De auditione et lectione divini sermonis
The Sacredness of Listening
We must approach the reading and hearing of God's word with humility, valuing truth over human eloquence.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God. Human comfort is worthless if it gets in the way of divine comfort. When sacred reading is read, God is speaking to you; therefore, listen to the word of God with humility and gratitude. Truth is not to be rejected, no matter how simple the person who speaks it may be. Whoever lives well teaches well, and whoever reads well is a messenger of God. A faithful messenger stays silent about what is harmful, reports what is useful, and doesn't know how to pretend. Pure truth is a delightful word. Subtle speech harms the simple-minded, and smooth talk often deceives.
The Discipline of Speech and Judgment
True wisdom is found in avoiding gossip, practicing mercy, and exercising prudence in our speech and conduct toward others.
A false storyteller is a disturber of peace; whoever listens to him does not escape scandal. A discerning judge is worthy of all praise. Someone who is harsh and unmerciful isn't worthy of mercy. An angry mind torments itself more severely; it vexes the innocent more often; it secretly curses the powerful and openly mocks those who do good. Someone deceitful in their words deceives those who believe them; therefore, they'll have few friends. It's good to avoid evil; it's holy to speak the truth; it's reasonable to act with modesty. It's just to harm no one; it's pious to be of service to everyone; it's religious to build up one's neighbor through words and conduct. It's the mark of a prudent person to think through what needs to be done, to seek nothing new without cause, not to easily recount unknown things, and not to immediately confirm what is doubtful.
Silence and the Heart's Devotion
Guarding the mouth and heart through silence preserves devotion and leads to true holiness, which is found in action rather than empty words.
Silence of the mouth is a great good for the peace of the heart; for the mouth of a fool is almost always open and ready for arguments. If you want to please God, you should guard both your heart and your mouth so you don't lose the grace of devotion or offend those who love quiet. A lot of beautiful words won't fill a sack, and being eloquent doesn't make an idle or ambitious person holy. Whoever does well will fare well.
Read the original Latin
Beati qui audiunt verbum Dei. Vile est solacium humanum: quod impedit divinum. Cum sacra lectio legitur Deus tibi loquitur: ideo cum humilitate verbum Dei audi gratanter. Veritas non est aspernanda: a quocumque simplici proferatur. Qui bene vivit bene docet; et qui bene legit: Dei nuntius est. Fidelis nuntius nociva tacet; utilia refert: fingere nescit. Pura veritas: iucundum verbum. Subtilis sermo parvulis nocet: blandus saepe decipit.
Falsus narrator pacis turbator: qui illum audit scandalum non evadit. Iudex discretus: omni laude dignus. Durus et immisericors: non est misericordia dignus. Iracundus animus torquet se ipsum gravius: vexat innocentes saepius; maledicit potentibus occulte: et deridet aperte bene agentes. Dolosus in verbis, fallit sibi credentes: ideo paucos habebit amicos. Bonum est stacere mala; sanctum vera proferre: rationabile modeste agere. Iustum est nulli nocere; pium omnibus prodesse: religiosum verbis et moribus proximum aedificare. Prudentis est agenda praemediotari: et sine causa nil novi quaerere; ignota non facile enarrare: dubiosa non statim confirmare.
Magnum bonum pro pace cordis, silentium oris: nam os fatui quasi semper apertum rixisque proximum. Qui Deo placere desiderat cor et os custodiat; ne devotionis gratiam perdat: etquietem amantes offendat. Multa pulchra verba non implent saccum: nec eloquentia verborum sanctificat otiosum neque ambitiosum. Qui bene facit: bene habebit.
The Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies companion
Fourteen readings down. The other 39 chapters are waiting.
Chosen Portion serves the complete Little Garden and Valley of Lilies — plus the Imitation — as daily portions.
These treatises were composed as brief daily counsels for a community's rhythm of reading, and Chosen Portion delivers them the same way: one short chapter each morning.
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