Treatise on Peace of Soul and Inner Happiness Of the Soul Which Dies to Self in Order to Live for God Taken from the book, The Spiritual Combat by DOM LORENZO SCUPOLI With Imprimatur CHAPTER ONE THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN HEART AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE GOVERNED GOD CREATED the heart of man for no other end than to love Him, and to be loved by Him; and the sublimity of this divine design should convince us that it is the noblest of the works of His almighty hand. Our first obligation, then, is to direct that heart to place its affection in proper things, that exterior acts might flow from interior dispositions of the heart. For although corporal penances and various chastisements of the flesh are praiseworthy when practiced in prudent moderation, yet by this means alone rather than acquiring a single virtue, you will probably acquire conceit and vanity. All externals will prove ineffectual unless they be invigorated by and permeated with worthy internal dispositions. The life of man is nothing but a continual warfare and temptation; and because it is a warfare, you must watch over your heart with sedulous care that it may be ever at peace. If any movements signal sensual disturbances, take heed to calm the storms within your heart instantly, never permitting the pursuit of vain and illusory pleasures. Exercise this caution not only in time of prayer, but anytime disquieting thoughts assail you, for prayers will be indifferently said until the soul knows peace. Observe, however, that all this must be done with a certain mildness and effortless ease, as the principal effort of our lives should be the quieting of our hearts, and the prudent guidance of those hearts lest they go astray. CHAPTER TWO THE CARE TO BE EXERCISED BY THE SOUL IN THE ACQUISITION OF PERFECT TRANQUILLITY THE MILD, peaceful, constant attention to the feelings of the heart will produce wonderful results; for we shall not only pray and act with great facility and peace, but shall even suffer without lamenting the disturbing elements of contempt and the injuries themselves. It is necessary, however, to undergo much toil before we acquire this serenity, for our inexperience inevitably exposes us to the assaults of powerful enemies. But once acquired, this peace will bring untold consolation to our souls in their fight against the disquieting elements of the world, and daily we shall perfect the art of quieting the turmoil of the spirit. If at times you are in such confusion of mind that you seem totally incapable of calming yourself, have immediate recourse to prayer. And persevere in it in imitation of Christ, Our Lord, Who prayed three times in the garden to show mankind that only in conversation with God can afflicted souls find haven and refuge. Let us pray without ceasing that repose may replace the chaos in our hearts, and that a humble submissiveness to God's will may bring our soul to its former tranquility. Let us not be disturbed by the endless and pointless hurry of the business world; when we are at work, let us attend to business affairs with composure and ease, refraining from rigid conformity to a harsh, exacting schedule, and too great an eagerness to see our work done. Our principal intention, a continual awareness of God's holy presence, and an unchanging desire to please Him, should preside over all our actions. And if we permit any other consideration to interfere, our souls will soon abound with fear and anxiety; we shall often fall, and the difficulty of recovering will convince us that our evils proceed invariably from acting in compliance with our own will and inclination. If on such occasions we are successful, then we are puffed up with vain satisfaction; and if we are disappointed, we are overwhelmed by uneasiness and vexation. CHAPTER THREE THE NECESSITY OF BUILDING THIS PEACEFUL HABITATION BY DEGREES BANISH FROM YOUR MIND whatever tends to depress and disconcert you, striving always with great mildness to acquire or preserve serenity of soul. For Christ Himself has said: "Blessed are the peacemakers. . . . Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart." Never doubt that God will crown your labor and make your soul a dwelling of delight; all He asks of you is a sincere attempt to disperse the clouds and storms whenever you are molested by disturbances of the senses and passions, that the sun of peace may shine on all your actions. As a house cannot be built in a day, neither can the mansion of inner peace be built within our souls in a fleeting instant. Rather, our success is a gradual attainment; it is the culmination of the primary work of the divine architect in predisposing our souls for the edifice to be built therein, and the firm establishment of humility which must be the foundation of that edifice. CHAPTER FOUR THE NECESSITY OF RELINQUISHING HUMAN CONSOLATIONS IN THE ACQUISITION OF INNER PEACE THE PATH WHICH LEADS to this heavenly peace is almost unknown to the world. For along that path tribulations and trials are sought with the same avidity that the worldling displays in the pursuit of pleasure. There contempt and derision are pursued as are honors and glory by the ambitious; there as great pains are taken to neglect and be neglected, to forsake and be forsaken, as the children of this world take to be sought for, caressed, and admired by the mighty and the rich. And there holy ambition is known, comforted, and favored by God alone. The Christian soul, as it travels this path, learns to converse with God alone and to be so strongly fortified by His presence, that it is willing to suffer anything for Him and the promotion of His glory. There one learns that suffering blots out the sun, and that affliction endured in the proper manner is a treasure laid up for eternity; and there one learns too that to suffer with Jesus Christ is the only ambition of the soul which seeks the glory of resembling Him. There one is taught that to love ourselves, to follow our own wills, to obey our sensual appetites, and to destroy ourselves are one and the same thing. There one is taught too that our own will is not even to be gratified in what is commendable, until we