Prima Hebdomada: Additiones

Prima Hebdomada: Additiones

These additions are meant to help better organize the exercises and to find what is desired. First, when I get up from bed, just before sleep, I should take a little time to reflect on the hour when I will need to rise and on the exercise I will be doing, while reciting the Angelic Salutation once. Second, when I wake up, I should immediately set aside all other thoughts and focus my mind on what I will contemplate in the first exercise of the night: and, out of greater reverence and confusion, I will present to myself an example of how a soldier would stand before his king and court, blushing, anxious, and confused, who, having received many great benefits and gifts from the king, would be convicted of having gravely sinned against him. In the second exercise, considering how much I have sinned, I will imagine myself bound in chains, and immediately brought before the supreme Judge, like someone guilty of death, accustomed to being led to the tribunal bound with iron shackles. Therefore, in addition to these thoughts, or others, I will clothe myself with the thoughts appropriate for meditation on these matters. Third, from the place of future meditation, standing still one or two steps away, for a brief moment while I could recite the Lord's Prayer, with my mind lifted up, I should consider my Lord Jesus as present and watching what I am about to do, to whom I must show reverence with a humble gesture. The fourth step is to approach the act of contemplation, now prostrated on the ground, either lying face down or sitting, or standing, and arranging myself in such a way that I hope to achieve what I desire more easily. Where I notice that these two things must be observed: first, if I become composed in any position, whether on my knees or in any other posture, I should not seek anything further; second, that at the moment I have attained the desired devotion, I should rest without anxiety about rushing through it until I feel satisfied. Fifth, after completing the exercise, whether sitting or walking, I should reflect for about a quarter of an hour on how my meditation or contemplation has gone; and if it hasn’t gone well, I’ll seek the reasons with sorrow and a plan for improvement; but if it has gone well, I’ll give thanks to God and aim to maintain that same approach afterward. Sixth, I’ll avoid thoughts that bring joy, like those about the glorious Resurrection of Christ, because any such thought hinders my weeping and sorrow over my sins, which I should seek instead, especially in light of death or the judgment. Seventh, for the same reason, I should deprive myself of all the brightness of light, with doors and windows closed for a while, while I stay there, unless it’s time for reading or eating. Eighth, I should avoid laughter and words that provoke laughter as much as possible. Ninth, I should focus my eyes on no one unless the occasion arises to greet or say goodbye. The tenth is to add some satisfaction or penance, which is divided into interior and exterior. The interior pain comes from one's own sins, with a firm resolve to avoid them, both from those and from any other sins in the future. The exterior, however, is the fruit of the interior, namely some form of punishment for sins committed, which can be taken on in three main ways. First, regarding food: by subtracting certain non-essential items (which pertain to temperance, not to penance) and also by including suitable nourishment, it becomes better as more is subtracted, while avoiding the corruption of nature or serious weakness. Second, regarding sleep and the manner of resting, by removing not only soft things or luxurious items but also other suitable ones as much as possible, without risking serious danger to life or health. Therefore, nothing should be removed from necessary sleep, except for a little to moderate the habit (if someone suffers from excessive sleep). Third, regarding the flesh itself, so that it may feel pain, by using hair shirts, ropes, or iron rods, or by inflicting blows and wounds, or by other forms of austerity. In all these matters, however, it seems more expedient that the sense of pain should be felt only in the flesh and not penetrate to the bones, given the danger of illness. Therefore, we should primarily use small cords for whipping, which afflict the outer parts, but not so much the inner parts, so that they do not cause harm to health. Moreover, four things should be noted. Regarding repentance, first, the use or effect of external repentance is threefold: namely, that one makes some satisfaction for past sins; that a person conquers himself, bringing his lower nature, which is called sensuality, under the control of his higher nature, that is, reason; and finally, that we seek and obtain some divine gift of grace that we desire, such as an intimate contrition of the heart for sins and an abundance of tears, either because of those sins or because of the pains and sorrows of Christ's Passion, or some resolution regarding a doubt that troubles us. First, the two initial additions are meant for the exercises that take place in the middle of the night and at dawn. The fourth, however, should never be done in the temple or in front of others, but only at home and discreetly. Third, when someone who is practicing does not achieve the desired feeling, whether pain or comfort, it’s important to change the way of living, sleep, and other forms of penance from time to time: so that we may follow one form of penance for three days, and then leave it for the next two days, or even for three days, depending on how much or how little penance is required. Moreover, when we often neglect such acts of penance due to the desires of the flesh or misguided judgment, as if our natural constitution cannot bear them without significant harm to our health, it sometimes happens that we exceed the proper measure of penance, overly confident in our bodily strength. As has been said, by changing the types of penance and taking them up and setting them aside in turn, it often occurs that the most merciful Lord, who perfectly understands our nature, reveals to each person what is truly beneficial for them. Fourth, a particular examination should be made to remove the faults and neglects that often creep in regarding the Exercises and Additions; this is something that should also be observed over the next three weeks.