Instruccio rudium et neophitorum amare cupieneium et de mulieribus uitandis

Instruccio rudium et neophitorum amare cupieneium et de mulieribus uitandis

A faithful soul, the bride of Jesus Christ, casts out pride because it deeply loves humility. He despises empty glory because he desires only the joy of eternity, following Christ. He hates carnal indulgence and softness because he longs to taste the sweetness of eternal honey and feels the love of his beloved always burning within him. A person who has no anger prepares to endure all things for the love of Christ. He doesn't know how to envy others because, truly, he shines with the love of all. He rejoices in the salvation of others. No one is envious unless they consider themselves lesser in truth and think of others as greater, which leads them to prepare accusations against others so that they don’t seem equal to them. But if someone is said to be greater, more beautiful, or stronger than others among the nations, they are immediately struck with the pain of envy. But the soul cannot seek that fleeting glory of praise, which is only kindled by a small spark of heavenly contemplation. From this, it is clear that people bite and devour one another because they have nothing of the love of God, which is present in all the chosen ones. Wherever there are some who love God, they truly desire the good of their companions just as they desire their own. So if you desire to excel in the love of God, let all earthly praise be abhorrent to you; embrace insults and the scorn of others for the sake of Christ, and stretch your mind boldly toward eternal rewards. Choose rather to feel the torment of fire with the damned than to share in their guilt. Whoever truly loves Christ ardently and lives securely, singing delicately in the joy of His love, finds it more pleasing to fall into eternal fire than to sin even once in this life. Moreover, such saints are those who live in purity, despising all earthly things, and who, filled with fervor and spiritual joy, sing with modulation, as they once declared. Those who are ardent in the love of Christ strive for heavenly things and always focus on good works as much as they can; they are filled with the delights of eternal life, yet they seem to themselves to be the least of all, and they see themselves as lower than everyone else. So strive, you who are still a novice and inexperienced, to resist your spiritual enemies firmly; do not let a wicked thought rest in your heart, but rather, be vigilant against the snares of demons and apply your wisdom. When an impure imagination or a contrary thought comes to your mind, don't give in; instead, fight bravely and cry out to Christ continually until you are clothed with the armor of God. If you desire to imitate those who despise the world, don't think about what you might leave behind, but rather what you should scorn, how much affection you present your desires before God, how much love you offer in your prayers, and how fervently you long to see God; otherwise, you will grow weary. If you perfectly hate all sin, if you seek nothing transient, if your soul refuses to find comfort in earthly pleasures, if you desire the things of heaven, if you long to contemplate the Son of God continually, if you speak moderately and wisely—(for one does not speak unless compelled, whose spirit is melted by the divine sweetness of love for Jesus); behold, in these and similar practices, you will one day attain perfection. Indeed, God approves of someone who despises the world. The soul is indeed sweet through the brightness of conscience, and beautiful through the love of eternal affection, which can be called the birth of Christ; because, purified from vices, it flourishes with virtues, and rejoices in the sweetness of a jubilant song, like the harmony of birds. Therefore, let us dedicate our whole intention to obeying God, serving God, loving God, and in every good work we do, let us aim to reach God. What good is it to desire worldly things or to pursue carnal love, when we can gain nothing lasting from it except the wrath of the Judge, which is, indeed, eternal punishment? Indeed, carnal love stirs up temptations, so that it may not attain perfect purity; it hides the sins committed and carelessly pushes one toward new wickedness, inflaming all kinds of evil desires. It disturbs all peace so that love for Christ may not be ardently pursued, and it confuses all the virtues previously acquired. Therefore, whoever desires to love Christ freely should not give their attention to the love of women. Women, if they love men, go insane, because they don't know how to keep love within bounds. But when they are loved, they sting most bitterly. One eye is focused on traps, the other on true pain; the love for which they long distracts the senses, completely distorting the mind's reason into foolishness, alienating the heart from God, and subjugating the soul, captive to demons. Some who look at a woman with carnal desire, even if not with the will to indulge in lust, do not keep themselves free from illicit impulses or unclean thoughts, but often find themselves stained with foulness and are drawn to commit even greater sins. The allure of women deceives many, whose desire can even lead the hearts of the righteous astray, so that those who began in the spirit may end up in the flesh. So be careful not to engage in conversation with women based solely on their beauty at the beginning of a good life, for if you do, you might be deceived by the poisonous disease of desire, leading you to knowingly endure and fulfill the impurity of your mind, and be dragged down by your enemies. Avoid women who are seductive, so that your thoughts are always kept far from them, because even if they are good, your will can be excessively tempted by the devil, who attacks and suggests, especially since the allure of the flesh can draw you in beyond measure. But if you constantly reflect on the love of Christ and keep Him before you wherever you go, with reverence, I believe that you won't be deceived by the false allure of women; rather, the more you disregard them as mere fluff and stories, the more you will be filled with the joy of the Lord's love. Christ acts wonderfully in those He loves, drawing them to Himself with tender and special love. They don't desire sensual pleasure or the allure of the flesh; they abandon all temporal things to oblivion, they don't love the prosperity of this world, nor do they fear any of its adversities. Solitary people love to be alone so they can experience the joy that comes from divine love without any obstacles. To suffer for Christ seems sweetest to them, not hard. Because whoever desires to honor the martyr's victory with dignity should perfect the devotion of the mind through the imitation of virtue; let them hold onto the cause of the martyr, even if they do not suffer the penalty, and let them keep patience, through which they will attain complete victory. But the soul, leaving behind the foolishness of a wicked love, enters the path of life through the art of living, where it quickly tastes the sweetness of heavenly life, feeling it to be comforting, so that it may overcome every fleeting pleasure. It asks the Beloved to grant it the usual consolation continually, and invisibly to refresh itself and pour out the grace of perseverance, so that it does not grow weary and falter amid various errors. If a young person begins to do good, they should always think about persevering, not giving up or ever abandoning their good purpose, but always strive in their mind to progress from lesser things to greater ones. Rejecting the shadow of error and the enticing sweetness of a poisoned life, despised and cast aside, one seizes the narrow path, now embracing the sweetness of sublime devotion. From this, and as if by steps, one ascends through the gifts infused by the Holy Spirit to the heights of divine contemplation, in which, resting and delighted by the ardor of eternal love, one flows with heavenly delights as is fitting for mortals. The beloved soul, beset by various disturbances and afflicted by the heat of temptations, cannot feel the sweetness of love as it truly is; yet, having experienced the joy of love and adhering steadfastly to her beloved, even though she might lack that wonderful sweetness, loves Christ with such longing that she would persevere for His sake alone. But how praiseworthy is the help He offers, in which the truest lover has found that it comforts the groaning, sweetens the desolate, calms the troubled, and, by dispersing disturbances, brings peace. The soul, separated from the vices of the world and alienated from carnal desires, is purified from sins. Therefore, one understands that a certain sweetness of future joy is present to him, which is confirmed in hope, and he is certain of attaining the kingdom; and in this life, he gives to Christ a delightful cup made from fervent love and adorned with the gifts of the Spirit along with the flowers of virtues, which the pleased Christ received, who drinks from the torrent on the way out of love.