*Please share this very compelling video unto your page and in your catholic groups on facebook, thank you brethren.
THE FIRST BOOK:
ADMONITIONS USEFUL FOR PURIFYING THE HEART
CHAPTER I. THE FOUNDATION
1. The voice of Jesus.-----Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of Heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls.
The voice of the Disciple.-----These are the words of Jesus Christ, whereby we are commanded to learn and imitate the Virtues of His Heart, that we may be set free from all misery of soul, and be made truly happy.
This is His doctrine, this is the method of learning, this is the fruit, this is the end.
The first inducement to learn is the excellence of the Master. What is there more excellent than the Son of God, Who alone is our Master, appointed by His eternal Father, in Whom also are all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God?
His doctrine is the truth, surpassing all the arts and sciences of this world: it smooths the way not to some perishable wealth, some passing pleasures, or a short-lived renown: but to boundless riches, that cease not to last, to unuttered delights, that are constant, to honors supreme, that endure forever.
Whatever He taught us to do, He reduced to one lesson: Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of Heart: this He adapted to all men, this He gives to all, that all may learn the same, the little as well as the great; knowing full well that in this precept, if rightly understood and kept, are contained all things necessary.
His whole life was the application of this doctrine, which He began to practice, before He taught it to others.
2. Let us learn this short lesson, and we shall be wise enough, and sufficiently instructed; nor shall we have to look for any thing more.
The method of learning consists in action, which is performed in two ways: by studying and by practicing.
But first, in order to understand what we strive to learn, and reduce to practice what we have understood, we must pray earnestly.
Afterwards, we must diligently revolve in our mind the depth, the height, the breadth of the lesson; keeping unceasingly before our eyes the Divine likeness of our Master, and examining what we ought to amend, what to avoid, what to hold, and to what to aspire.
Lastly, since it is not enough to know, but we must also practice, the lesson, as it wholly consists in action, and can only be perfectly learnt by acting; we must, as soon as we begin to learn, also begin to practice, showing ourselves before God and men, meek and humble of heart in thought, word and deed.
And, whilst we progress in understanding and practice, we should so labor that the spirit of the lesson unfold itself ever more perfectly in the plan of our life, in our inmost feelings, in our conversations, in our every action, yea, in the very modifications of the same.
3. If, after this manner, we learn what our Lord has given us to learn, we shall reap the fruit, whereby our zeal and toil shall most certainly be rewarded, according to the promise of Him Who cannot possibly deceive nor be deceived.
Which is that promised fruit? Of all-----the most desirable. Ye shall find rest, says He. And what is it, to find rest?
Nothing less than to find that with which we may repose, filled and satisfied; without any need to seek for aught more, and without fear of ever losing it, against our will.
Whoever shall have found this rest, will be truly calm and happy: but he that finds it not, whatever else he may possess, shall ever be restless and unhappy; because in his heart he is not satisfied, is obliged to seek for more, and is ever in danger of losing, even against his will, what he has acquired.
We are all so framed that, by nature, we are compelled to covet a blissful repose; neither have we
it in our power not to desire the same. A great blessing it doubtless was, that the Lord placed within us this awakening desire, this urging power; for, more firmly in action, more gently in manner, do we by its means, pursue that which is to make us happy.
And although, by the freedom of our will, we are enabled to seek rest in a variety of things; yet will this longing of ours, this power, importune and drive us onward, until we find the object for the seeking and attaining of which this faculty has been given to us.
Christ the Lord, our God, Who implanted this faculty in our souls, and Who would not have given us this irresistible faculty without an object, nor have given it without the ability of attaining the same,-----shows us here where we should seek, and how we may find the true object.
Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of Heart, and ye shall find rest. He makes no distinction, no exception: we shall then find true rest, unalloyed happiness.
For although our rest, our soul's happiness, as long as we dwell here below, cannot be every way complete, yet it will be real; such as the Lord promises and such as has been experienced by numberless Saints, who were meek and humble Disciples of the meek and humble Jesus.
We shall truly enjoy that peace, which no outward enemy can disturb: we shall delight in that repose, which no inward agitation can disquiet: lastly we shall possess that Divine likeness and union, wherein is contained supreme happiness! yea, every good here upon earth, and of which no one can deprive us, against our will.
4. Whilst we gather this fruit, we shall, at the same time, secure our end, the everlasting bliss of our souls. For He says: Ye shall find rest for your souls.
If our souls are ours, they are not ours because we created them, since He Himself created us, and not we ourselves: but they are ours because He gave them to us. In giving them to us, He gave them for an end worthy of Himself, that we,-----after He had done what He ought, which He always does, since He is infinitely perfect,-----might act jointly with Him, and thus gain for our souls a blissful and abiding tranquillity.
This then is the end: everlasting beatitude of the soul, intimately connected with the glory of the Lord, Who, in creating her, had this end in view.
For if God is full of glory in all His works, how glorified must He be, in so great a work as that of the salvation of souls exulting forever in triumph, and praising Him without ceasing!
To attain this end, He helps and strengthens us in a thousand ways and by countless means: for this He goes before us, as a good father before His children, as a guide and companion, pointing out a safe and pleasant way, whilst, at the same time, He relieves and refreshes us.
5. This being so, let us joyously follow so great and so good a leader. What can be more honorable for us? Is it not a great glory to follow the Lord? Is it not supreme honor, to be the beloved Disciples of His Heart?
What worldly honor can be imagined, which does not become mere emptiness, when compared with such a dignity?
Nor is there anything more useful, since on it depends our soul's rest: our happiness both in time and in eternity. Now, this is a matter of such importance, that alone it deserves our attention; because without it, all other things are useless and delusive Lastly, it is sweet and easy; for His commands are not heavy; since He enjoins such things, as with the means which He affords, we cannot only perform, but from the fulfillment of which no enemy of our salvation, no obstacles can hinder us.
And, if we learn of the very Heart of the Saviour, we draw from the sweetest fountain of love; so that we either do not feel the labor, or if we do, we cherish it as to find it easy and delightful.
O Jesus, meek and humble of Heart! receive me, I pray Thee, as Thy Disciple, the Disciple of Thy Heart, and grant me to learn diligently of Thee to be meek and lowly of heart, that thus I may find rest for my soul, to Thy everlasting glory.
~Tck TradCatKnight
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