De ambulatione animae purae cum Deo
Walking in the Light of God
The soul walks with God by detaching from worldly treasures and seeking His glory in every word and action.
Walk while you have the light. That person walks with God in the light who desires to have nothing from this world, but has their heart fixed on God in heaven. For the treasure of the soul is hidden there—the Lord Jesus Christ—in whom all good things are contained. Anyone who doesn't have God as their friend is always miserable and in need, no matter what they possess. That person has God who loves Him and keeps His word. That person keeps the word of God well who never utters an idle word; who shows by their actions what they preach with their mouth; who does not seek their own glory, but refers all the good they do and see in others purely to the glory of God. Whoever pleases themselves pleases a fool and displeases God. Therefore, in all the good things you do and say, strive to please God, so that you may receive greater blessings from Him.
The Call to Interior Rest
A warning against vanity and an exhortation to find true rest by returning to the heart to love God above all things.
Why do you boast about your natural gifts when you're mortal and will soon be eaten by worms? Listen to an old man, young one, while things are distracting you; for you won't find rest unless you return to your heart, seek God above all good things, and love Him deeply.
Read the original Latin
Ambulate dum lucem habetis. Ille ambulat cum Deo in luce; qui nil cupit de hoc mundo habere: sed habet cor suum fixum ad Deum in caelo. Nam ibi est thesaurus animae absconditus Dominus Iesus Christus: in quo omnia bona continentur. Semper miser sest et eget quidquid habet: qui Deum amicum non habet. Ille Deum habet qui eum amat: et sermonem eius servat. Ille verbum Dei bene servat: qui otiosum verbum numquam profert; qui opere ostendit quod ore praedicat: qui propriam gloriam non quaerit; sed omnia bona quae facit et in aliis videt: pure ad gloriam Dei refert. Qui autem sibi placet stulto placet: et Deo displicet. Ideo in isomnibus bonis quae agis et dicis Deo placere studeas: ut ampliora bona ab eo recipias.
De bonis naturae quid gloriaris; cum sis mortalis a vermibus mox rodendus? Audi senem iuvenis rebus te distrahentibus; quia requiem non invenies nisi ad cor tuum redeas: et Deum super omnia bona quaeras et intime diligas.
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.
- All 53 chapters of both treatises in modern readable English
- A new short reading delivered every morning, no deciding what's next
- Complete both treatises in under two months at one chapter a day