SERMON XXIX @@ OF THE ORNAMENTS AND VIRTUES OF THE MInISsTERS IN THE TEMPLE OF GoD HEY adorned the front of the temple 1| with crowns of gold; and they dedi- E| cated the altar to the Lord: and there Prd} was great joy among the people. Be- loved brethren, these things are read in the first Book of the Macchabees, concerning the renewed temple of God: and they are also sung by us in the Church at the accustomed time.’ As therefore those saints of old were joyous and devout in the material temple, praising: God in hymns and organs, for the victory given them from Heaven over their foes: so we also ought to be much more devout giving thanks to Christ Who has delivered us from the tumult of the world and the snares of the devil; and has given us hope of 1 This passage occurs in the Scripture lessons of Matins of Monday in the second week of October.—TR.
rt Macch. 4.
SERMONS TO THE attaining the festivity of the heavenly Jerusalem: and the dedication of the immaterial temple where God dwells with all His saints. You should seek in the letter the spiritual sense, and in the wax the hidden honey; and let your soul rejoice in the living God, and in every word which proceedeth from the mouth of God: as the angels and all the saints in Heaven. For then shall your soul be able to ascend by the ladder of the holy words to the heights of Heaven: when it heeds not outward beauty; and from its inmost heart is mindful of the Lord its God alone: as far as it is given it to taste of the grace of supernal visitation in the state of human weakness.
Brothers, there is great rejoicing in the dedica- tion of the Church there: where there is the purity of an innocent life, the freedom of a good con- science, the gladness of spiritual joy; the preach- ing of a holy doctrine, the observance of the regular discipline: remembrance of the heavenly kingdom, forgetfulness of all worldly joy. There is true beauty of the temple, and adorning of the Church with boughs and sweet smelling flowers there; where there is true contrition of heart, humble confession of mouth: and worthy satisfac- tion for sins committed. There is the joyous dedication of a new altar there: where there is fresh fervour of devotion with giving of thanks in rejoicing of heart for blessings received.
No one should appear empty in the sight of the Lord: but each should always have something to offer at the altar to the honour of God. He offers a calf and a goat: who crushes the wanton- ness of the flesh by fasting. He slays a bull and an ox: who brings down the pride of mind and the obstinacy of his own opinion to nothing by NOVICES REGULAR humility and the counsel of the wise. He offers a spotless lamb worthy of God; who daily devoutly commemorates the Passion of Christ: and con- forms himself to Him by patience and mildness. He sacrifices a ram; who ascribes all his virtue and strength to God: and attributes nothing of good to himself. He burns the loins, the heart and the breast upon the altar: who curbs all carnal affections by the fervour of a holy spirit. He offers a dove: who walks in simplicity, and holds his peace concerning the affairs of others; who mourns with the sorrowing: and prays for them that con- tradict him. He offers aturtle dove to God: who loves chastity and seeks solitude; and when he loses earthly solace: flies the more freely to the heavenly palace. He sacrifices a sparrow: who abstains from the chattering of useless words; and dwells alone in the secret of his cell that he may have greater peace: and be burdensome to none by speech. And he adorns the front of the temple with crowns of gold; who willingly reads, writes and preaches the noble deeds of the saints: and to the encouragement of virtue proclaims their rewards to others, that they fail not in temptations. He hangs up golden shields in the Church for adornment; who relates to his neighbours with what great virtues the fathers of the Old and New Testament are resplendent unto their edification; who recites the conflicts of the martyrs unto the bearing of adversity: commemorates the toils of confessors unto abstinence: beatifies the trophies of virgins and the continence of widows unto the chastising of the body: worthily praises the books of the doctors and the sermons of preachers unto studying, reading, writing: and unfolds and ex- plains the good works of others unto the praise of SERMONS TO THE God and the honour of Holy Church. He paints and adorns beautiful pictures: who edifies his neighbour by his life and conduct. Behold so many golden escutcheons shine in the church; as there are names of saints, as festivals, as holy words: as we see good examples.
