De probatione devotorum per contraria
The Seasons of the Soul
The soul experiences alternating seasons of spiritual light and darkness to foster humility, patience, and growth in the love of Christ.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. In heaven there is constant joy, and in hell constant sorrow; but in this world, both exist for a time to test both the good and the bad. Summer days are brighter, while winter days are darker. It's the same with a devout soul: when the grace of God comes and illuminates it, the soul understands and grasps many hidden things, singing and rejoicing with the great devotion it feels. But in a time of temptation, when the grace of devotion is withdrawn, the soul is in winter and cold, in the darkness of the intellect and in the fear of the mind. Then patience is necessary and more acceptable to God; virtues grow through adversity, and eternal rewards increase through patience. The soul is humbled and purified through trials; pride is confounded, and vain glory vanishes. As long as the soul lives in the body, it is exercised in both, for greater progress in the love of Christ.
The Art of Holy Acceptance
By embracing both prosperity and adversity, the faithful soul finds that all things work together for good under the providence of God.
It’s a great art and a great virtue to make good use of both good things and bad. Bless the Lord, therefore, my soul, at all times; praise your God, Zion, day and night. Your reward will be great in both places, before God in heaven and on earth, and everything will serve you—the prosperous and the adverse, the good and the bad, the joyful and the sad. This is why the Apostle Paul says: “For those who love God, all things work together for good,” and nothing will be lacking to those who fear Him. Blessed are those who follow the will of God in all things.
Read the original Latin
Laetamini iusti in Domino. In caelo semper est gaudium: in inferno semper est luctus; in mundo utrumque ad tempus: ad probandum homines bonos et malos. In aestate sunt dies clariores: et in hieme obscuriores. Sic est etiam cum anima devota, quando gratia Dei venit et eam illuminat; tunc multa abscondita cognoscit et intellegit: cantat et iubilat cum magna devotione quam sentit. Sed in tempore temptationis cum subtrahitur gratia devotionis; tunc est in hieme et frigore: in obscuritate intellectus et in pavore mentis. Tunc patientia est necessaria et Deo magis accepta; et crescunt virtutes per adversa: et augentur per patientiam aeterna praemia. Humiliatur anima et purgatur per flagella; confunditur superbia: et evanescit vana gloria. Quamdiu vivit anima in corpore exercetur in utroque: pro profectu ampliore in Christi amore.
Magna ergo ars magna virtus est: bene uti bonis et malis. Benedic ergo anima mea Domino in omni tempore: lauda Deum tuum Sion die ac nocte; et erit merces tua magna utrobique coram Deo in caelo et in terra, et omnia servient tibi prospera et adversa: bona et mala, laeta et tristia. Vnde apostolus Paulus ait. Diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum: et isnihil deerit timentibus eum. Beati qui in omnibus sequuntur voluntatem Dei.
The Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies companion
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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.
- All 53 chapters of both treatises in modern readable English
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- Complete both treatises in under two months at one chapter a day