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Imitation of Christ,
by Thomas á Kempis: Book 1, Chapter 25
On the Fervent Amendment of our Whole Life
When a certain
anxious person, who often times wavered between hope and fear, once overcome
with sadness, threw himself upon the ground in prayer, before one of the
altars in the Church and thinking these things in his mind, said "Oh, if
I only knew how to persevere," that very instant he heard within him, this
heavenly answer: "And if thou didst know this, what would thou do? Do now
what you would do, and thou shall be perfectly secure." And immediately being
consoled, and comforted, he committed himself to the Divine Will, and his
anxious thoughts ceased. He no longer wished for curious things; searching
to find out what would happen to him, but studied rather to learn what was
the acceptable and perfect will of God for the beginning and the perfection
of every good work.
"Hope in the Lord," said the Prophet, "And do all good, and inhabit the land,
and thou shall be fed of the riches thereof." There is one thing that keeps
many back from spiritual progress, and from fervor in amendment namely: the
labor that is necessary for the struggle. And assuredly they especially advance
beyond others in virtues, who strive the most manfully to overcome the very
things which are the hardest and most contrary to them. For there a man does
profit more and merit more abundant grace, when he does most to overcome
himself and mortify his spirit. All have not, indeed, equal difficulties
to overcome and mortify, but a diligent and zealous person will make a greater
progress though he have more passions than another, who is well regulated
but less fervent in the pursuit of virtues.
Prayers
for the 12-Day Preparatory Period |
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