Retreat SHORT PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
PROPOSED BY
Fri
P. LUIGI OF GRENADE
in his book:
Memorial Christian life
(source: S. Vincent Ferrer)
TREATY OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
Translation
PSG NIVOLA OP
with hints of the best commentators
Printing School - S. Benigno Canavese, 1931
§ I. - C0SE OF TWELVE WHO DO THE SERVANT OF GOD.
Because many people want to have permanent eye the main points of the spiritual life, as they reduce here a summary of the main things to do God's servant, and primarily those from which you have to look at, so in this brief summary, as an example, see what he should .
Now, as to what to do:
First: Make sure to always be in the presence of the Lord, is manifest for the Doctrine of the Saints, that man never moves to make something that is pleasing to God, if God does not touch him first and did not move. And if this can not always do, at least often between day eh night raises the heart to him with short, loving and humble prayers and sighs, always asking his help and love, as those who can not do without him no.
Second of all that hear or read have always endeavored to procure a few devout and loving consideration, with which to feed and grow within himself sweet honey of divine love, in the manner of bees always try to take something to bring the flowers into the hive. So that, as a large fire converts to fire all what you throw there, either water or iron or something else, so also his heart to be so turned on by the fire of divine love any thing that the world is the matter of love and encouragement.
Third, when sometimes fall into any defect in or misuse of the heart, do not be afraid, nor let yourself fall under the weight, but returns the Lord with a humble and loving conversion, recognizing his great misery and the greatness of divine mercy, and doing the will for its part to get back in the primitive state, and progress nell'intrapreso way.
Fourth: Make sure to have purity of intention in everything we do, so must carefully examine all your words, thoughts and deeds and particularly the intention that inspires him, getting every hour to purify and rectify coll'aver always seeks the glory of God in everything he does, and that not once a day, but every v that takes something new .
Fifth: although it is for him a time of peace, the assistant of going always armed, and be prepared to receive with humility and gentleness all those things that will be needed otherwise, even suddenly, because, although sometimes the anger is beneficial to anything, But it's no wonder that succeeds well, because it leaves more distressed and troubled conscience whether or not overstep the bounds. So the irascible is a passion from which there is more harm than good to progress in the service of God since it is plain that those who exceed this passion would live always in great peace.
Sixth, if not more, is not to observe the faults of others, but always consider their own, because the defects noted the next item is always with her sorrow, pride, rash judgment, anxiety of conscience, indiscreet zeal, and other unruly feelings that disturb heart; dovechè watching his faults with him went confusion of self, humility, fear of God, and peace of mind.
Seventh moves away from the transitory things not only with the spirit, but also with the body and adhere to God with all your heart, because what the more you exercise In this, the less human and more will participate by God, as those who love the fleeting things too ', he goes and goes with them, but who puts his heart only to God, shares in some way to resolve and stability of Him Look also at the many faces, if they are intemperate, if not evil in themselves, because they distract the heart and not let it calm down fully in the Lord.
Eighth: Always consider the life of Jesus Christ and His Sacred Passion and conversation and doctrine, and trials, to imitate, what's possible, examples of the divine virtues: humility, charity, mercy, obedience, poverty, harshness of life, contempt for the world and love of our health, etc.. etc..
Ninth, procure all the time, what may, to deny his own will, resigned fully in the hands of God so that he died in Him all their will, and only alive to God, because then we do not prevail, but the Lord in us. And this must be done in all things, prosperous or adverse, sad or happy, sweet or bitter.
Tenth: in its tribulations, exercises and shops to turn to God with great humility and confidence with heart and soul of his son, he being the most powerful and most merciful Father putting all things in His Providence, takes all as his hands, chasing and throwing himself from any unpleasant thought, and indulging in all the arms of God
; Eleventh: be grateful to God for all blessings received and I thank him always as small as the great, not so much looking for gifts, as all'indegnità of the recipient and the greatness and love Him, who gives them, not because he does not love things with small and large .
Twelfth: tears and banish self-hearted and generous with all of those things that detract from the perfection, whether bodily or spiritual, as the inordinate love of a few people, books, studies and discussions, exercises, and familiar, though spiritual, when they see that the heart trouble and prevented him from advancing in the way of God
§ 2. - TWELVE THAT DEFECTS IN THE SERVANT OF GOD must dodge.
There are many flaws that impede progress in the spiritual path for which many, many years are those who always were the same.
or refer here twelve of the most remarkable, that the servant of God in confronting them, as in a mirror, may know his shortcomings, and the cause that impedes its progress, and so procure amendments:
First, he shall apply to the exercises excessively and external affairs, which results often lack the internal visits and consolations, because no one can find out for himself what is to be found inside.
Second, try to be inordinately friendly and accommodating to everyone. Hence it can not be separated from people and faces when necessary, and thus losing time and missing many times to 'his exercises, to be sure to men, so that is much less pleasing to God, the more pleasure seeking creatures.
Third has little humility with God, and little reverence for him, and thus ceases to be the spiritual modesty with which he is required, who is the daughter of humility and spiritual progress of the mother.
Fourth is like without brakes, and rushes inconsiderately in business for more impetus of mind that common sense of reason, whence it happens that because of its excessive transport loses the peace and tranquility of the heart, and too much haste makes his badly wants to do what it is written that the one who walks in a hurry, stumble ( Prov. XIX, 2). So in all things should proceed with mature opinion, who is a friend and faithful companion of prudence.
Fifth, it is estimated disordered and presumed self and its virtues, though not known, and so, like the Pharisee secretly despises others, and is believed to better themselves, and therefore has no true humility, which is the foundation of all virtues.
Sixth, is inclined to judge others and condemn the acts themselves, and therefore cools in charity, because the more exaggerated the evils others, much sharper than the sword with which assails the charity, which was founded in part by the good opinion we have of others.
Seventh, it still has much of his love put in passing things, and with reason, God has taken away a lot of loving.
Eighth, it is very mild and slow in the years of 'prayer, beginning with laziness, negligence, and continuing with finendoli fruitless, so many times is devoid of God and increasing the visits of devotion.
Ninth, is very negligent and careless in win and mortify himself, whence proceeds that can not live to God, because he lives in himself, nor can it be transformed in God, because it dies to himself.
Tenth: inside is not collected, but very distracted in external things, which results in that you do not know what is necessary, and therefore can not despised and considered as it should.
Eleventh: It is still very fond of his own will and of 'its comfortable: it comes from that' one can deny himself and embrace the Cross of Christ, and mortify their natural, and thus can not reach the perfection of evangelical life.
Twelfth: is fickle and light in making good resolutions, mutandole easily in any opportunity that presents itself: what comes from that, lacking perseverance which alone leads to an end things, he loses all his time in starting, and so it goes ahead and makes no progress in spiritual life, and this is the reason why there are some that could be compared to that tree which is said that fruits seven times a year ago, but never bears any mature.