O what a great festival is celebrated in the Church triumphant; where having overcome all enemies all the saints rejoice together with the holy angels clothed in white robes: and crowned with golden crowns that shall never perish. There indeed there is eternal praise and glory: that shall abide without ceasing. There the voice is sweet without harshness; the singing high with- out fatigue: peace boundless without fear; joy without grief, love without envy, knowledge with- out error. There there is abundance without want, dignity without contempt: health without death; bliss without weeping, security without fear: pleasure without vice, fullness without weari- ness; brightness without shadow, truth without ambiguity: purity without stain, freedom without hindrance; conscience without scruple, supreme happiness without end: all good things in God. O how festively rejoice there the souls of the saints loosed from the bond of the body, cleansed from all stain of sin; intimately united with God, one with Him without a medium, flying freely through the space of Heaven: singing and giving thanks to God most joyfully. “The snare is broken: and we are delivered.”
As often therefore as there is any feast of the saints in the Church; we ought to remember what and how great it is in Heaven: and despise everything that gives pleasure in this life. Happy the religious who apart from all worldly crowds: NOVICES REGULAR NOVICES REGULAR free from temporal cares, and at rest from the passions: direct the eye of the mind to heavenly things: and for the sweetness of the interior love which they feel, desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Happy those who are called to the heavenly dedication and to the supper of the Lamb: and so strive to prepare themselves, that they may be worthy to enter with the elect. A true saying: “No man can rejoice here with the world: and afterwards reign with Christ.” Pleas- ant meadows lead the unwise to evil shelters. And those who now always seek delights and honours: after brief joy shall find eternal fire and grief. Alas miserable and foolish lovers of the world; who turn the feasts of Christ and the honours of the saints into banquets of feasting and games; where shall ye abide? Woe to you who abandon Jesus, and seek the world: neglect the saints, and associate to yourselves the dissipated and disso- lute; displease the angels, and rejoice the demons. Woe to you who mock the simple and praise the deceitful; tread under foot the roses of virtue, and gather the thorns of sin; gaze upon present goods and foresee not nor fear the evils to come. Why, fools, do ye deceive yourselves; and return not to the right way? Fear God lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish speedily from the earth with the wicked: and receive hell for the pleasures which you loved. For the labourer is worthy of his hire: whether he has done well or ill in this life.
Our happy and holy mother the Church has also for her great comfort and for the beauty of the house of God in good custody many bodies of saints: worthy of all honour. At the sight of which many faithful are often excited to the love of God Phil. x. 23.
SERMONS TO THE and tears; earnestly beseeching their daily inter- cession: that by their holy merits they may merit to attain everlasting joys. For what church is there or chapel so poor and small; that has not or does not succeed in obtaining some holy relics for the adornment of its sanctuary: and for devo- tion to the souls of the saints reigning with Christ in glory? For humbly to venerate the sacred bones of the saints, is to honour Christ: since in them the Holy Ghost dwelt; by them the world was overcome: and the devil put to shame through the faith of Christ. We must trust therefore with- out hesitation that they will willingly pray for us their friends dwelling upon earth; whom they see fervent in prayer, and often raising the eyes with groaning to Heaven: and forsaking all things from the heart for Christ’s sake. It also aids weak souls not a little to gladness of heart: if on feasts priests and ministers are clad in better vestments and copes to celebrate the divine worship with more solemnity; ifthe altars and holy places are adorned with flowers and foliage: so that by outward signs the hearts of the slow may be enkindled the more speedily to meditate upon heavenly things. How- ever in these ceremonies, services and ornaments naught should be done vainly for human praise and one’s own complacency; lest God, Who re- gards the hearts of the humble, be offended by useless clamour and dissolute conduct: lest the temporal feast be changed into a sin for the soul from some levity or curiosity. For praise is not seemly in the mouth of a proud man; nor does God take pleasure in sonorous lips, tainted with vain-glory: or opened with discordant voice. Let then every devout suppliant give thanks to God: let every ardent lover sing praises to the Lord; NOVICES REGULAR let all the souls of the saints with the angels in Heaven chant and praise God: let all the churches of earth with the faithful in this world chant and praise God saying: ‘Praise and honour beseem Thee, O Lord: for Thy exceeding great majesty for ever and ever. Amen.”
