21 Jan, 22 Maii

62. Præcepta Dei factis quotidie adim

21 Sept. plere.1

63. Castitatem amare.2

64. Nullum odire.3

65. Zelum et invidiam non habere.1

66. Contentionem non amare.5

67. Elationem fugere."

68. Seniores venerari."

69. Juniores diligere.

70. In Christi amore pro inimicis orare.9 71. Cum discordantibus ante solis occasum in pacem redire.10

72. Et de Dei misericordia nunquam desperare.11

Ecce hæc sunt instrumenta artis spiritualis : quæ cum fuerint a nobis die noctuque incessabiliter adimpleta, et in die judicii reconsignata, illa merces nobis a Domino recompensabitur, quam ipse promisit: "Quod oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit nec in cor hominis ascendit, quæ præparavit Deus his qui diligunt eum.” 12 Officina vero, ubi hæc omnia diligenter operemur, claustra sunt monasterii, et stabilitas in Congregatione.

1Eccli. vi. 37.-1 Tim. v. 22.—3 Levit. xix. 17.— 'Jacob. iii. 14, 16.—52 Tim. ii. 24.- 6 Ps. cxxx. 1.— 7 Levit. xix. 32.-8 1 Tim. v. 1.-9 Matth. v. 44.10 Ephes. iv. 26.- 11 Ps. li. 10.-12 1 Cor. ii. 9.

62. Daily to fulfil in deeds the commandments of God.1

63. To love chastity.2

64. To hate no man.3

65. To flee envy and emulation.*
66. Not to love contention.5
67. To flee haughtiness."

68. To reverence the Elders."

69. To love inferiors for Christ's sake." 70. To pray for our enemies."

71. To make peace with adversaries before the setting of the sun.10

72. Never to despair of God's mercy.11

Behold these are the tools or instruments of our spiritual profession; if we constantly employ them day and night, and have them signed with approval in the day of judgment, that reward shall be given us by our Lord as a recompense "Which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for those that love Him." 12 The workshop

where all these things are to be done is the cloister of the monastery, and steadfast abiding in the Congregation.

23 Maii

DE OBEDIENTIA DISCIPULORUM.

22 Jan. PRIMUS humilitatis gradus est obedientia 22 Sept. (sine mora. Hæc convenit iis, qui nihil sibi Christo charius existimant, propter metum gehennæ, vel gloriam vitæ æternæ ; et mox, ut aliquid imperatum a majore fuerit, ac si divinitus imperetur, moram pati nesciunt in faciendo. De quibus Dominus dicit: "In auditu auris obedivit mihi." Et item dicit Doctoribus: "Qui vos audit, me audit." 2

Ergo hi tales relinquentes statim quæ sua sunt, et voluntatem propriam deserentes, mox exoccupatis manibus, et quod agebant imperfectum relinquentes, vicino obedientiæ pede, jubentis vocem factis sequuntur; et veluti uno momento prædicta Magistri jussio, et perfecta

OF THE OBEDIENCE OF DISCIPLES.

THE first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This beseemeth those who, either through fear of hell or for the glory of life everlasting, count nothing more dear to them than Christ. These, presently, as soon as anything is commanded them by the Superior, make no delay in doing it, just as if the command had come from God. Of such, our Lord saith: "At the hearing of the ear he hath obeyed Me." And to superiors and teachers He saith: "He that heareth you, heareth Me."

Therefore, such as these, leaving presently all their occupations, and forsaking their own will, leave unfinished what they were about, and with the speedy foot of obedience follow by deeds the voice of him who commands. And thus, as it were in one and the same moment

"

discipuli opera, in velocitate timoris Dei, ambæ res communiter citius explicantur, quibus ad vitam æternam gradiendi amor incumbit. Ideo angustam viam arripiunt: unde Dominus dicit: Angusta via est, quæ ducit ad vitam;"1 ut non suo arbitrio viventes, vel desideriis suis, et voluptatibus obedientes, sed ambulantes alieno judicio et imperio, in cœnobiis degentes, Abbatem sibi præesse desiderant. Sine dubio hi tales illam Domini sententiam imitantur, qua dicit: "Non veni facere voluntatem meam, sed ejus qui misit me.” 2

23 Jan. 24 Maii

Sed hæc ipsa obedientia tunc accepta23 Sept. bilis erit Deo, et dulcis hominibus, si quod jubetur, non trepide, non tarde, non tepide, aut cum murmure, vel cum responso nolentis efficiatur; quia obedientia, quæ majoribus præbetur, Deo exhibetur. Ipse enim dixit: Qui vos audit, me audit." 3 Et cum bono animo a discipulis præberi oportet, quia "hilarem datorem diligit Deus."4 Nam cum malo animo si obedit discipulus, et non solum

1 Matth. vii. 14.
8 Luc. x. 16.

2 Joan. v. 30.

4

2 Cor. ix. 7.