell, whence none 
 can ever draw thee out. 
 
 3. He that would reflect often on 
 these truths, and seriously meditate 
 thereon, would soon conceive a dis- 
 gust for all worldly vanities, and 
 abhor all sensual desires : that so
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 177 
 
 he miglit avoid eternal punishment, 
 and after death obtain eternal hap- 
 piness. 
 
 But woe unto those on earth, 
 and heavier woe to come, on those 
 who are but lightly moved by the 
 thought of the divine judgments, 
 and by the fear of sufferings which 
 their body has not yet experienced. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 ox DIVINE CONSOLATION IN TRIB- 
 ULATION FOR Christ's sake. 
 
 " In mundo pressuram hahebitis ; 
 sed confidite. Ego vici miiTidum.^^* 
 
 " In the world you shall have dis- 
 tress ; but haoe confidence^ I have 
 overcome the world.^^ 
 
 1 ." It is a comfort to have a com- 
 panion in misery," saith the pro- 
 
 * Joan. xvi. 33. 
 
 o o
 
 o c 
 
 178 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 verb. But who is that friend so 
 affectionate and so good, who 
 shares our miseries and sympa- 
 thizes in our infirmities ? That 
 friend is Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 who suffered and was crucified for 
 us ; and who, in the gospel, calls 
 Himself the physician and shep- 
 herd of our souls, the comforter of 
 the poor, the weak and the afflict- 
 ed ; the physician of the sick, and 
 the stay of those that fall : — for 
 " they that are well," says He, 
 " have no need of a physician, but 
 they that are sick."* And in like 
 manner David speaks of Him, 
 when he addresses these words of 
 comfort to afflicted souls, '• the 
 Lord is nigh unto them that are of 
 a contrite heart ;"t and in another 
 Psalm, to give confidence to his 
 servant, proved by temptations and 
 tribulations, God himself says, 
 
 * Mark ii. 17. t Ps. xxxiii. 19. 
 
 o o
 
 o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 179 
 
 •' I am with him in tribulation, I 
 will deliver him, and I will glorify 
 him."* 
 
 Truly there is mrch. comfort and 
 consolation to all tb'it are sad or af- 
 flicted with many calamities; where 
 as Christ wav Himself tempted 
 and afflicted a'^d stricken with 
 many sorro'x^f.. lor our sake. 
 
 2. God, v/h.o is sovereignly good 
 and jus* in ail His ways, would 
 not serd r.ains and tribulations in 
 this 'if':; ]t they were not useful 
 and s^Jutary to our souls. 
 
 Js\)i\ who art thou, sinner, who 
 art ihou, loaded with many sins ? — 
 who art thou who wilt dare, in af- 
 fliction, to wince under the hand 
 of Him who spared not His own 
 : Son ? — for it is meet and just that 
 the guilty and unprofitable servant 
 should bear without murmuring the 
 light corrections which his master 
 
 * Ps. xc. 15. 
 
 O
 
 ' '■ o 
 
 180 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 inflicts on him ; since His well-be- 
 loved Son, — and He all innocence, 
 was wounded with so many stripes. 
 
 It is meet and just that a sick 
 man, anxious to recover his health, 
 should sip some drops from the 
 bitter chalice, which already his 
 physician — who required no such 
 remedy — had drained before him, 
 to neutralize the mortal poison, with 
 which, humanity had been so deep- 
 ly infected, and to cure perfectly 
 and free from eternal death, erring 
 man, whom sin had deprived of life 
 spiritual, as well as corporal. 
 
 The heavy burthen of the ser- 
 vant should be much alleviated by 
 the remembrance of the heavier 
 burthen of sorrows that his inno- 
 cent master has borne ; and the 
 sick should be much comforted in 
 his sufferinns, when he reflects 
 that these, if borne with resigna- 
 tion, shall serve to cleanse him 
 
 O-
 
 D ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 181 
 
 frum sins, and to assure his hope 
 ot life eternal. 
 
 3. It is, indeed, great and glori- 
 ous for a poor slave to be clothed 
 with the same cloth as his master ; 
 and to wear, as son and heir, the 
 royal purple, that will give a title 
 to assist at the eternal spousals of 
 the Lamb. 
 
 The cloth with which Jesus is 
 clothed, is humility of heart, self- 
 denial, the privation of necessary- 
 things, patience in adversity, and 
 perseverance in virtue. 
 
 He that receives with gratitude 
 the chastisements which God in- 
 flicts on him, finds in his sorrows, 
 the safety of his soul, and shall re- 
 ceive in heaven a fairer crown of 
 glory. 
 
 " Blessed is he that understand- 
 eth, concerning the needy and the 
 poor,"* Jesus, who though richer 
 
 * Ps. xl. 1-2. 
 
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 o o 
 
 182 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 than all, willed, for the love of us, 
 to become needy and poor. Bles- 
 sed is he, thac despising the riches 
 and ease of this lite, walks wisely 
 in His footsteps, and takes up His 
 cross daily to the hour of his death 
 for the siiidty of his soul. 
 
 CHAP. XVH. 
 
 ON WATCHING OVER THE CON- 
 SCIENCE, IN EVERY PLACE 
 AND AT ALL TIMES. 
 
 ^^ Anima mea in manibus meis 
 semper^* / 
 
 " My soul is continvally in my 
 hands}' 
 
 1 . Nothing is more useful or more 
 salutary for one desirous of attain- 
 
 * Ps. cxviii. 109. 
 
 -o
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 183 
 
 ing eternal life, than to meditate 
 continually on the salvation of his 
 soul. 
 
 Open every book of piety — run 
 through all the treatises on the 
 spiritual life, the soul will find no 
 salvation but in God, and in a vir- 
 tuous life. 
 
 Hence the Lord and Redeemer 
 of souls said to His disciples, 
 " What doth it profit a man, if he 
 gain the whole world and sulfer the 
 loss of his own soul ?"* 
 
 He that meditates often on these 
 words, and who is more seriously 
 concerned for the welfare of his 
 soul than for the increase of his for- 
 tune, or for the entertainment of 
 his body, is a merchant truly wise ;t 
 for he prefers spiritual riches, 
 which perish not, to the perishable 
 goods of earth. 
 
 He is one of those good and 
 
 - Matt. xvi. 26. t Matt. xiii. 45. 
 
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 184 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 faithful servants of Christ, who 
 makes his two talents four, his five 
 ten : and who on receiving only 
 one, instead of hiding it in the 
 earth, laying it apart, throwing it 
 away, or treating it with contempt, 
 distributes it to the poor, that he 
 may have part in their prayers ; or 
 offers it at the akarof God, return- 
 ing thanks to the Lord, for the 
 smallest benefits received,* 
 
 Blessed is the good servant who 
 is faithful in a little,! who employs 
 every moment of his life in a use- 
 ful manner ; who is not busied in 
 what concerns him not, and who, 
 to please God, becomes like one 
 that is deaf and dumb. He walks 
 in peace through the tumult of the 
 world, "having his soul continually 
 in his hands." 
 
 Take no thought then of the con- 
 duct of thy neighbour, but in as far 
 
 * Matt. XXV. 14, \b,et infra. t Luke xix. 17. 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 185 
 
 as the love of God and charity may 
 require. 
 
 2. Covet not the praises of 
 men, for they are vain. Be not 
 afraid of their reproach; for, far 
 from hurting thy soul, humiliations 
 purify, and make it worthy to re- 
 ceive in heaven a more brilliant 
 crown ; and none deserve to be 
 glorified in the kingdom of heaven 
 who cannot endure reproach for the 
 love of God on earth. 
 
 A meditaYiox and prayer. 
 
 Since then thou hast suffered 
 for the love of me, O my God, it is 
 but fitting that I should suffer for 
 the love of Thee ; and that I should 
 walk in Thy footsteps as far as I 
 am able. 
 
 Thou h^^st said to St. Peter, 
 " Follow thou Me,"* but alas ! how 
 little i;an I bear for Thee ! 
 
 * John. xxi. 22. I 
 
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 o ■ o 
 
 186 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 I make many resolutions, but 
 scarcely one in ten, do I execute : 
 my words are many, but my works 
 are few ; all blame is mine ; there is 
 no excuse ; idleness and indiffer- 
 ence increase each day the number 
 ofmysins. What should I think or 
 say on these offences ? alas ! nought 
 remains but to entreat thy mercy , 
 and to cry, " Lord, I have sinned, 
 have mercy upon me." 
 
 Thus were led all the saints that 
 have gone before us ; such are the 
 lessons they have left us ; such, 
 each day, is still the conduct of all 
 thy faithful. 
 
 Oh all ye saints and friends of 
 God, pray for me ; for I am weak 
 and indigent, and I humbly im- 
 plore the assistance of all. 
 
 THE PRAYER OF THE POOR. 
 
 O Thou Holy of holies^ O Lord 
 my God, incline Thine ear to the 
 
 •O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 187 
 
 -prayer of Thy poor serv^mit ; " Help 
 me, and I shafl he saved, and I will 
 meditate always on thy justifica- 
 tions:'* 
 
 Oh that ] may deserve to he one of 
 the least of Thy servants, in the 
 kingdom which Thou hast prepared 
 for those who are humhle and who 
 love Thee. 
 
 I will love Thee then, Lord, my 
 strength, with all my heart, as Thov 
 thyself, hast commanded by Thy sa- 
 cred mouth. 
 
 Thou art my hope, and my sal- 
 vation, and my desire is ever to- 
 wards Thee. 
 
 Keep me from all error, hy a clear 
 understanding ; — from all impurity 
 by a clean heart ; — from all kind of 
 doubt, hy a right faith ; — from all 
 distrust, by a steadfast hope ; — from 
 all disgust and negligence, by an ar- 
 dent charity ; — from all disquietude 
 * Ps. cxviii. 117. 
 
 ) C)
 
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 188 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 by invincible patience ; — -from all 
 unclean thoughts by holy medita- 
 tion ; — from the attacks of the devil, 
 by continual prayer ; — from fre- 
 quent distractions, by a sustained 
 attention in reading ; — from list- 
 lessTiess and drowsiness, by useful 
 occupation, — and from thinking of 
 satisfying my vices, bij the remem- 
 brance of thy holy passion. Come 
 with all these graces, O Lord, and 
 confirm me in all Thy holy words. 
 Amen 
 
 o o
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 189 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 OX SOLITUDE AND SILENCE. 
 
 " Ecce elnncravi fugiens, et mansi 
 in solitudine."* 
 
 " Lo, I have gone far f>ff, fiying 
 away, and I abode in the wilderness.'^ 
 
 1 . And Avhy ? — because of the 
 numerous advantages which will 
 come to my soul in so doing ; as 
 well as to guard and restrain my 
 heart from the various distractions 
 with which the world allures the 
 senses. 
 
 What the eye has not seen, or 
 the ear has not heard, can neither 
 excite our regret, nor trouble the 
 peace of our soul. 
 
 Solitude and silence therefore 
 
 ♦ Ps. liv. 8. 
 
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 190 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 are profitable to inward peace, and 
 dispose us for the gift of fervent 
 prayer ; and it is much more easy 
 to find solitude and silence in the 
 retirement of the closet, than in the 
 tumult of the world. 
 
 As the fish soon dies when ta- 
 ken out of the water, so a pious 
 man, who allows himself to be 
 carried away by the world, speedi- 
 ly yields to distraction and becomes 
 sullied in soul. 
 
 The wise bee abandons the 
 flower as soon as it has gathered 
 the honey, and returns with joy to 
 deposit in its hive, the provisions 
 that are to nourish it in the dearth 
 of winter ; wherefore it lays up 
 carefully in its cell the treasure of 
 its sweetness, before it resumes its 
 airy course, lest it lose the fruit of 
 its labours. For precious per- 
 fumes become more sweet by be- 
 ing put in a close vessel, but lose, 
 O (
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 191 
 
 in a little time, all their virtue 
 when exposed to the open air. 
 
 Flov/ers in like manner, long 
 preserve their beauty in the enclo- 
 sure of a garden, whose walls pro- 
 tect them, but quickly fade when 
 gathered by the hand of man. 
 
 Roses bloom freshly in the shel- 
 tered inclosure ; but wither in the 
 public way, and are trodden under 
 foot. 
 
 2. So does the pious and relig- 
 ious man lose the sweetness of de- 
 votion, when lightness or incon- 
 stancy often leads him into the tu- 
 mult of the world ; but he that 
 flies from its distraction, sheds 
 abroad from his retreat the sweet 
 odour of sanctity. 
 
