De forti certamine contra vitia per exempla sanctorum
The Example of the Saints
We are called to imitate the courage and purity of the saints to overcome worldly vices.
Act with courage, and let your heart be strengthened. Just as we learn to endure adversity through the passion and cross of Jesus and the sufferings of the holy martyrs, so too, through the blessed Virgin Mary and all the holy virgins, widows, and those who live in continence, we learn to overcome carnal vices, to despise riches, to flee from honors, and by holding all worldly things in contempt, to seek and love the things of heaven. O servant of God, strive to follow the unconquerable patience of strong men, to resist the devil and his counsel, and through the virginal constancy of weak maidens, to cast far from you and despise all the delights of the flesh along with every other vice.
The Vanity of Earthly Treasures
Attachment to temporal goods and worldly glory leads to judgment and sorrow rather than lasting peace.
If God in His mercy grants your poverty some temporal goods, don't become miserable because of them! Do not be foolishly puffed up or set your heart on them, because you do not know how long you will be here and enjoy them. Don't desire a long life, but a good one, because a good conscience is better than all the treasures of the world. For the more you have of earthly things, the more strictly you'll be judged for them. Alas for the deceptive grace and fleeting glory of the world, to take pleasure in the riches, honors, positions of power, and delights of this life; for after these follow the greatest sorrows, and to burn forever with the devil, where there is no redemption from those torments.
The Narrow Way of Discipline
The faithful must embrace self-denial and discipline to avoid the traps of pride and the judgment of the world.
But oh, what great joy it is for the chosen to rejoice forever with the angels, where the highest happiness of all good things will last forever with God and His saints. Oh, how happy are the men and wise virgins who have left everything for Christ's sake and have striven to reach the eternal homeland by the narrow way. Know this, all you faithful and devout servants of Jesus Christ: you must fight against various carnal and spiritual temptations, and keep watch, pray, fast, and work as long as you live. You must discipline the flesh so it doesn't swell with pride and lust against the spirit, and so it doesn't deceive and prevail against the soul by dragging it into hell. What good is it to pamper the flesh here, only to be tormented most severely in hell later? And what good is it to be praised and honored by people here, only to be shamed and condemned in the future with the wicked and the demons? To be considered a great teacher in the world, yet not be counted among the number of the chosen, is a source of the greatest shame and mockery before God and all His saints.
The Glory of Suffering for Christ
Suffering for the sake of Christ is the highest honor, promising a great reward in heaven.
But to suffer for Christ and be despised by the ill-willed is the greatest honor, praise, and glory before God and all the saints. This is why he himself says to his disciples, and why he consoles all the faithful everywhere who suffer injury and pressure for his name. “Blessed are you when people hate you and insult you because of my name; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” Amen.
Read the original Latin
Viriliter agite: et confortetur cor vestrum. Sicut per passionem et crucem Iesu et sanctorum martyrum poenas discimus adversa tolerare: sic etiam per beatam virginem Mariam et per omnes sanctas virgines viduas et continentes discimus carnalia vitia vincere; divitias contemnere honores fugere: et per contemptum omnium mundanorum caelestia, quaerere et amare. O serve Dei stude virorum fortium patientiam insuperabilem sequi, diabolo et consilio eius resistere et per debilium puellarum constantiam virginalem omnia delectabilia carnis cum ceteris vitiis longe a te proicere et spernere. Si bona temporalia Deus dederit pro sua clementia paupertati tuae noli inde miser! extolli; noli stulte cor apponere: quia nescis quamdiu hic eris et istis frueris. Noli longam optare vitam sed bonam; quia melior est bona conscientia: quam omnes thesauri mundi. Quanto enim plus habueris de rebus terrenis: tanto districtius inde iudicaberis. Heu fallax gratia et brevis gloria mundi, in divitiis honoribus praelaturis et deliciis huius vitae gaudere; post quae sequuntur maximi dolores et fletus cum diabolo semper ardere: ubi nulla est redemptio a poenis eorum.
Sed o quam magna iucunditas electorum cum angelis semper laetari: ubi summa felicitas omnium bonorum cum Deo et sanctis eius sine fine durabit. O quam felices viri et prudentes virgines; qui omnia propter Christum reliquerunt: et per artam viam ad aeternam patriam pervenire studuerunt. Scitote sergo omnes fideles et devoti servi Iesu Christi: quia oportet vos contra varias temptationes carnales et spirituales pugnare, vigilare, orare, ieiunare, et laborare quamdiu vivitis. Oportet carnem castigare ne intumescat et concupiscat contra spiritum: et ne decipiat et praevaleat contra animam trahendo ipsam in gehennam. Quid prodest hic carnem delicate nutrire; et postea in inferno gravissime torqueri? Et quid iuvat hic laudari et honorari ab hominibus; et in futuro confundi et condemnari cum impiis et daemonibus? In mundo doctor et magnus reputari; et in numero electorum non computari: maxima confusio et derisio est coram Deo et omnibus sanctis eius. Pro Christo autem pati et vilipendi a malivolis: maximus honor laus et gloria apud Deum et omnes sanctos.
Hinc ipse ait discipulis suis: et consolatur ubique omnes fideles pro nomine eius iniuriam et pressuram patientes. Beati eritis cum vos oderint homines et exprobraverint propter nomen Meum; gaudete et exultate: ecce enim merces vestra multa est in caelis. Amen.
The Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies companion
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