Christus monet sponsam, quod omne tempus dispenset secundum voluntatem Dei nec aliquid faciat, nisi que Deo placere credat, et quod semper habeat voluntatem standi in seruicio Dei et mentem iugiter eleuet ad celestia, corpus quoque suum fatiget in presenti taliter, quod possit resurgere ad futuram gloriam.
The Threefold Discipline of the Bride
Christ instructs the soul to align every action, rest, and intention with His divine will and heavenly contemplation.
The Son says to the bride, "You must have three things: first, don't move unless it's for my will; second, don't rest unless it's for my honor; third, you must not stand unless it's for the benefit of your Spouse." You truly walk according to my will when you spend all your time in accordance with it—when you don't eat, sleep, or do anything else except as you understand it to be pleasing to me. You stand firm when you're determined to remain in my service, but you sit when you constantly lift your mind to heavenly things, considering what the glory of the saints and everlasting life are like.
The Bride's Stewardship of the Body
The soul is called to treat the body as a temporary vessel, laboring in good works to prepare for future glory.
To these three, therefore, you must add another three. First, you must be prepared like a bride-to-be who thinks to herself: 'I will gather for myself all that I can from the goods of my Father, which are destined to pass away, and bring them to my Spouse, with whom I must be in both need and adversity.' You must do the same, because your body is, in a sense, your father. For this reason, you should direct all the labor you can toward the poor and other good works, so that you may rejoice with me as with a spouse. Because your body is destined to fall, you shouldn't spare it in this life, so that it may rise again to a better life in the future.
Confidence and Eternal Hope
The bride finds security in the love of her eternal Spouse, choosing to reject fleeting worldly things for everlasting riches.
Second, think to yourself like a good wife: 'If my husband loves me, why should I be anxious?' If he is at peace with me, who is there for me to fear? Therefore, so he doesn't get angry with me, I'll show him every honor and always stand ready to do his will.' Third, reflect on this: your Bridegroom is eternal and infinitely rich, and with Him you'll have everlasting honor and eternal riches. So, don't love things that are destined to fall, so that you may obtain what will last forever.
Read the original Latin
Loquitur Filius ad sponsam: "Tu debes habere tria: primo non ire nisi ad voluntatem meam, secundo non sedere nisi ad honorem meum, tercio non stare debes nisi ad vtilitatem sponsi.
Tunc autem vadis ad voluntatem meam, quando omne tempus tuum dispensas ad voluntatem meam, quando non comedis nec dormis nec aliud quidquam facis, nisi sicut michi placere intelligis.
Stas autem firmiter, cum voluntatem habes stare in seruicio meo, sedes vero tunc, quando mentem tuam iugiter ad celestia eleuas considerando, qualis gloria sanctorum et vita sempiterna.
Hiis ergo tribus alia tria debes addere. Primo debes disposita esse sicut virgo desponsatura, que cogitat sic apud se:
'Omnia, que possum, de bonis patris mei, que casura sunt, congregabo michi ad sponsum meum, cum quo debeo esse in necessitate et aduersitate.' Sic et tu facere debes, quia quasi pater tuus corpus tuum est.
Ab hoc enim omnem laborem, quem poteris, in pauperes et alia bona exigere debes, vt mecum quasi cum sponso letari possis. Quia corpus tuum casurum est nec ei parcendum est in presenti, vt in futuro resurgat ad meliorem vitam.
Secundo cogita tecum, sicut bona vxor cogitat secum: 'Si vir meus diligit me, cur debeo sollicitari? Si pacificus est michi, quem tunc habeo timere? Ideo, ne irascatur michi, exhibebo ei omnem honorem et stabo semper ad voluntatem eius.'
Tercio cogita tecum, quod sponsus tuus est eternus et ditissimus, cum quo habebis honorem perpetuum et diuicias eternas. Et ideo noli diligere casura, vt optinere possis eternaliter permansura."
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