Of those who allege that
the Path of Virtue is too Difficult....part 3
It was love which caused St. Dominic and so many other saints to sigh for
martyrdom. It was love which raised the martyrs above their sufferings and
gave them refreshments in the midst of the most cruel torments. "True love
of God," says St. Peter Chrysologus, "finds nothing hard, nothing bitter,
nothing difficult. What weapon, what wounds, what pains, what death, can
conquer true love? As an impenetrable armor it defies all attacks, and fears
not even death, but triumphs over all things." (Serm. 147, "De Incarnat.").
But perfect love is not content with these victories. It longs to combat
for the Beloved. Hence the thirst of the just for martyrdom; hence their
desire to shed their blood for Him who shed His precious Blood for them. And
when this desire is not satisfied, they become their own executioners and
martyr their bodies with hunger, thirst, cold, and every kind of
mortification. Thus they find their happiness in suffering for Christ.
Doubtless this language is not understood by worldlings. They cannot
conceive that one should love what they abhor, or abhor what they love. Yet
so it is. Holy Scripture tells is that the Egyptians worshipped certain
animals as gods. The Israelites justly called these false gods abominations,
and sacrificed them to the honor of the true God. In like manner the
virtuous regard as abominations the idols which the world adores--pleasures,
riches, and honors--and sacrifice them to the glory of God.
Let him, therefore, who would offer a pleasing sacrifice to God observe
what the world adores, and let him offer that as a victim to the Lord. It
was thus that the Apostles acted when they came forth from the council,
rejoicing that they had received the honor of suffering for Christ. Can you,
then, believe that the power which rendered the prison, the scourge, the
stake, welcome to God's servants, will not be able to lighten the yoke of
His commandments for you? Will not that power which supported the just under
fasts, vigils, austerities, and sufferings of every kind enable you to bear
the burden of commandments? Alas! How feebly you comprehend the force of
charity and divine grace!
But let us suppose that the path of virtue is sown with difficulties and
hardships. Will this prove that you ought not to walk in it? Oh, no! Are you
not expected to do something for the salvation of your soul? Will you not do
at least as much for this grand purpose, for eternity, as you do for your
body and for time, which for you is rapidly passing away and will soon leave
you in the tomb? What is a little suffering in this life, if you are spared
everlasting torments? Think of the rich glutton, now burning in Hell. What
would he not do to expiate his sins, could he return to this world? There is
no reason why you should not do as much, if you feel that you have ever
offended God.
Consider, moreover, what God has done for you and what He has promised
you. Reflect on the many sins you have committed. Think of the sufferings
endured by the saints, particularly the Saint of saints. If such thoughts
will not make you blush for your past life of ease, and incite you to suffer
something for the love of God, I know not what will move you to abandon the
things in which you formerly delighted and by which you formerly sinned.
Thus St. Bernard tells us that the tribulations of this life bear no
proportion to the glory we hope for, to the torments we fear, to the sins we
have committed, or to the benefits we have received from our Creator. Any of
these considerations ought to suffice to make us embrace a life of virtue,
however hard and laborious.
Though we acknowledge that in every condition of life there are trials
and difficulties, yet the path of the wicked is far more thickly strewn with
hardships than is that of the just. One necessarily grows weary on a long
journey, but a blind man who stumbles at every step will certainly tire
sooner than the traveler who clearly sees and guards against the obstacles
in his way. In the journey of life we must expect to feel fatigue and
experience hardships until we reach our destination. The sinner, guided by
passion, walks blindly, and therefore often falls. The just man, guided by
reason, sees and avoids the rocks and precipices, and thus travels with less
fatigue and more safety.
"The path of the just," says Solomon, "as a shining light, goeth forward
and increaseth even to perfect day; but the way of the wicked is darksome,
and they know not where they fall." (Proverbs 4:18-19). And not only is it
dark, but also slippery, as holy David tells us. (Cf. Ps. 34:6). Judge,
then, what a difference there is between these two paths. Behold how
excessive are the difficulties which beset the wicked. Reflect, moreover,
that the just find a thousand means of alleviating their trials which the
sinner does not experience.
They have God's fatherly providence to guide them; the grace of the Holy
Spirit to enlighten and encourage them; the sacraments to sanctify them; the
divine consolations to refresh them; the example of the pious to animate
them; the writings of the saints to instruct them; the testimony of a good
conscience to comfort them; the hope of future glory to sustain them,
besides the numerous other favors which the virtuous enjoy. Hence they are
ever ready to sing to the Lord with the prophet, "How sweet are Thy words to
my palate, more than honey to my mouth." (Ps. 118:103).
Reflect on these truths, and you will soon understand the Scriptures
where they seem to speak in contradictory terms of the ease or difficulty of
practicing virtue. At one time David says, "For the sake of the words of thy
lips I have kept hard ways." (Ps. 16:4). At another: "I have been delighted
in the way of Thy testimonies, as in all riches." (Ps. 118:14). Both
delarations are true, for the path of virtue is difficult to nature, easy to
grace.
Taken from: The Sinner's Guide (pp 223-226)
Authored by: Venerable Louis de Granada
Imprimatur: John J. Williams, D.D., Archiep. Boston
Published by: www.TanBooks.com
Copyright: Original November 22, 1883
--
Jesse Gomez Jr
In Beautiful Norway
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