A Retreat; Consisting of Thirty-Three Discourses with Meditation for the Use of the Clergy, Religious and Others (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...to bring it home to our mind and heart in both acceptations; and we will begin with the latter. For in a life of obedience it is the spirit of obedience which is all-important. A religious may obey through mere habit, by routine, for the sake of a quiet life, or through mere slavishness of disposition: such a one leads an outwardly obedient life; but he is not obedient. Much less is that religious obedient who obeys to the eye, but rebels inwardly. The root or spring of true obedience must be sought 1 Tota religionis perfectio in abdication propria voluntatit. Speculum Ditciplinae, c. 4. in Humility. Now, humility is that attitude of absolute truth in the presence of God by which we acknowledge Him as the perpetually flowing source of all that we are and have; and keep persistently before oar eyes that in ourselves and of ourselves we are and have nothing. For how does a man stand in respect to God? Consider a human being in his place in the world. Hehas, first of all, certain surroundings, which he calls friends, followers, servants, possessions, influence, credit. But these are in no way dependent on his will. They are like the tidal water on which the bark rides at anchor, which at the appointed hour will ebb away and leave it stranded in the mud. They depend on God, and God alone. If you object and say that the creation of these surroundings is to a great extent of a man's own doing, a moment's reflection will show that this is only a confusion of thought. For how does a man make his surroundings? By pure fortune in very many cases; that is, by God's act and permission. When his own act is in any way concerned in the matter, that act is the act of a power or a faculty which only exists as a living and energising thing by the inflow of God's will and ene...