SERMON XXX @¢ OF THE Four ConDITIONS BELONGING TO THE Burtp1ne AND Beauty oF THE House or Gop may|OLITNESS becometh Thy house, O Lord: a) May \| unto length of days. Beloved brethren, be ye circumspect and guarded in every momxBel} time and place; but especially in the Church, in the choir and at the Divine Office: where you may be remarked by many. You are the temple of God, you are the house of God: God has chosen you unto His inheritance, to whom He has promised to give the kingdom of God. Note therefore the four conditions that belong to the beauty of the house of God: and lead to the holiness of true religion. Every good house ought to have a strong foundation: straight walls; bright windows: and a whole roof.
First the house of our soul ought to have the foundation of a deep humility: lest the whole building fall from the height of pride into the abyss of eternal damnation. Therefore have many fallen away from the religious state into divers temptations of the devil and sins of the flesh: be- cause they had not nor took their stand upon the strong foundation of true humility: which guards aman from numberless snares of the devil and falls. Happy the soul that desires not temporal 3 Bs; of i= The Foundation of the House.
TUES 5.
The Walls of the House.
SERMONS TO THE honour; but shuns all ease as much as it can: and deems contempt the greatest gain, Said a certain devout man: “They who praise me oft deceive me; and they who blame me: often do me good.” Whence holy David prays: ‘“ Let not the foot of pride come to me.” Why? “ For there the workers of iniquity are fallen: they are cast out, and could not stand.” And why could they not stand? Because they were proud: and gave not thanks to God. “ For God resisteth the proud: but to the humble He giveth grace.” For no man is safely and rightly praised, but the truly humble: to whom the world is as faded and all its glory. He then who will stand well and firmly, let him hold to the foundation of humility: let him depart not from humility: however much he may be praised, or honoured. Take care brethren that ye lose not the whole reward of your labour through pride and the empty praise of men: that ye fall not with the devil into damnation and everlasting fire. For speedily as smoke passes away all pleasure of the flesh, all temporal honour and glory; but the pain of hell shall not pass away speedily: nay that sulphurous fire prepared for the wicked shall last for ever.
Secondly the house of our soul ought to have four walls straight and strong, standing upright and welded; not of crooked beams and broken joists, but of precious stones skilfully squared and well polished. These are the four holy gospels written with truth concerning the incarnation of Christ: wholesomely designed for the whole world untoa right belief and a just and pious living. These walls are as most strong outworks: and as the towers of Jerusalem with their ramparts; which cannot fall or perish for ever: because the truth NOVICES REGULAR of the Lord is from ever and shall abide even unto eternity. However much then the world may rage against the humble and devout faithful; or the devil tempt, or the tyrant persecute or the greedy despoil: the just man nevertheless trusting in the Lord shall not be disturbed. And if the malignant curse, the pagan scoff, the Jew mock, the cunning argue, the philosopher reject: the incredulous doubt, the heretic err, the blasphemous snarl, the possessed clamour: the furious terrify with swords, the mad tear with the teeth: nevertheless against lying men the truth-telling Christ shall ever pre- vail: and with Him shall be victorious the faithful Christian who is strengthened by His words of truth. “Fear not,” he saith, ‘little flock. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom: which all your adversaries will not be able to resist and gainsay. For it is easier for Heaven and earth to pass: than one tittle of the law to fall.”” He therefore who follows Christ, and believes rightly and lives well, as the gospels teach and the holy doctors fully expound: he has four walls straight and strong welded by divine charity: which firmly fortify the temple of his soul: and drive away all doubts from his mind. For thus are the words of the holy gospel divinely inspired in the faithful man and the devout soul: as a golden shield against the fiery temptations of the devil and the flatteries of the flesh; as the precious stones on the breast of Aaron the priest against the errors of the world: as white pearls on the crown of a virgin against wicked thoughts; as burning lamps in the midst of the Church most brightly gleaming before the Lord of Heaven and earth: and as columns of bronze adorned with silver sustaining the whole building of the temple.
Exod, 28.
5.
SERMONS TO THE Happy the soul to which is pleasant and sweet every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God: and whatever she hears or reads in the gospel of Christ. For the more often a man hears and reads the words of the gospel: and the more heedfully he considers and muses upon them: the more progress shall he make in virtue: and the more firmly shall the house of his soul stand and the more brightly shall it be resplendent. Much also shall he rejoice in the end who loves Jesus intimately: and he shall receive a special grace from Him because of his mindfulness of Him, For He Himself saith to His beloved disciples: exiled in the world: “ Abide in My love. He that abideth in Me and I in him: the same beareth much fruit.” If you wish to bear much fruit and to increase the merit of your labours: then go by the narrow way forsaking your own will for the sake of obedi- ence: which leads by a straight path to eternal life. If you would also know the sum total of all books, then strive to follow Christ by the cross and contempt of all worldly things; and you shall find rest for your souls: and the kingdom of Heaven shall be opened to you.