have submitted it in all simplicity and humility of heart to the will of God; that what He ordains and not what we wish should be the rule of our actions. Frequently we perform good works from wrong motives, or through indiscreet zeal, which, like the false prophet, appears to be an innocent lamb, when in reality it is a ravenous wolf. The devout soul, however, will discover the illusion from the effects produced. When it finds itself in trouble and anxiety, humility diminished and composure disturbed; when it no longer enjoys peace and tranquillity, and perceives all that has been attained with much time and labor to be lost------then the fact is really fantasy. We may sometimes fall on the path to inner peace; but this only serves to increase humility which assists us to recover and to watch more strictly over ourselves in the future. Perhaps God permits us to fall in order to root out some secret fault, artfully concealed by our deceitful self-love. Sometimes, too, the soul may be molested with temptations to sin, but it must not be unduly disturbed on this account; rather must the soul quietly withdraw from such temptations, reinstating itself in its former tranquillity without indulging in an excess of either joy or sorrow. In a word, all we must do is to keep our souls in purity and peace in the sight of God, knowing by experience that He ordains everything for our ultimate welfare. CHAPTER FIVE THE NECESSITY OF KEEPING THE SOUL DISENGAGED AND IN SOLITUDE THAT GOD'S HOLY WILL MAY OPERATE IN IT IF WE ARE TRULY cognizant of the priceless worth of the immortal soul, that sublime temple of God Himself, let us take care that nothing of the world intrude therein. Placing our hope in the Lord, we should wait with a firm confidence for His coming, and realize that He will certainly enter the soul unattached to worldly things and ready to receive Him alone. Alone, having no desire but the presence of God; alone, loving only Him; alone, void of all will but the will of Heaven. Let us learn to do nothing to please ourselves, that we may merit in the soul of the human the presence of the Divine, the comprehension of Whom is far beyond the horizons of created intellects. Let us follow exactly the prescriptions of our spiritual father and of those who govern us in the place of God, that every suffering and good work offered to God may be prudent and salutary. It is sufficient that we keep ourselves ever ready and willing to suffer for love of Him all that He wills and the manner in which He wills it. Whoever acts solely in conjunction with the dictates of his own will would do much better were he to remain in peace, attentive to what God wills to perform in him. Therefore, we must always avoid attachments of the will which should ever be free and in perfect harmony with the Divine. And since we ought not to act according to our desires, let us not consciously attach our wills to anyone thing; but if we should desire something, let it be in such a way as to leave us as unperturbed as if we had desired nothing, should our desire fail to materialize. For our desires are our chains, and to be entangled in them is to be a slave. To free ourselves from desires, therefore, is to free ourselves from tyranny. God demands that our souls be alone and unattached that He may manifest His manifold wonders in them, glorifying them even in this life by His Divine power. O Holy Solitude! O desert of happiness! O glorious hermitage, where a soul may find its God! Let us not only run to such an exalted place, but beg the wings of a dove that we may fly to it and find there a holy repose. Let us not stop by the wayside; let us not tarry on the way for frivolous conversation; let us leave the dead to bury their dead, forsaking the land of the lifeless for the land of the living. CHAPTER SIX THE NECESSITY OF OUR LOVE OF NEIGHBOR BEING GUIDED BY PRUDENCE THAT SERENITY OF SOUL BE NOT DISTURBED GOD DOES NOT DWELL in a soul which He does not first inflame with a love of Him and charity for others; for Christ Himself said He came to set the world on fire. Although our love of God must have no bounds, our charity for our neighbor must have its limits. We cannot love our God too much, but if our love for others is not guided by prudent moderation, we may destroy ourselves in seeking to save others. Let us, therefore, love our neighbor in a manner which will not be deleterious to our own souls; this is best accomplished by doing nothing with the sole aim of setting them a good example, lest in saving them we lose ourselves. Rather our actions should be performed with great simplicity and sanctity, with the sole aim of pleasing God in humble acknowledgment of the limited value of our good works to ourselves and others. We are not expected to be so zealous for the salvation of others, as to destroy the peace of our own souls. We may ardently desire their illumination when God is pleased that we do so; but we must not wait for a Divine communication nor vainly imagine that it is to be acquired by our exaggerated solicitude and imprudent zeal. Let us seek the peace and repose of a holy solitude, for such is the will of God as it binds us closer to Him; and let us remain recollected and undisturbed until the lord of the vineyard requires our services. God will clothe us with Himself when He finds us divested of all earthly care and solicitude. When we have forgotten ourselves, God will not forget us; peace will reign in our hearts, and Divine love will grant us an undisturbed facility of action, as well as moderation and temperance in all that we do. Thus every action of our lives shall be performed in the repose of a Heaven-sent peace in which even silence is eloquent; and to be free of earthly care in order to offer ourselves to the service of the Master is to act in accordance with the will of Christ. For it is His Divine goodness that must work in us and with us, requiring no more of us than sufficient humility to present to Him a soul that has but one desire, and this desire is that God's will be accomplished in us in the most perfect possible manner. CHAPTER SEVEN THE NECESSITY OF DIVESTING OUR SOULS ENTIRELY OF THEIR OWN WILL, THAT THEY MAY BE PRESENTED TO