Caput XXXVII. Persequitur de virtutum ornamentis.
The Splendor of United Virtues
Humility, simplicity, mercy, and moderation are joined to other virtues to create unmatched splendor, brightness, sweetness, and usefulness.
Let humility be joined to chastity, and nothing will be more splendid. Let simplicity be joined to prudence, and nothing will be more bright. Let mercy be coupled with justice, and nothing will be sweeter. Add moderation to fortitude, and nothing will be more useful.
The Many-Colored Garment of the Soul
The mind is to contemplate this variety of virtues and weave them into a many-colored garment for the Bridegroom, with love as its outermost golden fringe.
In this variety, occupy the eyes of your mind. Shape this in your soul with all zeal: if you add golden fringes to it, a many-colored garment in which your bridegroom may behold you with the highest love, you have woven it. The outermost fringe is, as it were, the end of the garment. But the end of the commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and unfeigned faith (1 Tim.✦ 1:5).
Read the original Latin
Jungatur castitati humilitas, et nihil erit splendius. Prudentiae societur simplicitas, et nihil erit lucidius. Copuletur misericordia justitiae, et nihil erit suavius. Adde fortitudini modestiam, et nihil erit utilius. In hac varietate tuae mentis oculos occupa. Hanc in anima tua omni studio forma: cui si fimbrias aureas addas, vestem polymitam, in qua te sponsus cum summa dilectione conspiciat, texuisti: fimbria extrema pars, quasi finis est vestimenti; Finis autem praecepti charitas est de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta (I Tim. I, 5).
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Tim.4.12 — Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice