> [[js-cm-09|← Articles of Faith Explained]] | [[the-carmelite-manual-toc|TOC]] | [[js-cm-11|Morning Prayer →]] # Christian's Rule of Life ## Of the Necessity of a Rule of Life IT is not sufficient to do good, but you should do it in a proper manner-that is, according to rule; since thereby you will be enabled to acquit yourself of your several obligations with greater facility, greater perfection, + merit, constancy. You should, therefore, pray to the Almighty, and consult an enlightened director, in regulating your actions, as to the hour of performing them, the the time you should devote to them, the the method to be observed, and the interior spirit which should direct you. ## Of Rising, and Morning Prayer HAVE your time for rising so fixed, that, as far as it may depend upon yourself, nothing shall interfere with it. In the first place, turn your thoughts to God, and pray to him whilst you are employed in dressing. Then say your ordinary morning prayers, and never omit them; consider the occasions of sinning to which you may be exposed during the day, and resolve to adopt the proper precautions. ## Of Hearing Mass BE present, if possible, every day at the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and assist at it in that manner, which is most suited to your own circumstances, and the sanctity of the action-that is, bring with you those dispositions of the soul, which are best calculated to honor these mysteries, and derive from them the graces they offer. You may chose your own prayers; the best are those which unite you in intention with the clergyman, or rather with Jesus Christ, our invisible Priest. ## Of Meditation SET apart, if you can, a half or a quarter of an hour for meditation or reflection on some Christian truth; and learn the method of performing this duty. Were you acquainted with its advantages, you would never fail to find time for this exercise; a very little practice will render it easy to you. ## Of Employment WHATEVER be your rank and condition, be fond of employment; give yourself to it in the spirit of mortification, and in submission to that sentence of the divine justice, which condemned man to labour, as soon as ne fell into sin. Unite yourself by intention to Jesus Christ, by employing yourself in working for the poor, or in the service of religion. You may thus redeem those years which you may have unhappily spent in luxurious vanity. ## Of Eating and Drinking SANCTIFY this action, by referring it to God, according to the direction of St. Paul. Eat and drink, that you may recruit your strength, and more ably discharge your duties. Say the usual grace before and after your principal meal: avoid intemperance and every excess, both in quantity and quality: abstain, in the spirit of mortification, from what is merely calculated to gratify the taste: think often of the rigorous fasts of the saints, and of the gall and vinegar which was presented to Jesus Christ upon the cross. ## Of Spiritual Reading EVERY day employ some time in reading a religious book. Place yourself in the presence of God, and think that he is speaking to you. Let the instruction sink deep into your mind; meditate upon it, and apply it to yourself; ask of God grace to act up to the good thoughts he may inspire you with. A lecture performed in this manner, is a species of easy meditation, and will supply for a sermon when you cannot hear one. ## Of Praying Before the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar UNLESS you are prevented by occupations and the orders of superiors, you should not fail in the course of the day to render this homage to our Saviour; and that you may do it with more benefit to yourself, you should employ such considerations as are most likely to inspire you with an increase of devotion. ## Of Interior Recollection in the Presence of God OFTEN direct your attention to God during your occupations, that you may refer them entirely to him; address him in a short prayer; act only according to his lights, and rely upon the assistance of his grace. Keep a continual watch upon self-love, which imperceptibly steals into our best actions. Raise your mind to God at the beginning of every work: offer him your heart, and renew your intention every hour in the day. Accustom yourself to a familiar use of those prayers styled ejaculations-such as, Lord, my trust is in thee -Lord, take pity on me thy creature-My God, I love thee with my whole heart-Pardon me, my God, the fault I have committed. ## Of a Spirit of Mortification THE life of a Christian should be a continual exercise of penance. Practice mortification, then, in your common and ordinary actions; for nothing is more likely to establish the empire of grace in your soul, and destroy that of sin. For example, resist your inclinations to do a useless work: keep a watch upon, and restrain your rambling senses: repress curiosity, in inquiring after news: suffer not yourself to indulge in raillery, and wit that is contrary to charity, or pleasing to self-love: be fond of nothing that flatters sensuality: regulate your amusements, and frequently abstain in the spirit of penance from innocent pleasures: moderate that excessive tenderness, which human nature has for itself: call your thoughts off from pleasure: mortify your love of speaking, and always converse with mildness: behave kindly towards those who have offended you: be silent in disappointments, and bear them with resignation. ## Of Evening Prayers SAY them with the rest of the family; they will be more acceptable to God, and performed with more devotion; you will also have an opportunity of seeing that your servants and children discharge this religious duty. If it is your real wish to root out bad habits, and secure your salvation, never omit the general and the particular examination of conscience-make yourself acquainted with the nature of both. Lay yourself down to rest with some pious reflection on your mind, and offer yourself to God. ## Of Sacramental Confession THOSE who wish to attain to perfection in this life, should confess their sins at least every week; those who seriously desire to work out their salvation, should do it every month; and if they do not mean to expose themselves to the danger of dying in sin, they ought to do it as soon as they perceive their consciences charged with any mortal offence. Instruct yourself in the manner of worthily approaching to this holy sacrament; and over and above the penance which the priest enjoins, accustom yourself to practise some of the following good works. Seek retirement from the world:-visit the poor, the imprisoned, and the sick:-and pay your devotion to the holy sacrament of the altar. Spend a certain time in private prayer:-oblige yourself to conform to a regulated plan plan of life:-occupy yourself in works of charity:-distribute some alms:-abstain from the theatres:-deny yourself such amusements, as even are innocent:-fast, or rather mortify your appetite in quality or quantity:-retrench in your comforts