 Exposed to the wind the taper 
 is extinguished, — enclosed in a 
 lanthorn it continues to burn ; so 
 is it with devotion ; it is preserved 
 most securely in the secret cham- 
 
 -C
 
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 192 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 ber, but is soon dissipated if ex- 
 posed to the agitation of worldly 
 business. 
 
 Love, then, solilude and silence, 
 if thou wouldst enjoy devotion and 
 peace of heart ; for he that would 
 move among men unhurt, must, in- 
 deed, be well covered in armour of 
 a celestial kind, — unshaken faith, 
 well grounded hope, and ardent 
 charity. 
 
 Like the blessed Virgin Mary, 
 who dwelt alone in her chamber, 
 entertaining her soul with the holy 
 angel, whom God had sent to her 
 from Heaven ; may the love of de- 
 votion keep thee in solitude and in. 
 thy closet, that to thee also may 
 come the holy angel, the messen- 
 ger of heaven, and faithful guar- 
 dian of thy soul, and that thou 
 mayest keep off the evil one, and 
 all his illusions. 
 
 A devout lover of silence hath 
 O ^O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 193 
 
 said, " It is seldom, after much oon- 
 versation with men, that my con- 
 science has not something to re- 
 proach me with : — and another, 
 •' Our words should be very edify- 
 ing, to be preferred before silence :" 
 — and a third, " That a word is in- 
 deed good when spoken in sea- 
 son :" — lastly, a fourth adds, *' He 
 that keepeth his mouth closed, 
 shall not be guilty of detraction or 
 lying." 
 
 3. With what esteem and plea- 
 sure does not one listen to the dis» 
 course of a man who permits noth- 
 ing bad, nothing vain, nothing de- 
 ceitful, nothing false to pass his lips. 
 
 Many speak much, and of many 
 things ; but never without peril, for 
 the tongue is naturally prone to evil. 
 He that cleaves to solitude, watch- 
 es over his tonsue, and prays fre- 
 quently, shall find much peace. 
 
 Esteem the o^ood man who prac- 
 
 — o
 
 O ( 
 
 194 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 tises virtue in silence ; rebuke the 
 babbler who gives himself up to idle 
 words ; but avoid the craltv dissem- 
 bler. 
 
 Fly from the tumult of the world ; 
 love a silent and retired life: imi- 
 tate the humble and devout ; bear 
 patiently with those that molest thee, 
 for the sake of Christ crucified. 
 
 4. A novice once asked an aged 
 brother which rule or statute in the 
 Ordinal was the most sure means 
 of attaining true peace and devotion, 
 the old man gave him this remark- 
 able answer : " Keep the silence 
 enjoined by thy fathers, avoid the 
 tumult of men, and shun idleness." 
 
 There are three things indispen- 
 sable in. a religious life, and are 
 moreover most pleasing to God and 
 His angels : — 
 
 1st. Manual labour, to overcome 
 sloth : — 2nd. The study and read- 
 ing of holy books, to ])revent dis- 
 O 1
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 195 
 
 relish and weariness of heart : — 
 3rd. The continual use of prayer, 
 to counteract the stratagems of the 
 devil. 
 
 The ancient fathers of a spirit- 
 ual life, taught, and the modern 
 ones repeat ^^\er them, that silence 
 and prayer draw down benedic- 
 tions from God, give to the soul 
 profound light, and dispose it to 
 meditate with much fruit on the 
 highest mysteries. 
 
 But he that lives in dissipation 
 and distraction of mind, and who 
 fosters idleness by frivolous dis- 
 course, makes himself unworthy of 
 the heavenly gifts and becomes a 
 trouble to his brethren. 
 
 The vain man cannot long keep 
 silence, for he wishes to pass for 
 wise, and to be praised above 
 others. 
 
 He that talks presumptuously is 
 deservedly blamed by many ; but 
 O O
 
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 196 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 he that keeps a modest silence ob- 
 tains the esteem of all. 
 
 He that despises himself, and 
 who thinks others better than him- 
 self, shows great humility of heart ; 
 but great is the pride of him who 
 is self-sufficient, who persists in 
 his own opinion contrary to the 
 will of God, and in opposition to all 
 his brethren. 
 
 This vice is the most dangerous 
 leprosy of all ; what God abhors and 
 often strikes with sudden death. 
 
 He that is simple and innocent, 
 and submits humbly to authority, 
 shall be always in joy, and nothing 
 shall shake his security. 
 
 Be sparing in words ; avoid friv- 
 olous conversation ; speak nothing 
 but what is profitable ; do all things 
 with modesty ; so shall thy praise 
 be great among thy brethren. 
 
 " Be moderate in all things — 
 moderation is the fairest of vir- 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 197 
 
 tues,"* and so Christhimself teach- 
 es us : " Have salt in you, and 
 peace among you."t 
 
 And the apostle St. Paul : " Let 
 your speech be always in grace, 
 seasoned with sah."| 
 
 And holy Job, when he says, 
 " Can an unsavoury thing be eaten 
 that is not seasoned with salt."-^ 
 
 5. The chaste and modest man 
 sets a continual watch over his 
 mouth and heart, and all his affec- 
 tions, that naturally incline to evil, 
 lest he fiill into sin, and offend God, 
 or his neighbour : but there is no 
 compunction in the heart of him 
 who takes pleasure in listening to 
 idle tales, and repeating them to 
 others. 
 
 He that guards not his heart and 
 sets not a watch at the gate of his 
 lips, shall lose in a very little 
 
 * Cato. t Mark ix. 49. 
 
 t Coloss. iv. 6. () Job vi 6.
 
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 198 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 while the grace of compunction ; 
 and a religious man, fond of talk- 
 ing, soon passes the bounds of 
 moderate conversation. 
 
 If thou hadst the crucified Je- 
 sus in thy heart, thy mouth would 
 not lend itself so easily to vain and 
 idle conversation ; but since thou 
 hast not Jesus steadfast in thy heart, 
 thou seekest abroad for consolations, 
 weak and illusory, and but ill-adapt- 
 ed to calm the afflictions of that 
 heart ; for Jesus alone can afford it 
 true consolation, and heal the 
 wounds which sin has made. 
 
 In a little moment, with one 
 word. He can assuage all thy infir- 
 mities ; for the grace of God is 
 more powerful for good, than the 
 influence of the evil one is sugges- 
 tive of evil. 
 
 Why dost thou lend thy ears to 
 the vain rumours of the world ; 
 which so often trouble and distract 
 O O
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 199 
 
 the heart ? Why dost thon refuse 
 to listen to the sweet instructions 
 of Christ, who day and night of- 
 fers thee consolation and strength 
 aoainst all tribulations. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 ox THE REFUGE OF THE POOR, IN 
 GOD THEIR HELPER. 
 
 " Tihi derelict US est pauper, or- 
 phann tu eris adjutor."* 
 
 " To Thee is the poor man left. 
 Thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.''^ 
 
 I . Blessed is the poor who has 
 God for his help and support in 
 tribulation ; and for his comforter in 
 suffering ; who puts all his hope 
 and trust in God, and in his last 
 
 Ps. ix. 3f). 
 
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 200 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 hour awaits from Him the crown 
 of glory in the kingdom of eternal 
 bliss. 
 
 Voluntary poverty, assumed for 
 the love of Christ, is a precious 
 virtue in the sight of God : — the 
 everlasting recompense is in heav- 
 en, under the ward of the angels ; 
 thieves cannot steal it, nor the vio- 
 lent bear it away ; nor can the 
 murderer make it his prey. 
 
 By renouncing all the pleasures 
 and gratifications of the world, the 
 servant of Christ dwells beyond 
 the circle of the dangers and cares 
 which ever surround the rich on 
 earth. 
 
 The faithful soul, who for the 
 love of Jesus Christ, and for his 
 kingdom's sake, despoils himself 
 of everything in this world, enjoys 
 true liberty, and possesses all things 
 in Jesus ; who for the love of us 
 became poor, and submitted to suf- 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 201 
 
 fering ; who was hung naked on 
 the cross, and had not where to 
 hiy his head, nor power to move 
 his hands or feet. 
 
 Who amongst us can compare 
 our nakedness or poverty with 
 HisT — assuredly no one; where- 
 fore, " His name alone is exaUed, 
 the praise of Him is above heaven 
 and earth."* 
 
 Oh * salutary poverty, thou now- 
 a-days wouldst meet nothing but 
 contempt among men, unless God 
 had been the first to submit volun- 
 tarily to thy privations ! 
 
 Ob happy poverty, — debarring 
 us from the pride of the eyes, and 
 the occasion of many sins ! 
 
 2. He is truly poor in spirit, who 
 neither from word nor deed draws 
 forth vamty, and who lest he fall 
 thereby, covets not the honours of 
 the world, 
 
 * Ps. cxlviii. 13.
 
 ; -O 
 
 202 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 O what an excellent virtue is 
 voluntary poverty, retaining noth- 
 ing to call its own ! It opens to the 
 soul the gates of heaven, it adds 
 new jewels to the crown of glory, 
 that is laid up in heaven ; it makes 
 us worthy to receive with the mar- 
 tyrs the palm of patience, after the 
 hardships and suflerings of life, 
 spent in the service of Christ. 
 
 For this is truly and faithfully to 
 labour in the service of God, when 
 for His love, we bear with want 
 and all the inconveniences which 
 follow poverty. 
 
 Blessed is he who learns how 
 to profit by his wants and infirmi- 
 ties, and who in all the privations 
 he endures, is still submissive to 
 the will of God. 
 
 Let not poverty afflict thy heart 
 when thou sufTerest want. — If men 
 mock thee, or friends desert thee, 
 give not way to wrath — but turn 
 ) O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 203 
 
 thy heart to Jesus, who became 
 poor and weak for thy sake. Take 
 comfort in God — in God alone, — if 
 thou wouldst have thy soul rejoice 
 forever; — for all consolations out of 
 Him, how great soever they seem, 
 are vain, transient, and insufficient. 
 
 3. Choose then Je-sus Christ for 
 thy only friend and brother : re- 
 nounce all to follow Him. 
 
 Avoid above all the fellowship 
 of those who would turn thee from 
 His holy service ; and who by lead- 
 ing thee again into the world, may 
 lead thee to the gates of hell. *' For 
 wide is the gate, and broad is the 
 way that leadeth to destruction," 
 saith Jesus Christ, "and many there 
 are, who go in thereat."* 
 
 From Him only canst thou find 
 the consolation required; from Him 
 who is able to give the kingdom 
 of heaven to those who for His 
 
 * Matt. vii. 13.
 
 O 
 
 204 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 sake, renounce the kingdom of 
 this world, and all its vanities ; 
 "for the world passes away, and 
 the concupiscenc-e thereof,"* like 
 smoke driven by the wind, and 
 like the flowers of the field that 
 wither away. 
 
 Do thou then, my brother, who 
 hast submitted to voluntary poverty, 
 go on courageously in thy holy en- 
 terprise ; be constant day and night 
 in the service of God, in the peace- 
 ful abode thy piety has made 
 choice of. Remember that thou 
 hast spontaneously forsaken thy 
 parents and thy friends, to unite 
 thyself wholly to God ; that *thou 
 mayest one day find them again, in 
 the kingdom of Christ, and rejoice 
 with them in the company of all the 
 saints. 
 
 Thy light afflictions and transi- 
 tory sorrows pere on earth, shall 
 
 * 1 John ii. 17. 
 
 O ' o
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 205 
 
 be recompensed in heaven by the 
 joy of eternal rest. 
 
 Reflect often on the sacred 
 wounds of Christ ; think of the 
 grievous sores of the poor Laza- 
 rus ; and it shall profit much du- 
 ring thy last agony, when at the 
 point of death thou art about to 
 pass from time to eternity. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 ox THE POOR AND SICK LAZARUS. 
 
 v-/ 
 
 " Ego sum pauper et dolens, 
 Deus adjuva we."* 
 
 ^' I om poor and sorrowful, let 
 thy salvation, God, set me ■up.'''' 
 
 1 . This is the prayer of one who 
 is poor and in suffering, whose sighs 
 continually ascend to Heaven. 
 
 * Ps. Lvviii. 30.
 
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 206 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Ye sufferino- poor, bear patiently, 
 yet a little while, your sorrows and 
 privations, whether of food or rai- 
 ment ; you shall not have long to 
 wait the hour of your deliver- 
 ance. 
 
 Give thanks to God, for it is bet- 
 ter to be afflicted now on earth, in 
 company with the poor and the 
 sick, than to be tormented hereaf- 
 ter in hell with the powerful and 
 the wealthy. 
 
 Recal to mind thy past trans- 
 gressions, whether against God or 
 thy neighbour, and bear the chas- 
 tisement which the Lord sends to 
 afflict thee, in remission of such 
 sins as thou hast not fully repented 
 of, or for which thou hast not made 
 ample satisfaction. 
 
 Comfort thy soul by the memo- 
 ry of the cruel sorrows and sacred 
 wounds of Jesus Christ. Thy di- 
 vine Saviour has endured more 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 207 
 
 bitter stripes for thee, than thou 
 canst suffer for the love of Him. 
 
 Comfort thy soul in Him, by re- 
 calling to thy memory how Laza- 
 rus, poor and covered with sores 
 in this life, was, after death, joy- 
 ously received into Abraham's bo- 
 som ; and fear the end of that rich 
 man, who fared sumptuously, but 
 who, after his feasting, was buri- 
 ed in hell, whence there was no 
 departure. 
 
 Make now thy choice — thou 
 must either endure for a short 
 while the pains and privations of 
 Lazarus, in his poverty and sick- 
 ness for the sake of joy eternal in 
 Christ, or partake in the dainties of 
 the rich man in full health, which 
 may end so shortly in sudden death 
 and instant burial in hell to burn 
 in tire for ever with the devil and 
 his angels. Few words are need- 
 ed by him that is wise. 
 O O
 
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 208 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 2. Blessed is he tluit under- 
 stands and purifies his heart from 
 all depraved allectioiis, while yet 
 in his power ; lest he be condemn- 
 ed to endure the horrible punish- 
 ments which await the impenitent 
 sinner. 
 
 For he on whom holy instruc- 
 tions make no impression, or awa- 
 ken no sentiment of penance, shall 
 be given over one day to cruel 
 torments, which he shall be con- 
 strained to endure fruitlessly and 
 without hope for all elernity. 
 
 Lazarus, poor and afflicted in this 
 life, was, after death, delivered 
 from these punishments, and was 
 borne by holy anc{els in joy and 
 triumph to Abraham's bosom. 
 
 Remark also even in the life time 
 of poor Lazarus, the multiplied con- 
 solations which the merciful good- 
 ness of the Lord offers him in his 
 misery. 
 O O
 
 G O 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 209 
 
 We have never heard that he 
 was visited by rich friends to com- 
 fort him in his misery ; — that he 
 had servants to wait his orders ; — 
 that he was surrounded by anxious 
 brethren : — but Jesus tells us, that 
 the dogs came and licked his 
 sores !* these were all that came to 
 him in his misery ! no consola- 
 tions from man, dogs only minister- 
 ing to him ! Can any misery be 
 worse than this ? Yet no murmur- 
 ing or impatient word fell from his 
 lips, but rather thanksgiving and 
 praise : — he that was refused com- 
 fort from the instrumentality of 
 man, received it meekly from the 
 sensibility of beasts. 
 
 Thou then, weak and suffering 
 brother, murmur not, if, even for a 
 season, thou inayest be deprived of 
 human consolation, or if the goad 
 of thy infirmities press yet more 
 
 * Luke xvi. 22. 
 
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 210 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 heavily. Remember that the di- 
 vine mercy so disposes it, in order 
 that — " Cut and burned in this 
 world, thou mayest not be lost in 
 the next." 
 
 Lazarus, perhaps, was not guilty 
 in the sight of God, but of very 
 slight faults ; while thou hast often 
 and very grievously offended Him. 
 
 Bear then thy infirmities with 
 patience ; and if sometimes the con- 
 solations of man be withheld, re- 
 joice, nevertheless, that, with Laz- 
 arus, thou mayest thereby be wor 
 thy to enter the gates of the hcav 
 enly kingdom. 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 211 
 
 CHAP. XXI 
 
 ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING 
 OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 " Declaratio sermonxim tuornm il- 
 luminaty ct iiUellectum dat par- 
 vulis."* 
 
 " The declaration of thy words 
 giveth light ^ and bestoweth under- 
 standing on little ones.''^ 
 
 1. All that is written in the Old 
 and New Testarpents, has been 
 written for our instruction, and 
 with the design of bringing us to 
 serve God faithfully, to inspire in 
 us a horror of what is evil, and a 
 love, boundless, pure, and entire, 
 both in this world, and in that 
 which is to come, for Him who is 
 our sovereign good. 
 
 * Ps. cxviii. 130. 
 
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 212 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Ask humbly for a knowledge of 
 what thou art ignorant of, and ask 
 respectfully from those who are 
 better instructed than thyself, for 
 the right understanding of what 
 thou dost not comprehend. " For 
 the declaration of the words of 
 God giveth light to the hearts of 
 the little ones." 
 
 If thou art not capable of rising 
 to the knowledge of the most sub- 
 lime truths, learn with " the little 
 ones," to know such as are small ; 
 it is of such that our Lord Jesus 
 hath said, " Su^er the little chil- 
 dren to come to me, for the king- 
 dom of heaven is for such."* 
 
 Beware therefore of rashly sound- 
 ing what is concealed from thy un- 
 derstanding ; leave to the Holy 
 Spirit the care of discovering such 
 to thee. Follow His inspirations 
 with a lively faith ; for the Holy 
 
 * Matt. xix. 14. 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 213 
 
 Spirit is the source of all truth, 
 and He can never bear testimony to 
 error. 
 
 2. If on some points, many per- 
 sons have doubts, attribute them to 
 the blindness of their spirit, or to 
 their ignorance, and not to the si- 
 lence or obscurity of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, which unfold all the needful 
 documents of eternal salvation. 
 
 Read then with pleasure the 
 canonical Scriptures ; and to this 
 reading be careful to join the ex- 
 plication of them which the doc- 
 tors of the Church have given, and 
 thus study to understand them well. 
 
 But, nevertheless, let not thy 
 diligence in this study withdraw 
 thee from prayer, or the celebra- 
 tion, or the hearing of the holy 
 mass ; for often during holy mass, 
 and in the fervour of prayer, God 
 communicates to devout souls many 
 hidden things which He conceals 

 
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 214 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 from those who search curiously, 
 and full of self-sufficiency. 
 
 Simple words bring instruction 
 to the little ones and the ignorant ; 
 Init subtle explanations, which they 
 do not understand, are vain and 
 profitless. 
 
 Those that in the refectory, or 
 in the choir, listen attentively to the 
 reading, and seek with prudence 
 to penetrate the mystical sense of 
 the facts recited to them, extract, 
 from all they hear or read, the 
 honey of the word of God. 
 
 Whence, though during life, man 
 may ever add something to his 
 knowledge, and discover every day 
 truths of a higher order ; yet he 
 shall not attain to the clear and 
 perfect intelligence of the angels ; 
 nor shall he enjoy the beatific vis- 
 ion, till, by the help of Christ, he 
 shall have entered into the glory of 
 eternal bliss. 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 215 
 
 3. Strong and solid food is hurt- 
 ful to little ones ; the weak and 
 babes must be fed with light and 
 delicate nourishment. 
 
 Simple music and moderate 
 songs sometimes touch the ear 
 more pleasantly than the swell of 
 voices, which break on the hearing 
 like peals of thunder, and fatigue 
 rather than charm. 
 
 Frequent flashes of lightning daz- 
 zle the eye ; while a moderate 
 light keeps the vision in activity. 
 
 The imprudent traveller, who 
 would rashly swim across a deep 
 river, may be drowned ; but he that 
 passes by the bridge, reaches the 
 other side without fear of danger. 
 
 The lamb passes freely in a nar- 
 row path ; where the heavy bul- 
 lock falls, and is caught, but to be 
 led to the slaughter. 
 
 So the soul whose faith is sim- 
 ple, and whose submission hum- 
 
 ; O
 
 o^ . , 
 
 216 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 ble, findeth grace ; where the soul 
 full of confidence in itself, loses all 
 it possesses. 
 
 High knowledge but too easily 
 puffeth up the proud ; and turns, at 
 last, to the confusion of those who 
 glory therein, 
 
 4. I have seen simple souls 
 bathed in tears in the fervour of 
 prayer, while those who sang with 
 a loud and melodious voice, felt 
 nothing but dryness of heart. And 
 why this difference ? — because the 
 simple and humble soul, in all it 
 says or does, seeks only the glory 
 of God. The voice of the simple 
 in heart, is with God in heaven ; 
 the voice of the wandering and dis- 
 sipated singer, is v/ith men in the 
 streets and public places. 
 
 He that attend^ seriously to the 
 spiritual sense of the Psalms, who 
 reads them slowly, or sings them 
 with attention, tastes, in abun- 
 
 o c;
 
 ( 
 
 VALLEY OF. LILIES. 217 
 
 dance, the sweetness of devotion. 
 For the Lord is indeed sweet to 
 such as are right in heart, and to 
 those who seek His "flory, and not 
 the gratification of their own vanity. 
 
 Blessed is the voice of him that 
 sings and declares the praises of 
 God in such a manner, as to fill 
 the hearts of those who hear him 
 with compunction. 
 
 5. Before crowinsf, the cock 
 plumes his wings, as if to prepare 
 himself; so should the o-ood chris- 
 tian or the pious preacher correct 
 his own faults before he undertakes 
 to correct those of others. He that 
 would announce with prudence and 
 success, the word of God, must be- 
 gin by correcting in himself those 
 vices he condemns in others. 
 
 It is thus that St. Paul, while in- 
 structing others, humbly calls him- 
 self the chief of sinners. "Jesus 
 Christ hath come into this world to 
 
 O O 
 
 8a
 
 o 
 
 218 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 save sinners, of whom I am the 
 chief,"* and " who am not worthy 
 to be called an apostle." And why, 
 
 most glorious saint ? — " because 
 
 1 persecuted the Church of God." 
 How then art thou now become a 
 vessel of election, filled with holi- 
 ness, and truly worthy of all 
 glory ? I owe it not either to my- 
 self or to men, but by the vocation 
 and revelation of Jesus Christ, from 
 whom 1 have learned to be meek 
 and humble of heart, and to be obe- 
 dient to His gospel. I know of no 
 good in myself; all that I do or 
 teach, I attribute to Him, who, by 
 His grace, hath called me to the 
 faith which I preach, and to which 
 I shall be faithful unto death. For 
 only " by the grace of God I am 
 what I am."t And His grace in 
 me has not been in vain ; but re- 
 mains in me, and shall remain till 
 
 ♦ 1 Tim. i. 15. 1 1 Cor. xv. 9. I 
 
 •) o
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 219 
 
 I come to Him who liath redeemed 
 me and saved me by His precious 
 blood. 
 
 CHAP. XXH, 
 
 ox THE GREAT MERIT OF PATIENCE 
 FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. 
 
 " In patientid vestra possidebitis 
 animas vestrasy* 
 
 " III your patience you shall pos- 
 sess your soulsy * 
 
 1. When thou art addressed 
 harshly, or reproved unjustly, give 
 not way to the first emotion of 
 anger nor reply sharply ; but keep 
 silence, or speak humbly, or suffer 
 with p'atience like Jesus : lor when 
 they brought false witness against 
 
 * Luke xxi. 19. 
 
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 220 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Him, He was silent, and when 
 scourged. He murmured not. 
 
 Or if it be necessary or useful 
 to justify thy actions, do it gently 
 and with prudence, and in such a 
 manner as Christ did : when rude- 
 ly struck by the servant of the 
 high priest, He answered meekly 
 and reasonably ; so shalt thou edi- 
 fy others and be freed from confu- 
 sion. 
 
 In every circumstance or con- 
 tradiction of wicked tongues, be 
 patient, and observe a pious si- 
 lence towards those who oppose 
 thee. 
 
 2 . In the spiritual interest of thy 
 soul, never forget how precious a 
 virtue is patience, which adorns 
 the soul with all virtues, and leads 
 to the martyr's glorious palm. 
 
 This, Christ hath taught in His 
 words ; this, He hath exemplified in 
 His passion ; — for when He was 
 
 o o
 
 Q 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 221 
 
 accused before the princes of the 
 priesthood, and the ancients of the 
 people, He answered nothing; put- 
 ting in practice what He before 
 taught, " Learn of me, because I 
 am meek and humble of heart, and 
 you shall find rest to your souls."* 
 
 Thou canst not find elsewhere 
 sure peace and true rest, but in 
 God alone, in the practice of sin- 
 cere humility, and of a mild indul- 
 gent patience which overcomes all 
 adversaries. 
 
 Put then all thy hope in God, 
 and not in any creature, great or 
 small, for without God all is but 
 vanity ; and with God all is good. 
 
 * Matt. li. 29. 
 