Clear then the field of your heart from the briars and thorns of vices: and you shall receive the grace of Christ and the friendship of all the holy angels. For assuredly while you labour in | the vineyard of the Lord many kinds of virtue shall spring up in your soul: to wit, for the burdock of pride, the spikenard of humility: for the nettle of lust, the lily of chastity: for the wormwood of anger, the fig of mildness; for the thorn of envy, the rose of charity: for the briar of gloom, the mugwort of spiritual joy; for the cockle of dis- cord, the balsam of sweet agreement: for the NOVICES REGULAR juniper of injury, the olive of brotherly com- passion: for the berry of dissipation: the myrrh of devout meditation.
Thirdly, the house of our soul ought to have seven bright windows always open to receive the light of Heaven from God: but shut against the thunders and thunderbolts of the devil. These windows are the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost; which illumine the soul by the knowledge of truth: and enkindle it within by the heat of charity. When these gifts are received and kindled the darkness of sin is dispelled, and the pleasures of the outward senses; which blind the eyes of those who look upon worldly vanities: who alas neglect the glory of the blessed in the kingdom of Heaven. Great care then must be taken that the windows of our soul be not darkened by the smoke of anger, or the cloud of gloom: or the dust of vainglory, or by an immodest fancy: or by long conversation. Especially must we watch that our windows, lit up by the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the scriptures, be not broken by hard words; or befouled by the mud of evil suspicion: or too much enfolded in temporal cares; and so turned away from the brightness of the heavenly light: and often deprived of heavenly consolation. Very care- fully then must the windows of our house be guarded in every place and time because of the weakness of human life: which easily declines from the fervour of devotion to earthly occupa- tions for recreation or under pretext of the profit of others. But the angel of Satan often beguiles him who takes leisure in God: under pretext of external recreation. And therefore we should insist the more on devout prayers: and protect the windows of our house the more strongly by holy The Windows of the House.
SERMONS TO THE meditations; lest the devil have an entry by the wandering of our mind: and this especially in time of prayer and study of spiritual reading. For Satan comes secretly by the door of the sight or hearing with external imaginations seeking to snatch the psalm or word from the mouth of him who recites: or urging to leave the choir from weariness of mind. Wherefore a great effort must be made and we must return betimes to interior things; that when Christ comes and knocks at the door it may be at once opened to Him: and the light of His grace sweetly flow in: and light up, cleanse and sanctify the whole house of the mind: and the more carefully guard and defend it from all inrushing vices.
O most gentle Lord Jesus Christ, my mercy and my refuge in my every tribulation and dis- tress: O would Thou wouldst deign sometime to enter the house of my soul with heavenly light in the company of the angels: and with a golden thurible full of spices incense all my interior, and consecrate my heart as a temple of the Holy Ghost: sign it with the holy cross, anoint it with the oil of grace: place there the golden urn with manna, and firmly fix the book of Thy law to my side: that therein I may study Thy heavenly and divine commandments day and night: as long as I dwell an exile on this earth. The house of our — soul should also have four strong beams: lest the walls be shaken by the wind of pride: or lest a man being struck by the arrow of malediction depart from the truth of the gospel and the holi- ness of a humble life. For all things without humility and a constant watchfulness: lie open to danger and ruin. Let the faithful soul then hold on to the beam of justice, doing injury to no NOVICES REGULAR man: let her hold on to the beam of fortitude, piously enduring the malice of others; let her hold on to the beam of temperance, curbing the wantonness of the flesh: let her hold on to the beam of prudence, being on her guard against the deceit of error. Also be not negligent: for neglig- ence is the loss of much good work and time. Who shall easily regain time lost? One hour of silence spent with God rejoices the conscience more: than three hours spent in vain gossip. Be therefore, most beloved, diligent in labour: guarded in mouth: simple in evil: prudent in good: devout to God, kind to the neighbour: strangers to the world, near to Heaven. Fourthly the house of our soul ought to have a roof solid and whole against the rain and wind; lest the work well begun perish before the end be completed: and he incur scandal who from heed- lessness omitted to roof the house which was well founded. The Spouse says in the Canticles: “‘ The beams of our houses are of cedar: our rafters of cypress trees.” The rafters are made of two beams: which are joined at the top of the house and divided below: but fixed to the walls by nails. Let the soul therefore have constancy at the be- ginning of her conversion to make progress in virtue; let her also hold on to perseverance in good work unto the going forth of life from the prison of the body: that she may gain for the brief toil of the combat the reward of everlasting blessedness. With these two beams of constancy and perseverance is formed and completed the roof of the faithful soul: which is made unto the image of the holy Trinity. Many begin fervently, but gradually grow lukewarm; they turn to ex- terior things: and neglect to finish what they The Roof of the House.
