Caput L. De consideratione baptismi, jejunii et tentationis Christi.
The Baptism of Christ as Spiritual Wedding
The recluse is invited to contemplate Christ's baptism as a mystical wedding in which the Trinity is revealed and the soul receives the Bridegroom, purification, and the pledge of love.
But if you want to follow the virgin wherever she goes, take delight in exploring her higher and more hidden things: so that in the river of the Jordan you may hear the Father in the voice, the Son in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit in the dove. There, at the spiritual initiation of the wedding, you receive the bridegroom given by the Father, purification from the Son, and the pledge of love from the Holy Spirit.
Fasting, Solitude, and the Hidden Struggle
Solitude enriches the recluse with hidden things and sanctifies fasting, teaching the spiritual combat against the cunning enemy.
From there, solitude enriched you with hidden things; it sanctified your fasting and taught you the struggle to be waged against the cunning enemy.
Love and Imitation of Christ
The recluse is urged to consider diligently that Christ's works were done on her behalf, and to respond with love and imitation.
These things were done for you and on your behalf, and you should carefully consider how they were done. Love the one by whom these things were done, and imitate what was done.
Read the original Latin
Si autem virginem vis sequi quocumque ierit, delectet altiora ejus et secretiora scrutari: ut in Jordanis flumine audias in voce Patrem, in carne Filium, in columba videas Spiritum sanctum. Ibi tu ad spirituales initiata nuptias sponsum suscipis datum a Patre, purgationem a Filio, pignus amoris a Spiritu sancto. Exinde solitudinis tibi secreta ditavit, sanctificavit jejunium, ibi subeundum docens cum callido hoste conflictum. Haec tibi facta, et pro te facta, et quomodo facta diligenter attendas. Dilige a quo facta sunt, et imitare quae facta sunt.
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