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 222 VALLEY OF LILIES 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 ON THE GOOD CONVERSATION OF 
 THE HUMBLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 " Fnge, dilecte mi, fifge.^^'^ 
 " Flee awn//, O my hclovcciy 
 
 1 . Why should I flee away ? 
 Because of the many danf^ers 
 which surround thee in the world, 
 and which fall on those who con- 
 verse therein. 
 
 He that would give himself up to 
 the service of God, must love soli- 
 tude, prayer, study, and labour ; 
 and so by useful employments, pre- 
 serve his soul from the perils of 
 vice, spend his lime with fruit, and 
 edify his ncifjhbour. 
 
 But he that loves the world, and 
 willingly converses therein, seldom 
 
 * Cant. viii. 1-L 
 
 o-
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 223 
 
 keeps his heart, unspotted, and al- 
 ways returns to his peaceful re- 
 treat, with less devotion than when 
 he went out. 
 
 Pious and modest conversation 
 is pleasing to all ; but harsh and 
 inconsiderate words wound the 
 ears of our friends. 
 
 He that loves virtue, speaks the 
 truth, but he that makes use of 
 lying speech, deceives his neigh- 
 bour, and renders himself odious. 
 
 He that is truly humble, seeks 
 not praise for the good he has done ; 
 but refers to God all the good that 
 there is in his actions, and attrib- 
 utes to himself only what is evil. 
 
 The liar drives Christ from his 
 heart; and he that would fathom 
 the mysteries of reliii:ion, confounds 
 himself, and justly falls into error : 
 but he that speaks frankly and 
 straight forward, is honoured and 
 loved by all. 
 
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 224 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 2. We are all brethren, created 
 by the same God ; we are all sin- 
 ners, born of guilty parents ; but, 
 by the grace of Christ, we are 
 called to the faith : we are regen- 
 erated by the same baptism ; and 
 we are all but one body in Christ. 
 Let no one, then, despise or ridi- 
 cule, or oficnd his neighbour in any 
 thing : — we ought rather, in con- 
 formity to the will of God, to help 
 and instruct him, as far as we are 
 able ; doing to him as we would be 
 done by, were we in want. 
 
 He that by words of edification, 
 confirms the weak in the faith, 
 feeds the sick with the bread of 
 heaven. 
 
 He that consoles the afllicted, 
 gives a cup of life to the thirsty. 
 
 He that calms the wrath of his 
 brother by meek words, withholds 
 a dog from biting, by anointing his 
 tongue with honey. 
 
 0_^ i O
 
 o o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 225 
 
 He that checks a wandering 
 tongue, brings much peace to his 
 devout brethren. 
 
 He that prefers himself before 
 others, shows but little judgment, 
 and deserves confusion. 
 
 He that humbles himself in all 
 things, deserves to receive more 
 abundant grace and honour. 
 
 By prayer the pious and humble 
 man breaks the snares of the evil 
 one, and escapes ; while the proud, 
 led on by vain glory, falls into his 
 toils, and perishes. 
 
 From which may the pious Je- 
 sus ever preserve us, and conduct 
 us to the joys of heaven ! Amen. 
 
 o
 
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 226 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 ON PRUDENT CONVERSATION, AND 
 BROTHERLY COMPASSION. 
 
 *' Medice, cur a tcipsum.''''* 
 " Physician, heal thy self ^ 
 
 1 . Keep in mind these words, 
 before thou admonish or rebuke thy 
 neighbour ; lest haply, in reproving 
 him indiscreetly or uniustly, thou 
 commit a greater fault than his. 
 
 The just and prudent man watches 
 his opportunity, and seeks to learn 
 the character and habits of the 
 person to whom he wishes to fTive 
 advice, lest he drive away or hurt 
 him whom he would correct. 
 
 The mouth of the wise and dis- 
 creet man is worthy of honour, and 
 is like a solid vessel enriched with 
 
 * LuUe iv. 23. 
 
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 O ' 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 227 
 
 gold, failed with balm and odorifer- 
 ous perfumes. 
 
 The sanctity of thy words, and 
 the regularity of thy morals, edify 
 those who are attached to the things 
 of this world, — excite the indifferent, 
 — rebuke the negligent, — bring the 
 wandering heart to compuncti(m, 
 — instruct the ignorant, and in- 
 flame the fervour of the devout. 
 For the liA'ely example of good 
 men persuades more effectively to 
 contempt of the world, and amend- 
 ment of life, than the verbose elo- 
 quence of worldly learning. 
 
 2. It must not be thought, that a 
 desire to instruct and correct others, 
 is a proof of ability or virtue ; but 
 to govern oneself well, to receive 
 reproof with pious humility, and to 
 labour fervently in the reform of 
 one's own heart ; — this is great wis- 
 dom both before God and men. 
 
 liCarn to put a favourable inter- 
 
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 O ■ ( 
 
 228 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 pretation on what is doubtfnl ; — 
 never to pass jnflirmont on what is 
 unknown ; — to avoid all open evil ; 
 to beware of giviiif^ scandal ; — to 
 bear patiently with the defects or 
 faults of thy brethren ; — and to com- 
 mit to the mercy of God what thou 
 canst not correct. 
 
 Reflect that God has borne, and 
 still bears with thee every day in a 
 great many weaknesses ; and not- 
 withstanding thou dost not amend 
 them, though thou often declarest 
 thy intention, and that thou hast 
 the will to do so. But His mercy 
 still bears with and awaits thee, to 
 lead thee to penance, and to teach 
 thee thy own infirmities, so that 
 thou mayest humbly sue for par- 
 don, and learn not to despise or 
 rashly condemn thy neighbour. 
 
 Be then patient and merciful to 
 thy brother in few things, as God 
 is to thee in many things. 
 O (
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 229 
 
 The devout and humble man 
 speaks little, lest his much speak- 
 ing should be hurtful to internal 
 recollection. 
 
 The proud man speaks harshly, 
 and the passionate man disturbs the 
 soul of those he corrects ; as he, 
 himself, is disturbed when correct- 
 ed. But the meek bears patiently 
 with those he would correct, — 
 makes use of entreaty rather than 
 reproach, — is compassionate for 
 their sins, — and shows himself, in- 
 deed, the friend of their souls. 
 
 He that seeks to be first, expo- 
 ses himself to many perils, and be- 
 comes despicable. 
 
 The lover of vain glory, keeps 
 not long silence, lest he pass for 
 ignorant : he is ashamed of mean 
 and servile employments ; he can- 
 not bear to put himself in the last 
 place, or to sit on the lowest seat. 
 And vet it is the hiohest honour to 
 
 O 
 
 ■o
 
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 230 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 practice humility in all things, — to 
 place oneself beneath other men, 
 and voluntarily to fulfil the office of 
 servant to others, for the sake of 
 Christ, who has said, "I am in the 
 midst of you, as he that serveth."* 
 
 Learn then, young man, to be si- 
 lent, if thou vvouldst not be covered 
 with confusion, when speaking in 
 the presence of thy elders. 
 
 For it is more profitable to be si- 
 lent, than to speak foolishly. 
 
 3. It is a great art to know how 
 to receive correction in silence, 
 and much wisdom to speak mod- 
 estly and in season ; and to say 
 nothing before eidightened men, but 
 what is just and fit. 
 
 The fool knows not how to ob- 
 serve either time, or purpose, or 
 order ; moreover he often suffers 
 much disquietude from the humili- 
 ations his own unadvised dis- 
 
 * Luke xxii. 27. 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 231 
 
 course has justly drawn upon him. 
 
 The presumptuous young man, 
 who speaks inconsiderately, is like 
 the fool that stands on a precipice. 
 If he receive advice with docility, 
 correction in silence and com- 
 mands with submission, there will 
 be great hope that he may make 
 much progress in virtue, and one 
 day flourish like the lily of the val- 
 leys. 
 
 Great is the pride of him who 
 persists in his own designs, contra- 
 ry to the will of God, and who re- 
 fuses submission to the wise coun- 
 i sels of the aged. 
 
 Since it is difficult for man in all 
 his words and actions to keep al- 
 ways within the bounds of modera- 
 tion, and to watch over his soul ; 
 hence it is that religious persons 
 love solitude, and seek retreat andsi- 
 lence, to give themselves up to pray- 
 erapart fromthetumuh of the world. 
 O C)
 
 232 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 ON THE UNCERTAIN HOUR OF 
 
 DEATH, AND THE SPEEDY 
 
 END OF THIS LIFE. 
 
 " Vigilate, quia nescitis diem 
 neque hora/nJ^* 
 
 " Watch ye, therefore, because 
 you know not the day nor the hour^ 
 
 1. Blessed is the soul that 
 thinks often of the last hour, when 
 all must be ended in this life ; — joys 
 and sorrows, honours and re- 
 proaches. 
 
 Happy the soul that is as a poor 
 pilgrim travelling towards God ; — 
 which despises all the pomp of this 
 world, howsoever great or alluring. 
 For in that last hour all shall per- 
 ish, — castles, cities, villages, ves- 
 
 * Matt. XXV. 13. 
 
 o-
 
 VALLEV or- LILIES. 233 
 
 sels of gold and silver, all delicate 
 viands, and variegated cups of per- 
 fumed wines. 
 
 Then shall be mute, lyre, trum- 
 pet, pipe and harp. 
 
 Then shall be no more sport nor 
 mirth, no more dance nor loud ap- 
 plause, no more songs nor merry 
 laughter, no more the cry of rev- 
 elry in street or bower, for the 
 hearts of all living shall wither 
 away, and the whole earth shall 
 tremble in the presence of God. 
 
 Oh how wise is he who medi- 
 tates daily on these things, and who 
 prepares, by tears, for the enjoy- 
 ment of blessings to come, and joy 
 eternal. 
 
 2. Blessed is he who separates 
 himself voluntarily from the many ; 
 snares and perils of this world, and j 
 from all that may ilaiter his sensual 
 appetite. j 
 
 Blessed is the pilgrim who, in I
 
 234 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 his exile, weeps, and mourns, and 
 desires to be dissolved, and to be 
 with Christ in the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Blessed is the man who hates 
 this world, and all therein that 
 would allure him to sin ; and who 
 flies like Elias, to some monastery 
 in the desert, from the face of num- 
 berless dangers, which often drag 
 down the unguarded soul to hell. 
 
 Blessed is he that watches day 
 and night against temptation, and 
 who cries out with Elias, " It is 
 enough for me. Lord, take away 
 my soul ;"* for it is better for me 
 to die in Thy grace, and when my 
 heart is full of trust in Thee, than 
 to live in this world, surrounded by 
 so many dangers, a witness to evil ; 
 for so long as the soul is united to 
 the body, and the body is nourished 
 with the produce of earth, man 
 
 * 3 Rp?. xix. 4. 
 
 C (
 
 ^ — . ( 
 
 VALLEV OF LILIES. 235 
 
 cannot be exempt from sin, nor 
 free from temptation, nor assured 
 that he may not hereafter fall. 
 
 He then is greatly deceived, and 
 , errs like a man foolish of heart, 
 who only desires to live long here 
 below, and to purpose to do many 
 things, when he knows not where 
 he shall be on the morrow. 
 
 3. Remember, ye rich and pow- 
 erful, surrounded with so many en- 
 joyments and delights, what will 
 become of you, when dead and 
 buried in the earth? what will all 
 those riches which you possess, 
 avail you ? 
 
 Behold! to-day a king, in full en- 
 joyment of life and empire, and to- 
 morrow he is found no more, nor 
 shall his voice again be heard. 
 
 To-day, he is seated on a lofty 
 
 throne, and arrayed in robes of 
 
 gold, and to-morrow he is laid in 
 
 the tomb and shall be seen no more. 
 
 n '
 
 O C) 
 
 236 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 To-day he is honoured hy many, 
 to-morrow he is regarded by none. 
 
 To-day he is magnified by all, to- 
 morrow is divested of all his riches 
 and honours, and villas and castles. 
 
 To-day he is comely above other 
 men, and numbered with kings ; 
 to-morrow he is food for worms, 
 and a stench in the nostrils. 
 
 As he came naked into the 
 world, so, like a poor exile, shall 
 he be borne to the grave. 
 
 For short is the end of all the 
 pleasures, pomps, and vanities of 
 this world, and death and grief, 
 and mourning and fear, is the lot 
 of all. 
 
 His holiness the Pope dies ; the 
 Cardinals die ; the most powerful 
 sovereigns die ; and others suc- 
 ceed, who in their turn soon follow 
 them to the tomb. 
 
 No one can be assured of life 
 for a single day, nor obtain from 
 
 o_ 2 1 . o
 
 o- 
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 237 
 
 the Pope, nor from all earthly 
 monarchs, the privilege of not dy- 
 ing ; nor procure a benefice or an 
 office, from which he can never be 
 ejected. 
 
 It often happens that after having 
 obtained favours and places, death 
 comes unexpectedly, and takes all 
 away ; so that the supplicant re- 
 turns from court, as poor and naked 
 as when he first went thither. 
 
 4. We read in history of many 
 among the patriarchs and fathers, 
 who lived very long. " Such and 
 such a one lived ;" and so of others ; 
 but at last it is said of all, — " and 
 he died :" for " we all die, and like 
 waters that return no more, we 
 sink into the earth,"* whence we 
 sprung. 
 
 Vv'hat is the most protracted pe- 
 riod of life but a short moment, — a 
 passing wind, — a morning bright- 
 
 * 2 Reg. xiv. 14.
 
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 238 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 ness which fades away, — a travel- 
 ler who retraces not his steps ? 
 
 Ijike a Hash of lightning which 
 disappears in the twinkling of an 
 eye, so shall ages disappear ; and 
 with them the kingdoms of the earth. 
 
 Reckon the hours, the days, the 
 months, and the years of thy life ; 
 and tell me whither are they all 
 gone ? — they have passed away 
 like a shadow ; they have perished 
 like the spider^s web, — destroyed 
 by the first wind. 
 
 There is nothing lasting, nothing 
 abiding on this earth ; of which the 
 body of Adam, and of his sons were 
 all fashioned. 
 
 5. Greatness, beauty, pleasures, 
 — all in the world, is full of vanity 
 and frailty. 
 
 Then let not these attractions al- 
 lure, nor their despite or depriva- 
 tion overwhelm thee. 
 
 The fairest colours fade in death, 
 
 6 (
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 239 
 
 and the richest ornaments, decked 
 with gold, silver, and precious 
 gems, in the dark tomb are dim and 
 vahieless. 
 
 Therefore in all thy works, 
 whatever they may be, wherever 
 thou goest, whithersoever thou pro- 
 ceedest, be mindful of the end of 
 life, and of that last hour, which 
 shall come when thou thinkest not. 
 
 Blessed is he, who, with the 
 Apostle St. Paul, " <lesires to be 
 dissolved, and to be with Christ ; 
 a thing by far the better "* for us, 
 than to remain a long time in the 
 flesh, on the sea of this world, beat- 
 en about by storuis, a stranger to 
 God, and ever in fear. 
 
 If thou wilt bear Jesus continu- 
 ally in thy heart , if thou wilt love 
 Him sincerely ; if every day thou 
 wilt address thy prayers to Him ; 
 then mayest thou confidently hope 
 
 *Pliil. i. 23. 
 
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 240 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 to one day enter into His kingdom ; 
 for He hath said, *' where I am, 
 there also shall my minister be."* 
 Blessed is the servant, who, at 
 his last hour, shall deserve to hear 
 those sweet words of Jesus Christ, 
 " Well done, good and faithful ser- 
 vant, because thou hast been faith- 
 ful over a few things, I will place 
 thee over many things ; enter thou 
 into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 * John xii. 26. t Matt xxv. 21. 
 
 o-
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 241 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 OF THE ETERXAL PRAISE OF GOD 
 
 AND THE DESIRE OF ETERXAL 
 
 GLORY. 
 
 " Lauda, anima mea^ DominumP* 
 
 " Praise the Lord, O my souJ,^'' 
 -from whom comcth all good, both 
 now and forever more. 
 
 1. Thus oiightest thou to refer 
 all to Him, as to the first begin- 
 ning and last end of all good. 
 Thou oughtest to praise Him with 
 sentiments of inmost gratitude, in 
 order that the gift of His heavenly 
 gTace may flow upon thee anew in 
 kirger streams, and with continued 
 increase ; until thou wilt have ar- 
 rived at the fountain of life eternal, 
 to the country of eternal charity, 
 
 * Ps. cxlv. 2. 
 
 O O
 
 O ! 
 
 242 VALLEV OF LIMES. 
 
 and to the beatific vision of His di- 
 vine presence and glory. 
 
 For thee there is nothing better 
 or more sahitary, more sweet or 
 agreeable, more worthy, more ex- 
 alted, more happy, more perfect, 
 more blessed, tlian to love God 
 most ardently, and to praise Him 
 without measure. This, I would 
 tell thee a hundred times ; — this I 
 would repeat a thousand times. 
 There is no study so elegant, no 
 employment so noble, as that of 
 loving and praising God, thy Crea- 
 tor and Redeen.ier, with all thy 
 heart, with all thy soul, and with 
 all thy strength. 
 
 Do this as long as thou hast 
 life, and being, and intellect ; let 
 this be the oidy object of all tliy 
 discourse, and of all thy actions, 
 night and day, at morning, at mid- 
 day, at evening, at every hour, 
 and every instant, 
 
 o o
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 243 
 
 2. Unite thyself to Him as 
 strictly as thy strength and knowl- 
 edge permit, wholly and entirely ; 
 — in order that to thee, God may 
 be all things, and that, before all 
 and above all. He may be loved, 
 blessed, praised, and exahed by thee 
 for all ages, and that thou mayest 
 enjoy together with Him a happi- 
 ness without end. 
 
 Exult, then, O faithful soul, in 
 the Lord thy God, as the blessed 
 Virgin Mary rejoiced in Jesus 
 Christ her Saviour. 
 
 Exult and praise thy God, who 
 has made and redeemed thee, for 
 to God thou art indebted for all 
 those many and inestimable bene- 
 fits which thou dost daily receive 
 from His merciful bounty ; for even 
 wert thou a holy angel, thy grati- 
 tude as such would still be in- 
 adequate to His goodness and infi- 
 nite "Tandeur. 
 
 -O
 
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 244 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Praise Him nevertheless, thank 
 Him, as a mortal man dependant 
 on His mercy, and ever seeking 
 and imploring it with tearful perse- 
 verance. 
 
 Cease not to pray to Him and to 
 praise Him, and although thou 
 shouldst often unhappily iall into 
 sin, and thereby ofiend Him, de- 
 spair not, but rather humble thy- 
 self, and pray with more fervour. 
 
 Love, and thou shalt be loved : 
 love purifies the soul from all past 
 faults ; cleanses and cures all its 
 wounds — enlightens the spirit — in- 
 flames the heart — drives away sad- 
 ness, and begets inward joy ; such 
 as the world knoweth not, and 
 flesh and blood can never feel. 
 
 Praise God, and thou shalt be 
 praised ; bless Him, and thou shalt 
 be blessed ; sanctify His name, and 
 thou shalt be made holy ; magnify 
 Him and thou shalt be made great ; 
 O "- (
 
 o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 245 
 
 glorify Him, and thou shall be glo- 
 rified by Him in soul as well as 
 in body. 
 
 3. The Soul. — But when shall 
 these things be ? When wilt thou 
 open my mouth, to sing Thy 
 praises for ever ? when will my 
 heart and my soul rejoice together 
 with Thy saints in glory ? 
 
 The Lord. — Wait yet a little 
 while, and when the trumpet shall 
 sound, thou shalt see great won- 
 ders : then shall I give to my 
 saints, in recompense of their 
 pains, and labours, rest and life 
 eternal, — what wishest thou more ? 
 
 The Soul. — Absolutely nothing, 
 O Lord ; Thou alone art sufficient 
 for me, my God ; Thou who givest 
 life eternal, to those who love and 
 praise Thee ; Thou who renderest 
 goods, vast, inestimable, and eter- 
 nal, for what is valueless and per- 
 ishable. 
 
 (
 
 246 VALLEY or LILIES. 
 
 The Lord. — Give then thyself to 
 God, and all that thou hast ; give 
 Him all thy actions, all thy knowl- 
 edge, all thy faculties ; and thou 
 shalt be richer, and dearer to Him 
 than thou hast ever yet been. 
 
 Say with St. Paul, that " we are 
 as having nothing, and posses- 
 sing all things " in God ;* poor, af- 
 flictod, despised, in the eyes ol 
 men, but rich and " always rejoin- 
 ing "t in the Lord, and sure of re- 
 ceiving our reward in heaven. J 
 
 4. The Soul. — O Lord God, my 
 s/lvation, and :ny God ! when shall 
 I\^y fOul enjoy in Thy kingdom the 
 grcV io'<s light of Thy countenance ? 
 Oh ! >vt^.n wilt thou enlighten all 
 the darkness of my spirit in ihe 
 splendoui of ^^ternal ligl:^. ? 
 
 When 'viH ty>ou remove ^rcm niy 
 heart evcr>y- cbs»-ac-le wh'cb pre- 
 vents me iroip \:ni'iLc>: mysolt inti- 
 
 *• 2 Cor. vi 10. + 1 'no^ V. H, ; «? Tim. iv. 8, 
 
 o-
 
 D ( 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 247 
 
 mately to Thee. O true peace, su- 
 preme blessedness, })errect felicity ! 
 
 O Lord, when shall I be able to 
 follow Thee, free from all hin- 
 drance and restraint ; and go 
 wherever Thou shalt lead the way? 
 
 When shall I be able with mine 
 eyes to see Thee clearly, without a 
 glass, without a riddle, without a 
 parable, without a figure, without 
 uncertainty, without the doubts, 
 and discussions, and questions of 
 the learned ? 
 
 When shall it be given me to 
 fully understand all these things 
 which the Holy Scriptures pre- 
 sent to my belief, — all these things 
 which I have read in various au- 
 thors ; — all these things which in 
 various places I have heard from 
 learned instructors concerning my 
 God, concerning the Angels, their 
 different choirs, concerning the 
 glory and beatitude of the heaven- 
 
 o-^ o
 
 o c 
 
 248 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 ly country, concernino^ the peace 
 and joy ineffable of the celestial 
 inhabitants ! 
 
 When shall I be there ? when 
 shall I be able to appear in Thy 
 blessed presence ; to contemplate 
 Thy radiant countenance, and the 
 glory of Thy heavenly kingdom, 
 with the cherubim and seraphim, 
 and all the saints ? 
 
 But the hour is not yet come ; 
 the gates of heaven are yet closed 
 to me ; wherefore, O my God, my 
 heart is afflicted ; and my mouth 
 uttereth groanings, as long as I 
 tarry here, and until I come to 
 Thee, my God.
 
 VALLEY OP LILIES. 249 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 OF THE PRAISES SUNG BY THE HOLY 
 ANGELS IN HEAVEN. 
 
 *' In conspectu angelorum psallam 
 iibir* 
 
 " / will sins to thee in the sisht 
 of the angels^ 
 
 \. King most High ! Lord 
 supreme ! O God worthy of all 
 praise ! Creator of all things, of 
 Ano^els and of men ! how long shall 
 1 tarry sojourning on earth, far re- 
 moved from thee and all thy holy 
 angels in heaven ? Poor and 
 wretched creature as I am, how 
 long shall I eat with -men the 
 bread of toil and of sorrow 'i How 
 long shall I be deprived of the 
 bread of angels, — that food so ex- 
 
 * Ps. cxxxvii. 1. 
 
 O 7. ' 
 
 9a
 
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 I 
 250 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 quisite, containing '• all that is de- 
 licious and the sweetness of every 
 taste.*" 
 
 2. O Lord, when shall I hear 
 the sound of Thy praises sung by 
 Thy holy angels in heaven ; as the 
 blessed apostle John when in exile, 
 heard the voices of many angels 
 singing together, — " Holy, Holy, 
 Holy ?"t 
 
 Oh that I were one of that holy 
 company, and had a voice like unto 
 theirs ! Oh how willingly would 
 I praise Thee in company with 
 them; beyond the loudest Canti- 
 cles in heaven would I sing thy 
 praise and magnify Thy holy name 
 to all eternity ! 
 
 Oh ye Cherubim and Seraphim, 
 how sweetly, how beautifully, how 
 fervently, how excellently ye sing 
 those joyous hymns in presence of 
 your God, without lassitude, with- 
 
 * Wisdom xvi. 20. f Apoc. iv 8. 
 
 0-- (
 
 o- o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 251 
 
 out fatigue, without cessation in 
 eternal felicity ! 
 