GOD "COME TO ME all ye that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you . . . all you that thirst, come to the fountain." Such are the words of Christ in the Scriptures; let us follow this Divine summons, without impulsiveness or clamor, in peace and mildness, referring ourselves respectfully and confidently to our loving and omnipotent God. Let us wait calmly for the coming of that spirit which brings peace; let us, entirely resigned and obedient to the decrees of His holy will, think of nothing but the means by which He may be desired, loved and glorified. Let these acts be performed without using force or violence on our hearts, lest by an unwise use of these instruments, our souls be rendered incapable of that sweet repose, which on this earth is their glory. Rather let us gradually accustom our souls to contemplate nothing but the love and goodness of God; let them be ever mindful of the Heavenly manna with which they shall be nourished in ineffable sweetness, once they accustom themselves to frequent meditation on these sublime truths. Avoid shedding useless tears or striving to excite within yourself an emotional display of devotion; but abide quietly in interior solitude until the will of God is accomplished in you. And when He gives you tears, they shall be sweet and effortless; accept them with gentleness and serenity, and above all with humility. By these indications shall you ascertain the source from which they spring, receiving them as dew from Heaven itself. Let us not presume to know, have, or desire particular things, for the very cornerstone of the spiritual edifice is not dependent on our knowledge, possessions, or desires in the slightest degree. Rather should we remain in a state of perfect self-denial like Mary at the feet of Jesus, instead of busying ourselves with many things like Martha. When you seek God by the light of your human understanding, you must avoid purely human concepts, or comparisons which limit, or inadvertently circumscribe His unbounded greatness. For He is beyond all comparison; He is beyond all division, He is omnipresent, containing all things in Himself. Try to visualize a limitless immensity, a unity which really defies human comprehension, and a power which has created and sustains all things in the entire universe in a feat of inimitable grandeur. Then say humbly within your soul: "Behold thy God." Contemplate and admire Him unceasingly in all times and in all places, for as He is everywhere, He is in your soul, and in it He rejoices as He has said. And although the Almighty stands in not the slightest need of your soul, He is pleased to make it a worthy habitation of Himself. In your intellectual pursuit of these sublime truths, be sure to retain a calm and peaceful will. Strive not to limit yourself to so many prayers, meditations, or readings, neither neglect nor limit your customary devotions. Rather let your heart be at liberty to stop where it finds its God, having no misgivings about unfinished exercises if He is pleased to communicate Himself to you in the midst of them. Have no scruples in this regard, for the end of your devotion is to enjoy God, and as the end is accomplished, the means have no significance for the present. God leads us by the path that He has chosen, and if we oblige ourselves to precise execution of exercises which we fancy, we are imposing imaginary obligations on ourselves; and far from finding God, we are actually running away from Him, pretending to please Him, yet not conforming to His holy will. If you really desire to advance successfully on this path, and attain the end to which it leads, seek and desire God alone; and whenever and wherever you find Him, there stop, go no farther. While God dwells with you enjoy His company with the celestial peace of Saints; and when His Divine majesty pleases to retire, then turn again to the quest of your God in your devout exercises. This advice is of the greatest importance and well merits our attention. For frequently we see many clerics who exhaust themselves in the fatiguing execution of their dutIes without deriving any advantages for themselves, or finding peace. For they imagine they have done nothing if they leave their task unfinished, believing perfection to consist in constant adherence to the minutest prescriptions of their own wills. Thus their lives are spent in weariness and toil as one who labors fruitlessly through the years; never do they obtain that true repose and interior peace in which the Lord truly dwells, for it is the peaceful soul that is a sanctuary of Jesus Christ. CHAPTER EIGHT CONCERNING OUR FAITH IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, AND THE METHOD BY WHICH WE ARE TO OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD OUR FAITH and love in the Holy Eucharist must so increase and strengthen as to become almost part of the very fiber of our being. Such faith and love cannot be successfully cultivated without a disciplined will, prepared to undergo all afflictions, tribulations, infirmities, and spiritual dryness for the sake of Jesus Christ. It is not for us to ask Him to change Himself into us, rather should we humbly petition to be changed into Him. Entertain Him not with pompous speeches or empty words. Admiration and exultation should so engulf our souls as to submerge these functions, as it were, when He is present. Our understanding should be completely absorbed in joyous contemplation of this incomprehensible mystery, and our heart suffused with joy at the sight of such immense majesty under such simple appearances. And let us desire no further manifestation of His divinity, remembering His deathless words: "Blessed are they who have not seen, and have believed." Above all let us be constant and punctual in our devotions, and practice unceasingly those means most conducive to purifying and adorning our souls with a peaceful and mild simplicity. And while these methods are followed, the grace of perseverance will never be wanting to us. A soul which has once known the ineffable delight of spiritual peace can never return to the hurry and confusion of a worldly life; for it is impossible for her to endure it in such circumstances. |