1st Prelude. Behold our Divine Lord as a youth occupied in humble labor.
2nd Prelude. Ask for light and strength of will to do all things well.
POINT I. The life of Christ is summed up in the words, “He hath done all things well,” Bene omnia fecit (St. Mark vii, 37).
For Jesuits these words contain a most safe, most effective and most comprehensive rule of action. This follows from the fact that our life is directly intended to be a close imitation of the life of Christ Himself. Such was certainly the grand ideal of our founder, St. Ignatius. The perfection he teaches is the imitation of Christ; and the entire life of Christ is described in this statement, “He did all things well.” Any one of Ours who aims steadily at this practise is on the highroad to perfection; and one who does so throughout his life is a real saint. To such persons applies the saying of Father Isidore Boudreaux, S.J., which is quoted in our Menology: “The good novice makes the good scholastic and the good scholastic makes the good priest.” Without this aim the pursuit of perfection is an illusion.
POINT II. In this pursuit of sanctity we have no time to lose. See how much was done in a short time by our young Saints, Aloysius, Stanislaus, Berchmans, and really by all our great models. For instance, St. Francis had only ten years given him to accomplish his grand success in India and Japan. Very many of the Saints fulfilled a long space in a short time; a St. Catherine of Sienna, who benefited the Church so conspicuously, died at the age of 33 years. The career of any of you may be much briefer than you expect; but no matter how brief it be, it will be a very successful one if you do all things well.
POINT III. What is required to do all things well? It requires:
1. A good motive on all occasions; for the end specifies the act, determines its moral nature. In all your actions seek purely God’s glory, the good of souls, the will of God, or any purpose that the faith proposes to us. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all to the glory of God,” wrote St. Paul (I Cor. x, 31). It is not so much the offering of our actions to God that is here recommended, but rather the aiming in all we do at a supernatural effect. This higher aim renders our acts pleasing to God and meritorious for ourselves.
2. Attention to the least details of what you do, striving to impart to it the highest perfection you can. Thus the perfection of any work of art depends, not on the general outline only, but rather on the beauty imparted to every portion of the production, be it a painting, a statue, a literary composition, etc.
3. Careful avoidance of all negligent or defective work. For indulgence in carelessness not only spoils the task actually in hand, but also renders us less disposed to act well on subsequent occasions. Every moral fault we commit fosters an evil habit. Let me examine with care with what perfection I have lately been accustomed to perform my actions, and resolve to amend all that needs correction.
Colloquy, according to the present condition of my soul.