 3. To me, therefore, all human 
 accent appears harsh ; ever)- song, 
 uiiharmonious ; every psalm spirit- 
 less and dry ; every music dis- 
 agreeable ; every instrument out 
 of tune ; every joy appears ex- 
 treme sadness ; every laughter, 
 mourning ; every kind of meat and 
 drink, insipid and tasteless ; all 
 flesh, so much grass ; all wine, gall 
 and vinegar ; all honey, poison ; 
 every thing pleasant, disagreeable ; 
 all beauty, an object of disgust ; 
 every ornament, so much deform- 
 ity ; all honour and glory, smoke 
 and vanity ; everything precious 
 and valuable, contemptible and dis- 
 gusting ; — in one word, all things 
 appear as nothing in comparison 
 with life eternal, glory without end, 
 and never ceasing joy in the pre- 
 sence of God and His angels ; who 
 O O
 
 O 
 
 252 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 day and night for ever sing in high- 
 est note, the praises of the holy and 
 the glorious Trinity. 
 
 4. Since then I am unable to soar 
 aloft to these sublime and heavenly 
 canticles, or fully to comprehend 
 them, I bewail my sad fate, and de- 
 spise myself before God and men, 
 — bending my knees and humbly 
 asking pardon : — for in truth all my 
 works are nothing, O I^ord, with- 
 out Thy grace and Thy mercy, 
 which in so great bounty. Thou 
 dost display in all Thy creatures 
 without limit of number or meas- 
 ure. '• O the depth of the riches of 
 the wisdom and of the knowledge 
 of God !"* how profound and how 
 just are Thy judgments from age 
 to age, upon the good and the bad, 
 — the grateful and the ungrateful, 
 — upon the pious and the impious : 
 so that no one can fathom Thy 
 
 * Rom. xi. 23. 
 
 o o
 
 ) o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 253 
 
 words ; no one can with justice, 
 complain of events that happen un- 
 expectedly in the course of human 
 affairs. Wherefore be Thou ever 
 blessed. my God ! 
 
 CHAP. XXVIII. 
 
 A PRAYER OF THE DEVOUT LOVER 
 OF GOD. 
 
 " Dirigatnr, Domine, oratio mea, 
 stent incensum in conspcctu tico."* 
 
 " Let my 'prayer he directed as in- 
 cense in thy sight!''' 
 
 1. I desire, Lord my God, in 
 every place and at all times, to join 
 Thy saints, and all Thy creatures, 
 in devoutly praisinfj and blessing 
 Thee ; — in publishing Thine infi- 
 
 * Ps. cxL 2. 
 
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 254 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 nite perfections ; — in loving Thee 
 perfectly ; — in glorifying Thee 
 without ceasing, and in exalting 
 the greatness and glory of Thy 
 holy name for ever ; for Thou, O 
 Lord, Thou art my God, and I am 
 Thy poor servant. 
 
 For thou art my light and my 
 hope, O my God ! Thou art my 
 strength and my patience, my 
 praise and my glory, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my wisdom, my pru- 
 dence, my beauty, and all my 
 sweetness, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my music and harp, 
 my organ and timbrel, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art the psalm that brings 
 gladness to my heart, my hymn, 
 my canticle, and my song of joy, 
 O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my casque and breast- 
 plate, my bow and my sword, 
 my God ! 
 
 2. Thou art my treasure, my 
 O ' O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 255 
 
 gold and silver; and the talent 
 with which I am to pay all my 
 debts, my God I 
 
 Thou art my dwelling-place, my 
 fortress, and my palace, O my 
 God! 
 
 Thou art my shield and banner, 
 my tower of strength, and the de- 
 fence of my life, my God ! 
 
 Thou art my garden and or- 
 chard, my bower of green, and 
 cool retreat, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art ray refectory and table, 
 my meat and my drink, O my 
 God ! for all food not prepared and 
 seasoned by thee, seems to me 
 stale and flat, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my aromatical plant, 
 and balsam of sweetness, my spike- 
 nard and choice myrrh, and most 
 precious ointment, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my rose and lily, my 
 wreath and garland, my God ! 
 
 Thou art my dormitory, and mv 
 
 y 
 
 ii
 
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 256 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 bed, my napkin and covering art 
 thou, O my God ! 
 
 3. Thou art my light and my 
 lamp, — my lustre and star that en- 
 lightens me, O my God ! 
 
 Thou art my book written with- 
 in and without ; my Bible, in 
 which all the Holy Scripture is 
 contained, and the teacher who 
 gives to me understanding, my 
 God! 
 
 Thou art my kind instructor, 
 and skilful physician, kindly ad- 
 ministering the remedies requisite 
 for mv spiritual welfare, my 
 God!"' 
 
 For in Thee I find all things, 
 and all that I have is through Thy 
 mercy and goodness ; and I feel 
 that all that I seek, or all that I de- 
 sire out of Thee, is of little or no 
 profit to my soul. 
 
 Open then my heart to Thy holy 
 law ; " restore unto me the joy of 
 O O
 
 o- o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 257 
 
 Thy salvation ;"* enlarge my heart 
 that I may run in Thy ways ; con- 
 firm me hy Thy words, for Thou 
 alone canst help me, and lead me 
 to eternal life. 
 
 O Lord, my God, hear the vows 
 I address to Thee, in joy, in tribu- 
 lation, in health, or sickness, — in 
 all things, — I commend me into 
 Thy hands, and desire to bless 
 Thee for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 * Ps. 1. 14. 

 
 o 
 
 258 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XXIX. 
 
 ON UNION OF THE HEART WITH 
 GOD. 
 
 " Convertcre anima mea in re- 
 quiem. tuam,quia Dominus henefecit 
 tibir* 
 
 " Turn, my soul, into thy rest, 
 for the Lord hath been bountiful to 
 thee:' 
 
 1 . For verily He is thy rest, and 
 thy peace, thy life, thy salvation, 
 and thy happiness : all, therefore, 
 that thou dost, all that thou seesi, 
 all that thou hearest of good, refer 
 to the g^lory of God, that so thou 
 mayest have peace and a good con- 
 science. 
 
 Put not ihy trust, — rejoice not, 
 — in thyself or others, but cling to 
 
 * Ps. cxiv. 7. 
 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 259 
 
 God alone, purely, steadily, entire- 
 ly : dwell with Him who giveth 
 and worketh all in all, by the might 
 of His goodness, and the greatness 
 of His mercy. 
 
 Oh, who will give me grace to 
 refer all to the praise and honour 
 of God ? — with all my strength to 
 do all the good that I am bound, or 
 am able to do ; — to be so insensible 
 to the vanities of earth, that none 
 of them, whether great or small, 
 shall be able to draw me from 
 Him ; — to turn me away from his 
 service ; — to overcast my soul with 
 trouble, or in anywise to hinder me ? 
 
 But, perhaps, it is not possible 
 for me to obtain such a state in this 
 life ? Oh, say not so, for all is pos- 
 sible to God, and He can, instant- 
 ly, by the sweet cords of His love, 
 unite the devout soul to Himself: 
 for this pure and perfect love of 
 God, can so act in a moment, 
 O O
 
 o < 
 
 260 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 whensoever it pleases Him, that 
 forgetful of all creatures, the soul 
 may be wholly united to Him alone, 
 and vehemently entlamed,yea melt- 
 ed, by the fire of his love. 
 
 2. Oh, my God and my love, 
 when, in this place of exile, shall 
 I be wholly united to Thee 1 when 
 shall I love Thee with all the 
 strength of my soul — that strength 
 which Thou alone hast given and 
 graciously infused ? 
 
 May all created beings keep si- 
 lence before Thee, O my God ! 
 Speak Thou only to my soul, O 
 God, blessed eternally ! assist it, 
 help it, enlighten it, Thou that art 
 all in all, and whose brightness is 
 above the stars of the lirmament! 
 
 Happy is the soul, which, being 
 afflicted in this world, is comforted 
 of God ; — which being unknown to 
 men, — is known to the holy angels; 
 — neglected by the wicked, but 
 
 o o
 
 c 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 261 
 
 sought after by the good ; — de- 
 spised by the proud, but loved by 
 the humble ; — separated from the 
 children of the world, but united to 
 the servants of God ; — scorned by 
 the great, but honoured by the lit- 
 tle ones ; — dead to the world, but 
 alive unto God; — afflicted in the 
 flesh. but rejoicing in spirit; — weak 
 in health, but strong in mind ; — 
 downcast in countenance, but up- 
 right in conscience ; — burthened 
 by toil, but strengthened in prayer ; 
 — bent under the weight of infirmi- 
 ties, but raised up again by inte- 
 rior consolations, and prisoned in 
 this world by the bonds of the 
 flesh, but in spirit rapt to heaven, 
 and joined with Christ. 
 
 3. Blessed is he who has Jesus 
 and Mary, the angels and saints of 
 God for his friends in this life ; — 
 for guides on his way ; — for advi- 
 sers in doubt ; — for masters in his 
 O O
 
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 262 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Studies ; — for readers at his table ; 
 — for com})anions in his solitude ; — 
 for familiars in his conversation ; — 
 for fellow-singers in choir ; — for 
 guards in danger ; — for help in 
 trials ; — for defenders against his 
 enemies ; — for intercessors after 
 sin ; — for assistants in his last 
 hour ; — for comforters in his ag- 
 ony ; — for advocates in the day of 
 judgment ; — for patrons before 
 God ; — and for joyous congratula- 
 tors, introducing him to the courts 
 of heaven ! 
 
 O religious and devout soul, who 
 hast forsaken the world, thy fam- 
 ily, and home, receive now God for 
 thy father ; — Jesus for thy brother ; 
 — Mary for thy mother ; — the an- 
 gels for thy friends ; — and thy fel- 
 low-religious for thy relations. 
 
 Look on all the faithful as thy 
 neighbours ; — the old men as thy 
 uncles ; — the voung men as thy 
 
 O "- C
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 263 
 
 brothers ; — the married women as 
 thy mothers ; — the young maidens 
 as thy sisters ; — the poor as thy 
 friends ; — the travellers as thy 
 cousins ; — the meek and humble of 
 heart as tby companions ; — the so- 
 ber and chaste as thy mess-mates ; 
 — the sick and afflicted as thy fa- 
 miliars ; — the distressed and de- 
 spised and scorned as the dear 
 friends of thy heart ; — the pious as 
 those most worthy of honour • — and 
 all those who despise the world, 
 and serve Christ, as co-heirs in the 
 kino-dom of Heaven, 
 
 This is the holy generation and 
 noble offspring born of God, pleas- 
 ing to God, founded on faiih, 
 strengthened by hope, adorned 
 by charity, armed with patience, 
 proved by the lire of tribulation, 
 and ever firm in constancy. 
 
 -O
 
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 264 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 ON TRUE PEACE, TO BE SOUGHT 
 FOR IN GOD ALONE. 
 
 "Pax vobis! Ego sum, nolite 
 timere"* 
 
 " Peace be to you. It is 7, be not 
 afraid." 
 
 1 . Christ Jesus is the foundation 
 of our safety, and the only source 
 of true peace. 
 
 He that loves Christ, enjoys 
 peac^ and rest in him — desires 
 nothinor out of him, nothing more 
 than him. 
 
 The peace of the faithful soul here 
 below consists in suffering for the 
 love of God and in the name of 
 Christ; and whoso thinketh other- 
 wise, is in error, and deceivethhim- 
 
 * Jo. vi. 20. 
 
 O- Q
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 265 
 
 self. Vain is the labour of him who 
 placeth not God at the beginning 
 of all his thoughts, of all his ac- 
 tions ; — who seeks not, — desires 
 not God alone. " There is no 
 peace to the wicked, saith the 
 Lord God,"* but those who love 
 thy law, O Lord, shall enjoy 
 abundantly the sweetness of thy 
 peace. 
 
 2. The peace which Christ j 
 taught and promised, is to be found 
 in profound humility, — in a com- 
 plete denial of our own will, — in 
 the mortification of our depraved 
 inclinations, — in the contempt of 
 worldly praise, and of all consola- 
 tion in perishable and passing 
 things. 
 
 Watch then over thy heart with- 
 in, lest thou be seduced by its at- 
 tractive deceit ; and watch over 
 thy senses without, lest thou seek 
 
 * Isaiah Ivii. 21. I 
 
 J c 
 
 10
 
 266 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 for gratifications injurious to thy 
 soul. 
 
 And yet created things often 
 serve to our spiritual advancement, 
 when we refer the use made of 
 them directly and entirely to the 
 honour and glory of God : — or 
 when used with moderation and 
 discretion for our own pressing 
 necessities, or for the good of our 
 brethren . 
 
 3. But their beauty often be- 
 comes to us an occasion of sin, 
 when beheld with looks full of cu- 
 riosity — of concupiscence — of pas- 
 sion : — for then they produce in 
 our souls desires and affections 
 contrary to the purpose and glory 
 of God. Thus the unwary are of- 
 ten overcome by evil, and fall, 
 where the wise and good are 
 watchful to preserve their virtue. 
 
 Remember that riches tempt, 
 money corrupts, and pleasure stains 
 C C
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 267 
 
 the soul ; that much feasting chokes 
 it ; knowledge puffeth up ; power 
 breeds self sufficiency, and hon- 
 ours beget pride. 
 
 Perverse souls are disgusted 
 with humility ; and vain, empty 
 praise seduces the light and un- 
 stable. 
 
 There is not only absolute folly 
 but downright frenzy in loving and 
 seeking after pleasure, which can- 
 not satisfy the soul nor give the 
 heart repose ; for all that is of the 
 world shall fail, and is of short du- 
 ration : nothing but God is perfect, 
 and nothing but Him should we re- 
 gard as sovereign beatitude and 
 highest good. 
 
 4. Beware then, lest beauty of 
 form, nobility of birth, or height of 
 office, engross thy affections and 
 occupy thy mind, if thou wouldst 
 not be deceived and lose the peace 
 of thy heart, and the purity of thy 
 ) O
 
 o- 
 
 ) ( 
 
 268 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 soul. All things are vain, slip- 
 pery, and hurtful, at least, if not re- 
 ferred to God, from whom cometh 
 all good, and in whom all things 
 live and move, and have their j 
 being. 
 
 Glory not then, O frail and mor- 
 tal man, who in so many things 
 art guilty, so prone to fall into sin, 
 — so weak withal, and unable to 
 stand in virtue ; trust not thyself 
 overmuch, nor be too confident in 
 thyself or others, by high thoughts 
 and vain presumption, but offer and 
 ascribe to God, without restriction 
 or reserve, all the good thou per- 
 ceivest, whether in thyself or oth- 
 ers, or in any other created thing. 
 
 Then wilt thou find in Christ 
 that peace of heart, and sweet re- 
 pose, which may be vainly sought 
 in all created things : then will be 
 accomplished in thee and of thee, 
 the sweet and holy promise of
 
 1 c 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 269 
 
 Christ on the mount, " Blessed are 
 the clean of heart, for they shall 
 see God :"* — to Whom be praise, 
 honour, and glory, from every crea- 
 ture, now and for ages of ages. 
 Amen. 
 
 CHAP. XXXI. 
 
 THAT OUR IXTEXTIOX SHOULD BE 
 
 PURE AND ALWAYS DIRECTED 
 
 TOWARDS GOD. 
 
 " Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, 
 quoniam ipse evellet de laqueo pedes 
 meosy] 
 
 " My eyes are ever towards the 
 Lord ; fur he shall pluck my feet out 
 of the snare. ^^ 
 
 1. In all thy thoughts, words, 
 and actions, have always a right 
 
 * Matt. V. 8. t Ps. ixiv. 15. 
 
 ) o
 
 270 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 and pure intention towards God ; 
 that so thou mayest do all things 
 to His praise, honour and glory, 
 and to the edification of thy neigh- | 
 hour. For God is the source ofi 
 all good, and the great giver of! 
 eternal rewards ; and if thou 
 wouldst not lose the fruit of thy 
 labours, He alone ought to be the 
 beginning and sole end of all thy 
 good works : and if thou wert 
 fully penetrated with the terror of 
 God's righteous judgments, vanity 
 would never take possession of thy 
 heart. 
 
 2. Vain glory and a desire of 
 being praised in public by all, is a 
 most deadly poison. It is most 
 excessive vanity, and certain indi- 
 cation of pride, and directly op- 
 posed to the grace of God. 
 
 What then wilt thou do ? or in 
 whom wilt thou place thy hope and 
 confidence ? Not surely in thy- 
 O ' C
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 271 
 
 self, nor in man, nor in earthly 
 creatures ; nor in the stars of heav- 
 en ; but in God alone, thy Creator, 
 who made and sustains thee, as 
 well as all created things, by the 
 might of His right hand, and He 
 needs none as help or support. 
 Call out then, with the holy king 
 David, " My eyes are ever towards 
 the Lord ; for He shall pluck my 
 feet out of the snare :"* adding 
 these words, " Lord, all my desire 
 is before thee, and my groaning is 
 not hidden from thee."t 
 
 3. Renouncing then the deceit- 
 ful consolations and counsels of 
 men, fly in thy need unto thy 
 God ; place all thy trust in Him ; 
 call upon Him with fervent prayer 
 and holy desires, for " He will 
 pluck thy feet out of the snare, so 
 that thou mayst be not moved out 
 of the way " of virtue and true hu- 
 
 * Ps. xxiv. 15. t Ps. xzxvii. 10 
 
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 272 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 mility, but persevere steadfastly in 
 the service of God unto the end. 
 
 Every good work done for the 
 sake of God, maketh the con- 
 science glad, brings light to the 
 mind, and meriteth a greater in- 
 crease of grace ; but every bad ac- 
 tion brings sorrow to him that 
 commits it, stains his good name, 
 and obstructs the influence of di- 
 vine consolation. 
 
 He that doth anything through 
 motives of vain glory, puts out his 
 light with the wind of ostentation ; 
 and he, who is virtuous that he 
 may please men, and stand high 
 in their esteem, shall quickly be 
 overthrown by an angry God, and 
 grovel in the mire. 
 
 Rejoice not then, like fools, in 
 the smiles of the world, but rather 
 let the sense of thy own frailty keep 
 thee in the fear of God. Thy fre- 
 quent falls and constant tendency [ 
 O G
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 273 
 
 to error, should teach thee to en- 
 tertain an humble and mean opin- 
 ion of thyself. 
 
 4. Beware of giving too much 
 praise to any man in this life, for 
 thou knowest not what he may be- 
 come hereafter: neither rashly con- 
 demn him that falleth ; for touched 
 by his tears, God may shortly grant 
 him grace to rise again. Pray for 
 all men, and commend all unto God. 
 
 Be vile in thine own eyes, so 
 shalt thou be great in the sight of 
 God, who hath respect to the hinn- 
 ble, but knowing the proud afar off. 
 He will suddenly cast him down. 
 
 If thou art despised by men, and 
 if others are preferred before thee, 
 be not cast down into the excess of 
 sadness ; it is better and safer, 
 doubtless, to be humbled by men, 
 in company with the meek and 
 simple, than to be cast off by God 
 with the rich and the lofty-minded. 
 O O
 
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 274 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Shun the praises of men ; fear 
 to be exalted ; bhish at proffered 
 honours ; fly from human respect ; 
 strive rather to live secluded. Pre- 
 fer, before all, the service due to 
 God, the study of holy books, and 
 perseverance in prayer. 
 
 That man is not without praise 
 and honour, who, for the sake of 
 God, despiseth praise and honour ; 
 nor is he without consolation, who 
 holdeth all the joys of this world as 
 nothing, and who gladly endureth 
 every thing contrary to his inclina- 
 tion, for the love of Christ, and 
 whose daily aspirations and sighs 
 are to be united to Him in heaven. 
 
 O O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 275 
 
 CHAP. XXXII. 
 
 THE PRAYER OF AN HUMBLE AND 
 A CONTRITE SPIRIT. 
 
 " Ad te, Domine, levavi animam 
 mcam^''* " qui habitas in ccelis.''''] 
 
 " To thee have I lifted up my 
 soul, O Lord" " who dwellest in 
 heaven.''* 
 
 1 . Lord God ! whose wisdom 
 and justice regulate all things in 
 heaven and in earth, — angels, men, 
 and every created being, instead of 
 the exalted praise and thanksgiving 
 which are Thy due, vouchsafe to 
 accept in offering, the tribulations 
 and anguish of a heart truly sorry 
 for its manifold transgressions. 
 Whatever is of evil in me, do Thou 
 turn into good ; and the good, do 
 
 * Ps. xxiv. 1. t Ps. cxxii 1. I 
 
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 276 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Thou still convert into better ; for 
 the glory of Thy name, and the 
 eternal salvation of my soul. Thou 
 knovvest all my infirmity, all my ig- 
 norance, and the wonted fickleness 
 of my mind and memory : — how 
 quickly I wander hither and thith- 
 er; very often alas! still farther 
 from Thee. Spare me, O Lord, 
 according to the multitude of Thy 
 mercies, and direct my wandering 
 footsteps to Thee. Preserve my 
 heart in Thy presence, day and 
 night ever engaged, — as far as this 
 frail body will bear, — in devout 
 prayer and holy meditation. 
 
 2. I desire, O Lord, to appease 
 Thy benign countenance with sa- 
 cred offerings and prayers, partic- 
 ularly with the needy man's three 
 mites, viz. : — contrition of heart, 
 confession of mouth, and humble 
 satisfaction. O Lord, my God, su- 
 premely loved, be mindful of me 
 
 o! :: O
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES, 277 
 
 Thy poor servant, since I am a 
 weak mortal, not a pure angel ; a 
 vile sinner, not an innocent lamb ; 
 tepid in prayer, not fervent in con- 
 templation : — Therefore unworthy 
 to be counted Thy servant, nor re- 
 garded among Thy pious worship- 
 pers. Lord God of my heart, 
 deign then to accept the prayer of 
 Thy humble servant ; accept my 
 bitter sorrow for past offences, as 
 Thou receivest the sweet songs, 
 and harmonious jubilations of all 
 the celestial inhabitants. Although 
 I often fall, and my soul is sad 
 from my wretched frailty, still do I 
 not, nor shall I ever, despair of 
 Thy mercy and pardon. 
 
 Through the whole period of my 
 life, I cease not, nor shall I ever 
 cease, to sing Thy praise, but I shall 
 ever honour and magnify Thy 
 name, until my soul will go to 
 seek Thee, my God ; for to praise 
 J . O
 
 O ( 
 
 278 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 and love Thee above all things 
 without cessation, is the supreme 
 happiness of the angels and saints 
 in Thy heavenly kingdom. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIII. 
 
 OF HOLY FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS 
 AND WITH HIS SAINTS. 
 
 " QudBsite Deum, et vivct anima 
 vestra.''* 
 
 " Seek ye after God, and your 
 soul shall live." 
 
 1. There is nothing better, — 
 nothing more beneficial to the soul 
 than to seek after God alone. He 
 that seeketh any other thing, shall 
 end by finding nothing. 
 
 If, therefore, thou wouldst have 
 
 * Ps. Ixviii. 33.
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 279 
 
 a friend to give true consolation in 
 affliction, go to Jesus ; — approach 
 His crib with the shepherds,* come 
 with the Magi, to adore Him in the 
 arms of his mother ;t follow Him 
 to the temple with Simeon and 
 Anna ;| to the city with Martha ;^ 
 to the sepulchre, with Mary Mag- 
 dalen :|| or filled with sentiments of 
 the most sweet and lively joy, join 
 the apostles in the upper chamber, 
 to receive with them the Holy 
 Spirit.** 
 
 Blessed is he, that in these and 
 other holy places, devoutly seeks 
 Jesus, not in body only, but in spirit 
 and in truth. 
 
 Blessed is he who, at all times, 
 and in every place, seeketh Jesus 
 from the bottom of his heart, and 
 who burns with an ardent desire 
 to enjoy His presence, and to pre- 
 
 * Luke i. t Matt. ii. i Luke ii. 
 () Luke X. II Jo. XK. "* Acts li.
 
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 280 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 parehimself every day for the bright 
 vision, and presence of Christ. 
 
 Blessed is he who, in his life, 
 follows Jesus to Calvary, and bears 
 his cross with Him ; for his divine 
 Saviour shall assist him in his 
 last hour, and he shall not fear the 
 sentence of reprobation destined 
 for the wicked. 
 
 2. Seek not only Jesus, but the 
 disciples of Jesus, and all that love 
 Jesus ; and all, who for His love, 
 bear patiently the pains and sor- 
 rows of this life : for the love of 
 Jesus and His friends maketh a man 
 despise the world, and driveth away 
 all that is impure or vain. 
 
 Renounce then those friends, 
 those acquaintances, those com- 
 })anions, who would offer an ob- 
 struction in thy retreat or devotion ; 
 and for thy singular consolation, 
 seek in secret retirement to enter- 
 tain thyself with the holv apostles, 
 O ~ -'
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 281 
 
 and brethren of Jesus, that they 
 may speak to thee of the kingdom 
 of God, and declare how great is 
 the happiness of the elect ; and 
 how, by passing through many trib- 
 ulations, thou mayest attain their 
 happy society. 
 
 Come then, before all holy saints, 
 men or women, citizens of the heav- 
 enly court, withdraw thyself from 
 the tumult of the world : retire into 
 the secret tabernacle and oratory of 
 the blessed Virgin Mary, and seek 
 there by constant prayer, for all 
 necessary consolation. 
 
