our kind sponsors.
The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Nineteenth Chapter
THE PRACTICES OF A GOOD RELIGIOUS
THE life of a good religious ought to abound in every virtue so that he is
interiorly what to others he appears to be. With good reason there ought to be
much more within than appears on the outside, for He who sees within is God,
Whom we ought to reverence most highly wherever we are and in Whose sight we
ought to walk pure as the angels.
Each day we ought to renew our resolutions and arouse ourselves to fervor as
though it were the first day of our religious life. We ought to say: "Help me, O
Lord God, in my good resolution and in Your holy service. Grant me now, this
very day, to begin perfectly, for thus far I have done nothing."
As our intention is, so will be our progress; and he who desires perfection must
be very diligent. If the strong-willed man fails frequently, what of the man who
makes up his mind seldom or half-heartedly? Many are the ways of failing in our
resolutions; even a slight omission of religious practice entails a loss of some
kind.
Just men depend on the grace of God rather than on their own wisdom in keeping
their resolutions. In Him they confide every undertaking, for man, indeed,
proposes but God disposes, and God's way is not man's. If a habitual exercise is
sometimes omitted out of piety or in the interests of another, it can easily be
resumed later. But if it be abandoned carelessly, through weariness or neglect,
then the fault is great and will prove hurtful. Much as we try, we still fail
too easily in many things. Yet we must always have some fixed purpose,
especially against things which beset us the most. Our outward and inward lives
alike must be closely watched and well ordered, for both are important to
perfection.
If you cannot recollect yourself continuously, do so once a day at least, in the
morning or in the evening. In the morning make a resolution and in the evening
examine yourself on what you have said this day, what you have done and thought,
for in these things perhaps you have often offended God and those about you.
Arm yourself like a man against the devil's assaults. Curb your appetite and you
will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh. Never be completely
unoccupied, but read or write or pray or meditate or do something for the common
good. Bodily discipline, however, must be undertaken with discretion and is not
to be practiced indiscriminately by everyone.
Devotions not common to all are not to be displayed in public, for such personal
things are better performed in private. Furthermore, beware of indifference to
community prayer through love of your own devotions. If, however, after doing
completely and faithfully all you are bound and commanded to do, you then have
leisure, use it as personal piety suggests.
Not everyone can have the same devotion. One exactly suits this person, another
that. Different exercises, likewise, are suitable for different times, some for
feast days and some again for weekdays. In time of temptation we need certain
devotions. For days of rest and peace we need others. Some are suitable when we
are sad, others when we are joyful in the Lord.
About the time of the principal feasts good devotions ought to be renewed and
the intercession of the saints more fervently implored. From one feast day to
the next we ought to fix our purpose as though we were then to pass from this
world and come to the eternal holyday.
During holy seasons, finally, we ought to prepare ourselves carefully, to live
holier lives, and to observe each rule more strictly, as though we were soon to
receive from God the reward of our labors. If this end be deferred, let us
believe that we are not well prepared and that we are not yet worthy of the
great glory that shall in due time be revealed to us. Let us try, meanwhile, to
prepare ourselves better for death.
"Blessed is the servant," says Christ, "whom his master, when he cometh, shall
find watching. Amen I say to you: he shall make him ruler over all his
goods."
