Conclusion of what has been said concerning the first degree of purity of the soul.
This protestation being made, be attentive; open the ears of your heart, that you may hear the sentence of absolution which Jesus Christ, your loving Saviour, will pronounce upon you in Heaven, in the presence of the angels and saints, at the same time that the priest absolves you here below on earth, in His name. Then will the whole company of the blessed rejoice in your happiness; then, amidst the holy songs of a joy without equal, they will all give your healed and reconciled heart the sweet kiss of friendship and peace.
O God! Philothea, how admirable is this covenant, whereby, as you give yourself to the divine Majesty, He gives Himself to you and bestows upon you eternal life! Nothing now remains but to take the pen in hand and sign the act of your protestation with a willing heart; after which, go to the altar, where God in His turn will sign and seal your grace and the promise He has made you of His paradise, placing Himself upon your heart through Communion, as a divine seal and signet.
Thus, it seems to me, Philothea, will your soul be delivered from sin and from all affections for sin. But since these affections readily revive in the soul, because of our natural infirmity and our passions, which may indeed be fettered here below, but are never entirely destroyed, I shall give you some counsels by which henceforth you will preserve yourself from mortal sin and from all affection for this sin, so that it may never enter your heart. These same counsels will also serve you for a more perfect purification; and therefore, before giving them to you, I wish to say something of that more absolute purity to which I desire to lead you.
This protestation being made, be attentive; open the ears of your heart, that you may hear the sentence of absolution which Jesus Christ, your loving Saviour, will pronounce upon you in Heaven, in the presence of the angels and saints, at the same time that the priest absolves you here below on earth, in His name. Then will the whole company of the blessed rejoice in your happiness; then, amidst the holy songs of a joy without equal, they will all give your healed and reconciled heart the sweet kiss of friendship and peace.
O God! Philothea, how admirable is this covenant, whereby, as you give yourself to the divine Majesty, He gives Himself to you and bestows upon you eternal life! Nothing now remains but to take the pen in hand and sign the act of your protestation with a willing heart; after which, go to the altar, where God in His turn will sign and seal your grace and the promise He has made you of His paradise, placing Himself upon your heart through Communion, as a divine seal and signet.
Thus, it seems to me, Philothea, will your soul be delivered from sin and from all affections for sin. But since these affections readily revive in the soul, because of our natural infirmity and our passions, which may indeed be fettered here below, but are never entirely destroyed, I shall give you some counsels by which henceforth you will preserve yourself from mortal sin and from all affection for this sin, so that it may never enter your heart. These same counsels will also serve you for a more perfect purification; and therefore, before giving them to you, I wish to say something of that more absolute purity to which I desire to lead you.