Tenth Meditation.--On the Choice of the Devout Life.
PREPARATION.
_1. Place yourself in the presence of God._
_2. Humble yourself before His face, and implore His help._
CONSIDERATIONS.
1. Imagine once more that you are with your good Angel in the midst of a vast plain. On your left, you see the devil seated upon a lofty throne, with several infernal spirits at his side, and all around him a great throng of worldlings, who all, with their heads uncovered, salute him and do him homage, some by one sin, others by another. Behold the demeanour of all the wretched courtiers of this miserable one: see some raging with hatred, envy, and anger; others killing one another; others gaunt, brooding, and eager to amass riches; others given over to vanity and seeking only frivolous pleasures; others lost and brutalized by their unworthy passions. See how they are all without rest or order; see how they despise one another, and how they hate one another while pretending to love. Behold, then, this wretched commonwealth of the world, tyrannized as it is by its accursed king. Oh! how it will move you to pity.
PREPARATION.
_1. Place yourself in the presence of God._
_2. Humble yourself before His face, and implore His help._
CONSIDERATIONS.
1. Imagine once more that you are with your good Angel in the midst of a vast plain. On your left, you see the devil seated upon a lofty throne, with several infernal spirits at his side, and all around him a great throng of worldlings, who all, with their heads uncovered, salute him and do him homage, some by one sin, others by another. Behold the demeanour of all the wretched courtiers of this miserable one: see some raging with hatred, envy, and anger; others killing one another; others gaunt, brooding, and eager to amass riches; others given over to vanity and seeking only frivolous pleasures; others lost and brutalized by their unworthy passions. See how they are all without rest or order; see how they despise one another, and how they hate one another while pretending to love. Behold, then, this wretched commonwealth of the world, tyrannized as it is by its accursed king. Oh! how it will move you to pity.
2. See now, on your right, Jesus Christ crucified, Who, with a love without equal, prayeth for these poor slaves, that they may break their chains, and Who beseecheth them to come unto Him. Behold a multitude of devout souls surrounding Him on every side, each with its angel. Contemplate the beauty of this kingdom of devotion. How fair to see this company of virgins, all whiter than the lily! This assembly of widows, full of mortifications and humility: these husbands and wives, living sweetly together with great respect and mutual charity. See how well these devout souls reconcile the care of the outward household with the care of the inner life, the love of the husband with the love of the heavenly Bridegroom. Look wherever you will, and you shall see them all with a holy, gentle, gracious countenance, listening to Our Lord, and longing to plant Him in their hearts. They rejoice, but with a gracious, charitable, and well-ordered joy: they love one another, but with a pure and holy love. Even those among them who are afflicted do not torment themselves greatly, nor lose aught of their inward peace. In a word, behold the eyes of the Saviour bringing ineffable consolations into their souls, and filling them with the desire to possess Him.
3. You have already left Satan with his sad and unhappy company, through the good resolutions you have made; but you have not yet come to King Jesus, nor been joined to that happy and holy company which surroundeth Him: you have ever been between the one and the other.
3. You have already left Satan with his sad and unhappy company, through the good resolutions you have made; but you have not yet come to King Jesus, nor been joined to that happy and holy company which surroundeth Him: you have ever been between the one and the other.
4. Ah! now is the time to decide! The Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph, Saint Louis, Saint Monica, and a hundred thousand others who have lived in the world press you and invite you.
5. The crucified King calls you by your name: Come, O My beloved! come, Philothea, that I may crown you!
ELECTION.
1. O world! O abominable company! never shall you see me under your banners. I have forever left your vanities and follies. O king of pride! O king of misery! infernal spirit, I renounce thee with all thy pomps; I detest thee with all thy works.
2. And Thou, my sweet Jesus, King of happiness and eternal glory, unto Thee do I turn. I embrace Thee with all the strength of my soul, I adore Thee with all my heart, I choose Thee now and forever for my King and my sole Prince; I offer Thee my inviolable fidelity, I render Thee an irrevocable homage; finally, I submit myself forever to obedience to Thy holy laws and Thy divine precepts.
3. O holy Virgin! my good mother, I choose thee for my guide, I place myself beneath thy banner, I offer thee a most special reverence and love.
O my holy angel! present me to this blessed assembly, abandon me not until I arrive at that happy company, with whom I say and shall ever say, in witness of my choice: Long live Jesus! Long live Jesus!
5. The crucified King calls you by your name: Come, O My beloved! come, Philothea, that I may crown you!
ELECTION.
1. O world! O abominable company! never shall you see me under your banners. I have forever left your vanities and follies. O king of pride! O king of misery! infernal spirit, I renounce thee with all thy pomps; I detest thee with all thy works.
2. And Thou, my sweet Jesus, King of happiness and eternal glory, unto Thee do I turn. I embrace Thee with all the strength of my soul, I adore Thee with all my heart, I choose Thee now and forever for my King and my sole Prince; I offer Thee my inviolable fidelity, I render Thee an irrevocable homage; finally, I submit myself forever to obedience to Thy holy laws and Thy divine precepts.
3. O holy Virgin! my good mother, I choose thee for my guide, I place myself beneath thy banner, I offer thee a most special reverence and love.
O my holy angel! present me to this blessed assembly, abandon me not until I arrive at that happy company, with whom I say and shall ever say, in witness of my choice: Long live Jesus! Long live Jesus!