Matth. ro.
SERMONS TO THE have begun. The house of these has not a sound roof; therefore evil thoughts often enter which stain the conscience: and destroy the grace of devotion. At length when the wind of temptation fiercely blows, either they fall away from their good purpose: or they think of departing from their place, by the instigation of the devil. These then unless they bow to the counsel of their pre- lates: cannot long persevere with the good. Do not, frail man, depart from the religious state and from the holy congregation; but endure a little while: for the hope of eternal reward in heavenly joys. Stand firm in thy good purpose, listen humbly to advice; strive every day manfully, toil diligently: pray frequently, bear patiently, for- give willingly: wait with longanimity, hope trust- fully, persevere constantly: and thou shalt be crowned by God with a crown of glory undoubt- edly. “For he that shall persevere unto the end: he shall be saved.” It is useful also to roof our house with tiles; lest the wind of pride blow: or the rain of carnal delight stain the conscience. The tiles are the examples and words of Christ: which teach us to resist the devil; and to take up good meditations against evil suggestions: and day and night to watch in prayer.
Happy the soul which merits to bring her life to a good end of perseverance; so that after many toils of body and sorrows of heart it may be able to say in the end what Christ said on the cross: “‘It is consummated.” These few words said to the praise of God concerning the house and temple of the soul: many thanks should be rendered to God even for the least good word or thought in- spired from above. Every holy place then should be held ever in reverence by us: on account of NOVICES REGULAR the many blessings which there are wont to be bestowed upon devout suppliants. For there the sinner penitent and praying obtains pardon: the just man giving thanks merits grace. There the poor man moaning and beseeching obtains alms: the rich man compassionating and giving merits the mercy of God. There the priest celebrating offers to God a sacrifice more worthy than all other sacrifice; praying and bending the knee for himself and many others: there he who hears Mass is often touched even to tears sorrowing within. There the devout suppliant during Mass thinks on the sacred Passion of Christ: there the pilgrim wayfarer about to journey by land and sea receives a blessing: and a guide for a good way Jesus Christ the faithful friend. There the minister of the priest supplies the place of the angels, by a service most pleasing to God: there the communicant receives the most holy body of the Lord the food of angels the most noble of all gifts. There he who is going to toil for the day receives strength from God; the sorrowful receive consolation, the fearful courage: the compunct devotion. There the tempted find a remedy; the troubled counsel: the weak help. There the sound receive joy, the sick medicine: the dying a defence against the enemy on the way: the dead deliverance from pains, by the celebration of Masses. It is good therefore to enter the house of God, to visit the church: to hear Mass, to go round the cemetery, to pray for the dead: to worship the holy places and altars: to keep relics, to honour the images of the saints: above all the holy men and women to suppliantly adore the sacrament of Christ; not to discuss lofty things: to be unwilling to dive into difficult questions; humbly to respect mysteries: SERMONS TO THE ~ to commit deep matters to God. For the truth deceives no man: Almighty God can do all things. He who would stand well and please God: should grieve much over all his past offences: even for good neglected and sins confessed. It is the sal- vation of the soul often to moan, often to pray: often to confess, often to communicate. It is a sign of devotion often to make good resolutions, often to think good thoughts: often to write, read, muse on hymns and psalms: never to idle, to shun frivolities: to work things profitable: to love God with the heart and devoutly praise with the mouth.