'But you see before you the mountain of Christian
perfection, which is very high, and you exclaim in fearfulness that you
can never ascend it. Be of good cheer, my child. When the young bees
first begin to live they are mere grubs, unable to hover over flowers,
or to fly to the mountains, or even to the little hills where they might
gather honey; but they are fed for a time with the honey laid up by
their predecessors, and by degrees the grubs put forth their wings and
grow strong, until they fly abroad and gather their harvest from all the
country round. Now we are yet but as grubs in devotion, unable to fly
at will, and attain the desired aim of Christian perfection; but if we
begin to take shape through our desires and resolutions, our wings will
gradually grow, and we may hope one day to become spiritual bees, able
to fly. Meanwhile let us feed upon the honey left us in the teaching of
so many holy men of old, praying God that He would grant us doves'
wings, so that we may not only fly during this life, but find an abiding
resting-place in Eternity.'
