De uera humilitate et aduersitatibus et sanctorum exemplis et modo proficiendi, et meditacione passionis Christi

De uera humilitate et aduersitatibus et sanctorum exemplis et modo proficiendi, et meditacione passionis Christi

Truly humble people don’t focus on the sins of others but consider their own; they don’t praise their own good deeds but rather those of others. The wicked, on the other hand, act differently, for they focus more on the sins of others than on their own, and they claim that their own sins are either nonexistent or insignificant. They prefer their own good things, if any good things happen to them, over those of others, whose good things they at least wish to diminish, even if they can't completely eliminate them. I grieved over two things I heard. There was a time when I, miserable as I am, despised only myself, and I wanted to be recognized. There was another time when I saw my neighbor, whom I loved in God and for God, being insulted or attacked by slander. However, you who leave the world and strive to follow Christ on the path of poverty, make an effort to know yourself, because if you truly renounce the desires and actions of this world for Christ's sake, you should gladly endure the hardships of the world, and bravely flee from prosperity; bind yourself to this: if you ignore this and do not pay attention, you will depart deceived from the love of Christ. So don't be surprised if you're worn out by various troubles and afflicted by different temptations; because if you resist steadfastly, you'll become sweeter and dearer in God's eyes. Remember that just as gold is tested in the furnace, so too are you tested. For those who truly sense the sweetness of Christ's love within themselves, gladly embracing tribulation, do not seek the comforts of this world at all. Such is the sweetness that fills the mind of one who truly loves Christ, that if all the joys of the world were gathered together in one place, he would rather run into solitude than even glance at them once. It's no wonder that all earthly consolation seems more like desolation than recreation. A vain soul cannot be nourished by the glory that is typically enjoyed with the joy of God's love, whose heart does not turn away from its beloved, because it would rather choose any other way than to offend its Redeemer even once. To gain this grace, keep in mind the examples of penitent sinners, strive to imitate the lives of the saints, so that, though you are a sinner, you may turn to the service of the Lord, breathe hope through the sinners who have been exalted to the kingdom, and through the examination of the lives of the just, free yourself from all distractions. For through the memory of a better thing, the mind of a holier man is humbled. Because whatever life you find written or hear about, you'll always consider that life to be far more worthy than your own. Those who are called lovers of Christ are the ones who endure the hardships and challenges of this world for His name's sake, while they scorn the fleeting joys and all vain pleasures, are filled with contempt, disgrace, and scandals, and are tormented by their own praises; those who live in solitude for God, dying in the way, are taken up to the fellowship of angels in their homeland. I fled into solitude because I couldn't find common ground with people; they often hindered my joy. Since I didn't act as they did, they imposed error and indignation upon me. Therefore, I found tribulation and pain, but I called upon the name of the Lord. So let’s not fail in temptation, but strive to be free from all earthly desires, and keep the crown of eternal glory always in our memory, so that we may receive the promised beatitude when we are vigilant. Meanwhile, let us use such a measure that the desire of the flesh may be completely restrained, and that the body's cravings may be discreetly abandoned, while the body remains stable and strong in the service of God. For whoever, out of love for Jesus, gives up everything, in fact, abandons the desire to possess, and persevering and progressing, will joyfully say, "I have found whom my soul loves." For Christ is found in the heart when the warmth of eternal love is felt, which longs to be sought without pretense. For Christ descends into the soul with a sweet and joyful fervor, so that whoever has this joy may boldly say; but when one prays, they see their mind lifted above the roof, indeed above the corporeal heavens, if they do not falter, but always grow more and more in the eternal wisdom, joyfully awaiting the mercy of Christ, because in a few years they will feel themselves caught up to glorious contemplation. Therefore, let your humble heart strive for progress until it reaches the eternal peace of communion, and do not grow sluggish. But if in prayer the eye of your heart is drawn up to contemplate heavenly things, it’s likely that your soul, transcending earthly matters, will make progress in the love of Christ. If someone, while praying, has not yet been lifted up to the heavenly things, let them not cease to meditate, pray, and stay awake discreetly, until they can behold the higher things, lest they lie on the ground, crushed by anxieties and pressures. Go out, he says, daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon in his crown; understand Christ, truly the peacemaker, who suffered for our salvation. Look at him, and you will see the divine head crowned with thorns, the face covered with spit, the bright eyes dimmed by hunger, the back scourged, the bare chest bloodied, the venerable hands pierced, the most tender side wounded by a lance, the feet nailed, and throughout all his tender flesh, wounds inflicted, as it is written, and from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head, there is no health in him. So, step away from your temptations and desires, and see what Christ has taken on for you, so that your sins may be completely cast out and your hearts may be kindled with the fire of love.