CHAPTER III: HOW A SPIRITUAL MAN SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF TOWARDS HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND THE GOOD
HOW A SPIRITUAL MAN SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF TOWARDS HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND THE GOOD OFFICES HE OUGHT TO RENDER HIM.
§ 1. Interior affection.
§ 2. Exterior manner and conduct.
§ 3. Beneficence.
§ 4. Benevolence.
§ 5. Compassion.
§ 6. Judgment of others. __________________________________________________________________
§ 1. Interior Affection.
CHRIST our Lord saith in the Gospel, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" (St. John xv. 12). And again, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another" (Ibid. xiii. 35). Do thou, therefore, with sincere charity, love all men, even thy enemies and adversaries, as brothers and sisters, having the same heavenly Father, the same Creator and Redeemer as thyself.
Consider within thyself what excellent creatures they are, as being stamped with the most noble image of God in their souls, and capable of eternal blessedness; and let this consideration lead thee to treat them with love and honour. For God made in Elis own image and likeness only the angelic spirits and men, giving them reason and intelligence; and on account of this admirable dignity, they far excel all other creatures.
When thou seest a man who is deformed or diseased, thou shouldst not love him the less because of his deformity, nor dwell upon the thought of his corruptible and mortal flesh, but pass on to the consideration of the fairness of his immortal soul. For so great is the loveliness and beauty of a rational soul which is undefiled by the stains of sin, that if thou couldst clearly discern it, thou wouldst almost lose thyself for joy and admiration.
True beauty is spiritual, and is beheld by the eye of the mind. A man of ordinary appearance who is righteous, is greatly to be preferred to one who is outwardly beautiful, but in his life and conversation wicked; for the former is in reality the most beautiful. And the body of the just man which is now without beauty, or even repulsive in our eyes, will one day rise again most fair and glorious. Do thou, therefore, love every man with true charity, according to the precept of God. __________________________________________________________________
§ 2. Exterior Manner and Conduct.
Thou shouldst not wear before others a severe countenance, nor be of a perverse or bitter spirit; but, overcoming thy nature, -show thyself to all, sweet, benevolent, affable, and ready to serve them. And if thou art easily moved to anger and indignation, or hast any little feeling of bitterness against any one, consent not to that vice, but repress, mitigate, and extinguish it as much as thou canst, grieving that thy heart should still be so full of harshness.
Humble thyself, and implore the assistance of God. When He shall have abundantly infused into thee the sweetness of charity, thou wilt no longer be so inclined to bitterness. God often permits his chosen friends to be prone to anger, in order that they may the more fully know themselves, and the better keep themselves humble. __________________________________________________________________
§ 3. Beneficence.
Assist with a ready will those who are in need of thy help. And chiefly towards those who have hated thee, or who vex thee, do thou show friendliness in heart, countenance, and words; do good to them, as occasion may require, and faithfully pour forth prayers to God for them, as Christ Himself teaches, saying, "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you " (St. Matth. v. 44). Let thy heart, therefore, be full of mercy towards those who are tempted, afflicted, or oppressed by any necessity. Joyfully relieve the wants of the needy with alms according to the measure of thy possessions. Believe that what thou givest to the poor, thou givest to Christ.
Send also spiritual alms to the faithful souls detained in the pains of Purgatory, praying devoutly for them. Whatsoever thou shalt do for their release and refreshment, Christ, who ardently loves them, will so receive as if thou hadst come to visit Him in prison, and hadst laboured to release Him. For they belong to the mystical Body of Christ, and Christ asserts in the Gospel that what is done to His members is done to Himself. Whence also He saith, "I was in prison, and you came to me " (St. Matth. xxv. 36). __________________________________________________________________
§ 4. Benevolence.
Be greatly desirous of the salvation of all men, and let it seem no light loss to thee, if one single rational soul should perish; for since it is stamped with the image of God, it is more excellent and ought to be held of more account than this whole visible world. "We are all members of one body, of which the Head is Christ. Therefore, wish not ill to another, neither envy any one; but rejoice in the good of others. In jure no one wittingly. Disturb not, nor distress any one without reason. Reproach not any one readily. Be at peace, as far as lies in thy power, with all.
If by chance there has arisen a difference, or a serious quarrel, between thyself and another, be thou quickly anxious for reconciliation, and do whatever may be required on thy part, as a humble and true servant of Christ. Endeavour, moreover, to bring back to peace and concord others who are at variance, by pious prayer to God, or by any other suitable means.
Thou shalt treat no one with contempt or disdain: for that is very contrary to holy humility and charity. Despair not of the salvation of any one still living: since he who is now perverse may, by the grace of God, quickly become good. The bridge of the divine mercy is not yet broken, but still affords a safe pas sage to those who repent __________________________________________________________________
§ 5. Compassion.
As them dost to the afflicted, so also to sinners, do thou show pious compassion and commiseration. Lament over the ignorance and blindness of men. Recall to mind how great is the weakness and corruption of man who is tempted, and how great the malignity and pertinacity of the devil who tempts him. Extenuate the faults of others, and excuse them as far as thou canst; but accuse thyself severely of whatever thou doest amiss.
Think not on any account that the salvation of thy neighbour concerns thee not; for thou (even if thou art not in any way set over him) art bound willingly and sedulously to promote it. Offer, therefore, prayers to God for sinners, and strive to be of use to all; thus wilt thou merit signal favour in the sight of God.
Out of zeal for justice, and the honour of God, thou must also reprove thy brother, as may be fitting. Never consent to the sins of others, nor flatter any one. If thou art angry in correcting or punishing a sinner, be angry without bitterness, without hatred. Make war upon sin in man, so that thou hate not the man whom God made, on account of the sin which the man committed. Hold sin, but not nature, in abhorrence. For, if thou hatest man, thou art lost, because thou livest out of charity; and thou canst not obtain salvation, unless, laying aside hatred, thou dost return to holy love. For, as the Apostle St. John saith: "He that loveth not, abideth in death" (1 St. John iii. 14). Such a one abideth indeed in death, since love is the life of the soul, and God is love. As thou wouldst have God benignant and merciful towards thee, so be thou benignant and merciful to others,
If thou wilt diligently consider how thou didst lately or how thou dost still abound in faults and defects both of mind and body, and how far thou art from the purity, holiness, and fidelity which thou owest to God; thou wilt surely bear with equanimity the burdens and imperfection of others, as discretion and justice may dictate. Confess that it is thy fault, on account of thy wicked and negligent life, that others make little spiritual progress, and often offend God. __________________________________________________________________
§ 6. Judgment of Others.
Interpret favourably, as far as possible, the actions and words of others. Think not ill of others lightly. When evil and absurd suspicions of any one arise in thy heart, let them immediately pass out of it again; suffer them to fly past thee. And although thou sometimes fear lest the devil seduce a man, or lest some evil lurk in him; believe not yet for certain that evil does lie hid, if it is not thoroughly ascertained by thee. In this manner refrain from rash judgments; and be not foolishly curious in observing the defects of others, but watch for thy own defects, and judge thyself.
Meddle not improperly with those things which are not committed to thy charge; but leave them in their own state and condition. Let good things be good; but evil things judge not readily, leaving them to be judged by God, who sees clearly the hearts of men, and perfectly knows whatever is evil. He who will interfere in all affairs, and loquaciously reprove and judge all things, is far removed from true knowledge of himself, and from true peace and purity of heart, and has not yet reached the very beginnings of the spiritual life.
Accustom thyself to live without many complainings. If thou must often complain, complain to God, or to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the other Saints; setting before them humbly and calmly those things that oppress and grieve thee. __________________________________________________________________