Em que se demostra per que virtudes nos enderençamos a desemparar as tres voontades suso scriptas e seguir a quarta.
The Three Paths of Virtue
The author introduces the transition from disordered wills to the fourth virtuous will, defined by fear, reward, and love.
Through these virtues, we refrain from following the three disordered wills and govern ourselves by the fourth, virtuous will. The first is the fear of the pains of hell and the laws imposed by authorities, or by those who have power and governance over us. The second is the desire for the rewards we hope to receive in this life, and afterward in the next, for always doing good and turning away from all evil. The third is out of love for our Lord God and affection for the virtues.
From Servitude to Sonship
The text elaborates on fear, hope, and charity, ultimately arguing that the love of a son is the highest form of devotion.
And the first, which pertains to fear, is appropriated in the book of Collations, believing that if we do evil, we will undoubtedly face punishment and penalty. The second is hope, through which we expect great rewards and glory from God if we live well and virtuously. And the third is charity, through which we love God above all things, and virtues for His pleasure, and we detest everything contrary to virtue so as not to displease Him who is above all; and although each of these virtues is sufficient in itself to guide us in that royal race followed by few, there is a great difference among them, because the first two pertain to those who begin and continue to strive for the most perfect state, while the third pertains to those who, having ceased to be servants, serve with fear of the wounds that come from the condition of servants, who already hope for their good service a reward, and thus see themselves in the state of a good and loyal son, who considers all things of his father as his own, and therefore does not serve, honor, and fear so much out of fear of punishment or hope of reward, as out of rightful love, in which there is a more continuous fear of displeasing someone whom one loves greatly, so as not to diminish these three restraints, which each one must carry in their heart to feel, know, and keep the goodness and virtues.
Read the original Latin
Per estas virtudes nos retemos de seguir as trees voõtades desordenadas; e nos regemos per a quarta virtuosa. Primeira, temor das penas do inferno e das lex presentes, postas per os senhores, ou per aquelles que sobre nos teem poder e regimento. Segunda, desejo de gallardom que speramos de cobrar em esta vida, e despois na outra, por fazer sempre bem e nos arredar de todo mal. Terceira, por amor de Nosso Senhor Deos, e afeiçom das virtudes. E o primeiro, que perteece ao temor, no livro das Collaçoões se apropria aa fe, creendo que se mal fezermos sem duvida averemos por ello scarmento e pena. E o segundo aa esperança, pella que esperamos com graça de Deos grandes bees e gallardom, se bem e virtuosamente vivermos. E o terceiro aa caridade, per a qual se ama Deos sobre todallas cousas, e virtudes pera plazer a el, e se avorrece toda cousa contraira da virtude por nom desplazer a aquel que sobre todos he damar; e nom embargando que cada hũa destas virtudes per sy he suficiente pera enderençar naquella real carreira per poucos seguida; porem antrellas he grande deferença, porque as primeiras duas perteecem aos que começom e prosiguem de viir ao mais perfeito stado, e a terceira aos que leixando de seer servos, que servem com medo das feridas, que passam a condiçom de servidores, que ja speram por seu boo serviço galardom, e dally veem ao stado de boo e leal filho, que todas cousas de seu padre ha por suas, e porem nom tanto por temor das penas ou sperança de galardom o servem, honram e receam como por dereito amor, no qual ha temor mais continuado danojar quem muyto ama, por nom lhe fazer desplazer, ou minguar destes tres freos, os quaes cada hũu deve trazer em seu coraçom por sentir, e conhecer, e guardar bondades e virtudes.
The Loyal Counselor — Opening companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit