POINT III. In particular the study of perfection requires constant efforts: 1. To adorn our soul with more and more virtue, 2. To correct our faults, 3. For this purpose, to labor earnestly at our particular examen, our confessions, 4. To direct our spiritual readings and meditations to the purposes of the illuminative way, returning to the purgative way if there arises some special need of it. Keep weeding, planting, binding. The chief point in this triduum is to see whether we have been of late seriously laboring at the acquisition of perfection as we now understand it: in particular whether we are attached to any creature so as to retard our progress, or habituated to commit any faults, which must be corrected; also how we profit by our Holy Communions, our meditations, etc., so as to promote steady progress in virtue.
Colloquy. Ask for the special graces of which you see a present need.
MEDITATION III
Christ the Model of Perfection
1st Prelude. See Christ carrying His cross, and saying: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (St. Matth. xvi, 24).
2nd Prelude. Ask for grace to follow Christ faithfully.
POINT I. Consider the consoling truth that Christ has really made Himself our guide. He is such by word and example. We could not have a nobler nor safer guide. He has led millions before us to the highest happiness. In this text He invites us to follow Him. Let us thank Him for this gracious offer and eagerly accept it. He is to us what the Angel Raphael was to Tobias. True, Tobias could see the Angel, but he did not know who he was; we cannot see Christ, but we know who He is and how He has acted. Our Society undertakes to follow Him in all the details of our lives. In this following consists perfection. We are actually following Him; but how earnestly? how generously? Can we not improve in many respects?
POINT II. Consider the words: “Let him deny himself.” Christ denied Himself: His ease, His health and life, His honor. In trying to follow Him we made a good beginning when we left our parents and all earthly possessions; to crown the work we must leave ourselves: 1st. Our ease, by hard work, without repining, with joy and perseverance. Many seculars work much harder than we do, but many do so grudgingly. Not so Christ; we must do like Him.
2nd, Our health and life, leaving all this in God’s hands, with proper care indeed, but no solicitude. Oh, if we could die in His service! It would be the greatest happiness. We may have that good fortune if we never shirk any duty. 3, Our honor. Christ willingly made Himself “A worm and no man, the reproach of men and the outcast of the people” (Ps. 21). The lowest on earth at first, He is now the highest in Heaven, and He invites us to follow Him. When we experience loss of ease, of health, of honor, how do we take it?
POINT III. Consider the words: “and take up his cross.” What is our cross? It is not so heavy as Christ’s. Our cross is: 1st, Our daily tasks. Perform them faithfully, zealously, cheerfully. 2nd, Our afflictions, sufferings, failures, disappointments. Be patient, do not despond: “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof” (St. Matth. vi, 34). Trust in God: “No one hath hoped in the Lord and hath been confounded” (Ecclus. ii, 11).
3rd, Our passions; we must keep them in check by unremitting efforts.