 '.]. Listen to the angel of the 
 Lord, announcing to Mary the in- 
 carnation of Christ, and the re- 
 demption of the human race. 
 
 O blessed day and happy hour ! 
 if thou canst rest there in company 
 with the angel Gabriel,' and the 
 blessed Virgin Mary, and learn 
 from their mouths the mysteries of 
 
 O 
 
 10a
 
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 282 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 heaven ; believing, most firmly, in 
 the truth of all things which were 
 declared by the angel to Mary, 
 even as she believed God, and His 
 angel sent from heaven. 
 
 Then turn to the desert, and seek 
 diligently John the Baptist, the pre- 
 cursor of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 where he lies hid ; and on bended 
 knees humbly say with much devo- 
 tion : — 
 
 " Hail, John, the most holy and 
 beloved friend of Jesus Christ, I 
 have often heard of thy many vir- 
 tues, and the wonders of thy admi- 
 rable life ; I have heard of the mi- 
 raculous sanctity of thy birth ; I 
 have heard with what religious 
 austerity thou livedst in the desert 
 from thine infancy, that so thou 
 mightest' preserve thy spotless pu- 
 rity in word and thought." 
 
 4. Ask of him how long he re- 
 mained alone in the desert, and 
 
 a
 
 o- 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 283 
 
 dwell with him there as long as 
 thou canst, or time will allow. 
 
 Learn of him what was his meat 
 or his drink, and who ministered 
 to his wants ; see if his father or 
 mother sent any thing to him ; or 
 whether they came to him, or he 
 to them ; or whether the angel Ga- 
 briel descended on him to reveal to 
 him many hidden things, or even 
 whether Jesus appeared in person 
 to him, and strengthened his hand, 
 as it is written in the gospel : 
 " For the hand of the Lord was 
 with him."* 
 
 Whatsoever revelations St. John 
 the Baptist had been favoured with 
 in the desert, do thou commit thy- 
 self entirely to the Holy Spirit, 
 with whom he was filled, by whom 
 he was instructed, — who formed 
 him, and adorned his life with all 
 virtues ; — who, in the desert, in the 
 
 * Luke i. 66.
 
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 284 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 world, in prison, and in chains, 
 watched over him, and received his 
 soul at last, as it bore away the 
 glorious palm of martyrdom. 
 
 5. Approach then to the apos- 
 tles of Christ ; seek out St. Peter, 
 and follow him to the temple to 
 pray, or ascend with him into the 
 upper chamber, " to receive the 
 Holy Spirit."* 
 
 Follow St. Paul to Damascus, to 
 Ephesus, and go with him through 
 all dangers, to preach the gospel of 
 Christ, not in body, but in spirit. 
 
 Behold how his labours exceed 
 all ; how often he prays, and how 
 frequently in his prayers and med- 
 itations, he is rapt up into heaven. 
 
 It is true these great fiivours are 
 not vouchsafed to all ; and yet the 
 apostle, humbling himself to the 
 lowest, says, " I do not count my- 
 self to have apprehended :"t and 
 
 * Acts.ii. t Phil. iii. 13. 
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 285 
 
 elsewhere, when teaching the hum- 
 ble, that they ought to conform 
 themselves to the life and passion 
 of Jesus Christ, he says, " I judged 
 not myself to know any thing 
 among you, but Jesus Christ and 
 Him crucified."* 
 
 Follow, then, St. Paul, for he will 
 lead thee by the straight path unto 
 Christ, and by the way of the cross 
 to heaven. 
 
 6. Go then further, and in the 
 parts of A-chaia, listen to the apos- 
 tle Andrew, preaching the faith of 
 Christ ; hear his words from the 
 cross on which he was nailed, for 
 the name of Jesus Christ ; en- 
 grave them on thy heart, and study 
 to fulfil with joy, through the in- 
 spiration and assistance of the 
 Holy Spirit, all that he declares of 
 the passion of Christ, and the 
 praises of the holy cross. 
 
 * 1 Cor. ii. 2. 
 
 o
 
 C) 1 
 
 286 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Seek then St. James the Great- 
 er, who suffered martyrdom under 
 Herod ; drink, with him, of the 
 chalice of sorrow in this miserable 
 life ; — bearing patiently with all 
 suffering, for the love of God, and 
 the salvation of thy soul. 
 
 7. Next proceed, and seek John, 
 the beloved apostle of Christ, who,, 
 for the name of Jesus, was sent in- 
 to exile ; and separated from the 
 world, and all its cares and con- 
 cerns ; where, enlightened by di- 
 vine revelation, he wrote in sym- 
 bolic and mysterious style in the 
 Apocalypse, the state of the church 
 militant and triumphant ; and after 
 this, he wrote his gospel, to in- 
 struct and console all churches, 
 and all the faithful therein, and 
 give testimony, last of all, to the 
 divinity of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Read and study well these, and 
 
 the other books of Holy Scripture, 
 
 O (
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 287 
 
 as much as thy understanding will 
 allow, and thy wants require in 
 this thy exile, here on earth : not 
 with a view to pass for wise and 
 learned, in the eyes of men, but 
 that thou mayest become m.eek and 
 patient, humble and obedient even 
 unto death. 
 
 8. Go also, and for thy consola- 
 tion seek, the other apostles, em- 
 ployed in the service of God, en- 
 during martyrdom for the faith and 
 love of Christ, and leading the 
 faithful to virtue, both by their ex- 
 ample, and by their words. 
 
 Behold St. James, the brother 
 of our Lord, writing his canonical 
 Epistle, wherein is contained the 
 rule of a Christian life, and the 
 whole perfection of our religion. 
 
 Seek St. Thomas in the Indies ; 
 
 that apostle who reverently touched 
 
 the wounds of Christ, and who, 
 
 believing firmly, cried out with | 
 
 C) C
 
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 288 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 an ardent love, " My Lord and my 
 God."» 
 
 With a like holy zeal, seek the 
 holy apostle and learned evangelist 
 Matthew, writing, in the Hebrew 
 character, the gospel of Christ, for 
 the instruction of all the world, and 
 for the salvation of all people, and 
 nations and tongues. 
 
 With an equal ardour and affec- 
 tion, follow the other holy apostles 
 and disciples of Jesus Christ ; each 
 one, in the several relations and 
 places, preserving the word of life, 
 teaching the people, and labouring 
 unto death in the vineyard of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Behold these are the saints and 
 friends of God, who, at the price 
 of their blood, and by the crown of 
 martyrdom, merited eternal life. 
 Read with pleasure the recital of 
 
 their labours and sufferings, and 
 
 * John. XX. 28. 
 
 <J
 
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 VALLEY OF LILIES. 289 
 
 thou wilt be consoled in thy labours, 
 and light affliction ; for whatever 
 thou mayest do or suffer, it is as 
 nothing in comparison with that 
 which the martyrs and all the 
 blessed have done and suffered fior 
 Christ in the service of God. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIV. 
 
 ox PLACING OUR SOVEREIGN GOOD 
 
 AND FARTHEST AIM IN 
 
 GOD ALONE. 
 
 " Satiahor cum apparuerit gloria 
 tua."* 
 
 " / shaU be satisfied when thy 
 glory shall appear.''^ 
 
 1 . The Soul. — Lord, how shall 
 man attain to this glory ? 
 
 * Ps. xvi. 15.
 
 ; Q 
 
 290 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 Jesus Christ. — By the contempt 
 of himself, and all earthly things, 
 and by an ardent love of all heav- 
 enly things. 
 
 The saints who rejoice in heav- 
 en, and all the faithful who still 
 combat here below, against the al- 
 lurements of sin, — are my witness- 
 es for this. 
 
 But those who are far from at- 
 taining the eternal glory and sove- 
 reign beatitude, are the proud an- 
 gels of darkness, the infidel Pa- 
 gans, the perverse Jews, hardened 
 heretics, and carnal men, who se- 
 duced by the pleasures of the world, 
 and neglecting the service of God, 
 propose no other end in all their ac- 
 tions, than the enjoyment of earth- 
 ly goods, the honour and esteem of 
 men. 
 
 Ah ! woe is me, God ; — such 
 infatuated persons are driven about 
 in every sense, in painful journeys, 
 )- C
 
 O 1 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 291 
 
 in severe study, in constant watch- 
 ings, solicitous without ceasing, 
 and labouring without relaxation, 
 to increase and preserve those en- 
 joyments which make them slaves 
 to their desires : and when they 
 have received a part of what they 
 thirst for, when they have ob- 
 tained directly or indirectly the ob- 
 ject of their labours, still are they 
 not satisfied ; they wish to rise 
 still higher, for their vanity will 
 leave nothing below them ; they 
 puff themselves up, and think them- 
 selves wise and worthy of the es- 
 teem of man, and the homage of 
 their brethren. Howbeit in all 
 this, what is there but vanity, frail- 
 ty, and nothing ; whatsoever they 
 desire, whatever they seek, is lost 
 as regards the great work of their 
 salvation, and full of danger to the 
 welfare of their souls. 
 
 2. In very deed ye are in error 
 
 O
 
 292 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 and deceive yourselves, ye who in 
 the world find sweetness, ye for 
 whom this present world is full of 
 pleasantness ; for none of these 
 enjoyments are secure, and every 
 day ye draw nearer to death, and 
 to the judgment of God. 
 
 For there is nothing in this 
 world so agreeable but what has 
 annexed to it somewhat of bitter- 
 ness ; whatsoever of loveliest, best 
 and sweetest, created things can 
 offer you — 'all are insufficient to 
 satisfy the soul ; they cannot de- 
 liver it from evil ; they cannot fill 
 it with good, nor keep it in end- 
 less joy ; God alone, who is eter- 
 nal, immense, and sovereignly 
 good, God alone can produce in us 
 these blessed effects. He is the 
 creator of all things, visible and in- 
 visible, of angels and men, — before 
 all — above all— and in all — God 
 blessed for ever. 
 
 o o
 
 ) c 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 293 
 
 3. Can the blessed spirits in 
 Heaven, or those on earth, think 
 or speak worthily of Him ? Ah 
 no ! for He is above all that a 
 created bein^ can conceive, and in 
 His si^ht all things are vain and 
 valueless. Miserably deceived is 
 the unhappy soul, that, apart from 
 God, seeks and fosters those affec- 
 tions, which would turn it away 
 from the love and honour of God, 
 but which will leave it at the end 
 in poverty and abject indigence. 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 4. O Lord, great and wonder- 
 ful are tlnj works ! and to fathom or 
 
 understand any one of them^ is not 
 possihle for me or any living crea- 
 ture. What therefore shall I do, 
 whereas I am unable either to com- 
 prehend things so far above my 
 capacity, penetrate the secrets of 
 
 O
 
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 294 VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
 heaven, or contemplate in company 
 with angels, the face of my God ? 
 I confess myself unworthy to enjoy 
 happiness so great, and converse with 
 the saints in heaven. Therefore 
 will I humhlc and despise myself, 
 bffore God and man, as long as I 
 live, and I will be a$ nothing in my 
 own eyes ; that God may have pity 
 on me a miserable sinner, now, and 
 all days of my life. 
 
 In the bitterness of my soul, I 
 shall think over my past years, in 
 rvhich I have provoked His wrath 
 and iridignation, and with groans 
 and weeping I will appease my God, 
 whom I have so often offended by 
 words, by deeds, by seeing, by hear- 
 ing, and by the other senses: which 
 had been given me to serve my Cre- 
 ator, with all my heart, all the days 
 of my sojourn here below. 
 
 But lest I should become dejected 
 and fall into despair on accnunt of
 
 o 
 
 VALLEY OF LILIES. 295 
 
 my nxinieroHS transgressions, I will 
 call to mind, O Lord, the multitude 
 of Thy mercies which are from eter- 
 nity ; until hy Thy divine grace 
 and favour, I may be enabled to 
 reach Thee in saffty. Deliver me, 
 O Lord, from all those dangers and 
 calamities ichich so often assail me 
 unprepared, and frequently distract 
 my mind from the contemplation of 
 Thy heavenly goods. Assist me, 
 O God infinitely good, and place me 
 nigh unto Thee : lest I should be- 
 gin to wander far from my Supreme 
 Good, which Thou art, O my God ! 
 For in Thee alone is all my good. 
 Give me Thyself, and it sufficeth 
 my soul, O Lord, thou God of my 
 salvation. Amen. 
 
 THE E\D 
 
 OF 
 
 THE VALLEY OF LILIES. 
 
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