and dress, whatever flatters luxury, vanity, or effeminacy: -cheerfully embrace every painful and disagreeable duty:-employ yourself in labour, through a spirit of penance:-bear your own crosses with patience, and support with humility and resignation the troubles and afflictions which happen. ## Of Communion COMMUNICATE often. To do it every month, will not be too often, if you are not in the habit of committing mortal sin, and endeavour to avoid it. You will do it with advantage to yourself every week, if you abstain from mortal sin, though you may occasionally fall into venial sins-that is, provided they are not habitual, and that your affections are disengaged from them before your communion. Neither the marriage state, nor the hurry of business, should be any obstacle to frequent communion, provided you live with that purity and disengagement of heart which become a Christian. Some may communicate still oftener; but the advice of a wise and discreet director should be their rule. ## Of Resistance to Our Predominant Passion ENDEAVOUR, with the help of grace, to discover the capital fault or passion which rules over you. Observe which way your heart, your inclinations, and your thoughts, most naturally lead-what you have most difficulty in resisting and where you most commonly fail. The means of overcoming this passion, are, the recollection of the continual presence of God, meditation, prayer, the use of the sacraments, examination of conscience, and interior, together with exterior, acts of those virtues which are contrary to this passion; also, great prudence in avoiding occasions of temptation, and a strict examination of conscience, as to this particular propensity. ## Of Preparation for Death SET apart a day in each month to prepare for death, and apply yourself as earnestly to every duty as if that day was to be your last. Go to confession and communion: recollect what may give you uneasiness at the hour of your death; for instance, property that may belong to others-doubts-reparations-reconciliations, &c. Make those acts which are made by the dyingto wit, acts of resignation, as to the hour, time, and manner, which may please God; acts of thanksgiving, of lively faith, hope, confidence, of contrition, and love of God, &c. Invoke Jesus Christ, who was crucifiedthe Holy Virgin-your good angel guardian-your holy patron in heaven; and, in lying down, consider your bed as your coffin. ## Of the Duties of Our State and Condition BE attentive to fulfil the duties of your state with zeal, and with the intention of pleasing God, who placed you in it. Discharge its painful and irksome offices in the spirit of penance. Instruct yourself as to the nature of your obligations, as a father, mother, husband, wife, master, mistress, child, or servant; each state has its own and indispensable obligations. ## Of the Use of Riches IF you are rich, remember what your obligations are towards the poor. Both the threats and promises of Jesus Christ should induce you to give alms. God required of the Israelites the teuth part of their goodsthat may serve as a rule. Let it be done in proportion to the extent of your fortune, and the necessities of the poor. You will never want the means of being charitable, if you diminish your attachment to the things of this world, and carefully regulate your expenses. ## Of Pleasures and Amusements Use them as you would a remedy for your health: a remedy should not be hurtful, nor dangerous, nor too frequent and common. Avoid all pleasures which are anyways sinful, and be moderate in such as are innocent. Never allow yourself to play at a game of pure hazard; and never employ a very considerable time at any game, nor expose yourself to great losses. Play with moderation, without permitting yourself to be fond of it, or neglecting your duty. ## Of Crosses and Afflictions CARRY your crosses as Jesus Christ carried his; that is, patiently-for they come from God-in the spirit of penance; for otherwise, what penance can yon perform for your sins? 3dly-with love and affection; for it is God who visits you in his goodness, and through mercy punishes your sins in this world: 4thly-uniting them with the afflictions of our blessed Saviour; it is from this union that they are meritorious before God. If you suffer in this manner, besides diminishing your sufferings in this life, you are preparing stores of treasure and glory for the other. ## Of Visits THERE are some visits which are absolutely necessary to be made: sanctify these, therefore, with the pure intention of doing your duty, and fulfilling the designs of providence. There are some visits which are quite of a charitable nature-perform them in the spirit of religion. There are some of mere decorum; consider these as the means of keeping up civil society, and regulate them according to the maxims of the gospel. There are some which are dangerous;-absolutely abstain from these. There are others, which are quite idle and useless; you will give these up, when you discover the value of time, and how little remains after you have acquitted yourself of all your obligations. ## Of Conversation AVOID these defects in conversation: -1st, Inutility. Jesus Christ assures us, that we shall have to render an account of every idle word. 2dly, Vanity, or the esteem of the world-nothing is more contrary to the maxims of the gospel. 3dly, Detraction, which is called the seasoning of conversation for it is the ruin of the person who speaks the slander, as also of him who hears it with satisfaction, and of him who does not prevent it when he is able. 4thly, Loose expressions, offensive, to purity-avoid not only such as are evidently and plainly immodest, but also such as are disguised and have a double meaning, and which prove the baneful sources of a thousand bad thoughts, desires, and criminal actions. 5thly, Wit-when it degenerates, and becomes hurtful to charity and religion. ## Of Companions EVERYTHING will depend upon the company you keep. It is impossible for a young person to frequent bad company, and to continue virtuous. As soon as you find yourself in such society, without hesitation immediately withdraw from it. Your virtue, your happiness, and peace of mind, are all at stake. Esteem the friendship of prudent and respectable persons, and cultivate their society. You will feel a pleasure on entering into it, and you will retire from it with credit and advantage to yourself. No one can be too much afraid of the company of unprincipled, idle, profligate young men: by example, ridicule, or persuasion, they will succeed in making you a perfect copy of themselves. You will join them in the same undisciplined course; you will be associated with them in all their criminal habits; and you will find it most difficult to extricate yourself from them, even should the grace of desiring it be offered to you. --- ![[maps/bibliography#^biblio-spratt]] > [[js-cm-09|← Articles of Faith Explained]] | [[the-carmelite-manual-toc|TOC]] | [[js-cm-11|Morning Prayer →]]