Consider that nothing save holiness and devotion can satisfy your
soul in this world: behold how gracious they are; draw a contrast
between each virtue and its opposite vice; how gracious patience
is compared with vengeance; gentleness compared with anger;
humility with pride and arrogance; liberality with avarice;
charity with envy; sobriety with unsteadiness.
It is one charm of all virtues that they fill the soul with
untold sweetness after being practised, whereas vice leaves it
harassed and ill at ease. Who would not speedily set to work and
obtain such sweetness?
In the matter of evil, he who has a little is not contented,
and he who has much is discontented; but he who has a little
virtue is gladsome, and his gladness is for ever greater as he
goes on.
O devout life! you are indeed lovely, sweet and pleasant; you
can soften sorrows and sweeten consolations; without you good
becomes evil, pleasure is marred by anxiety and distress: verily
whoso knows what you are may well say with the woman of Samaria,
"Lord, give me this water," (1) an aspiration often uttered by
Saint Theresa and Saint Catherine of Genoa.
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