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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itra reproduit en un seul clichA, il est fiimi di partir da I'angia supArieur gauche, de gauche k droito. ^t da haut en baa. en prenant le nombre d'imagea nAcasaaira. Lea diagrammas suivants illuatrant la mAthoda. 12 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 9? 3 rue de VUmversn 6C c Wx SPII -2 MY RULE OF CONDUCT OB SPIRITUAL COUNSELS FROM Imprimatur: Quebec, 24 th May 1879. C. F. Cazeau, Vic. Gen. MY RULE 01! CONDUCT. •' Learn of me for I am meek and humble ol heart" It is simple, it is easy, and exacts nothing that tny poor soul cannot ac- complish ; yet I feci that it unites meu^ to God; that it renders me mord de^ ' votad^ more sabmissive w suflforiiig} Ht mora faithf il to my duty, and thAtri it sweetly prepares tne fbr death. A Since I have followed its t3a;chiiig», ''^ it has ever been my cpn$olatwrt\ m^n light, my strength , and yet; my God tn thou well knowest that 1 have hid paififul hours in my hfeii ^mi Hi I^eac souls, you who, like myselff wish to become satnt*^, I giyo yau ^iy^^^ direction in all it^ siinplicity; hearken!* to it, for it comes from the lovingf^ Heart of Jestts, and isbased on thei^^^^ words of Jesus- Ohriit: ** Learit' a/i^ me, far I am meek and humhh of}'^ heart'' . ■- ^ "' ''''•'' '^^'^^ 2 - BB ME£K f I Meek towards God, Living from day to day beneath his fatherly eye, and, as it were, in a medium where all things are regtt*0' latcd b^ a Providence full of sdici- " tude. A mother does not more carefully prepare the room in which her child is to pas8 the day, than God prepares each hour that he unfolds to me. A duff/ presents itself: He wishes me to accomplish it, and, to do so, I have all that is noccssary of time, in* teUigence, aptitude and learning. An occasion of suffering is at hand : He wills that I bear with it, even Bhould I not see its immediate utility; and if pain provoke a murmur, K^ Hays to me :*' Courage, child, it is J who will it so'*/ Something occurs to delay or stop r 3 — r me in my work^ something f^m rts my plam /He has deugnedly manag- ed it so, because He sees that too mjch success would render mo vain, or that by too great a facility, I would becoma sensual ; and H ) thereby teaches me that it is not success that brings us to Heaven^ bat rather devotedness and labour. And, in truth, how all revolt i$ calmed in presence of th;3serefl3CtionsI How all labour is commenced, con^ tinued, in errupted, resumed ^K^t ed with p3ac3 and delight 1 With what energy I re^ ^nemie^that attack me at every indoleac3, eagernass, auxiety ab;)ut 8UCC333, distaste ariiing from diffi- culty ! Does the past sometimes arise to torment me, by the painful recollec- tion of 80 many years pabsed far from God? A.h ! undoubtedly, there liea in my ^4 — ^ heart a very deep sewtiipent of coldfu- sion an4 regret ; but why, on tliat accQuni lose ii>y peace of soul ? Has not God eaid to me, by the mouth of jhU- jninfeter : I/oraiic the ? llavo I not as He demanded of me, m^de a 'sincere avowal ,aD entire submission ? . Am 1 not, moreover , ready to ao- oomplifih all thaf may demand of me in His name, the priest to whom I have confided my ^^^^K., ^,.,s,. ..poes the future, m ils^turn,try to airip me ? hri-rr ^ 1 smile at those foolisli dreapa^ of ?oy imagination ; lias not God charg- ed Himself ^ith ^my future ? , V What I the circumstances that await 'me tomorrow, or in ten, twenty years hence, are all arranged, prej^ar- cd with maternal care by my heav- .^ulji Falhp, f^nd IcQuW fear lest they prove not good for me 1^^^,.^ ^ , :jl^:^ . Gpd^ i remain, reni^iii^ , the ^Bole master or my destiny, and grant Aa| my futuie may be as thcuhkst Screed 1 'f!€ 11 Meek towards zvz^tb. The different events that befal U8 are the messengers, cither of the mer- cy or of the nuitice of tiod. Kach of thobe events has a mission to fulfil in my regurd ; and as that mission is from Ood, why not kt it be accomplished in peace ? , Bo they never so painful, sorrow- ful, heart-rending, they arc but what .pod wills they should be. iSickness, — ill will, — loss of for- tune, — separations, -- forgotten friendship, — contempt, non- suc- cess, humiliations, — all are sent by God, and when they will have ac- complished their woiL they will pass awiy, and my soul will remain purer and more holy. We may view them, as they pass, with a certain dread » perhaps with a v^rj nat^iral feeling of terror, — the saints siailed at t^em thcoiigh their , tears — but we tkmi BCTer allcw thorn to dcj^riTc us of the sxnallfEt rdfgree of ley repigDatioo and coD^dence. To be meek towards events does not imply that we should await them with that stoic firmness which is a consequence of pride^ nor that we bear up against them so far as to re- press every sigh, no ! But God permits us to prevent them^ to remove them, to ehun tliem if possible, to relieve them, at least to mlleviate them. And this kind Father, at the very J our in which he sends them ab mes- tengcr^ of justice^ senas also the means to render them supportable and even frequently to avoid them. Remedies in sickness, Friendship in sorrows of the heart, DevoUdnesSy in privations, Consolation in dejection, Tears in grief It is God who created all ^eae, t — I — and who foreseeing that I should per-^ haps never be akle to find them , has ordained privileged souls to love me, to console me, to relieve and servo me, saying to them : ** WhatBoever you *io to the least of mine, I will com i* der it as done to mi/set/^ Ah 1 then, I will hearken, in my sorrows to the friendly voice that speaKS to me of hope ! I will accept, with love, the eager 8orvic3S of friendship. I will accept with gratitude th© time that they may devote to me, the self-imposed privations for my i^ak3, and [ will b^gof God to repeat to these kind friends. ^'Ali that you do for Aim, I will do for you,^^ .. . Meek towards others. This is more difficult than to b» meek towards events ; because it geems to us that others sometimes act through malice. Yet, how oftan 8 ~ ^d^' th^y act ofnly from constitutional character, selfishness, giddiness, (hsi- rpimonh/.oftheiT own good, and with- cut reflecting, for a moment, on the injury they doime. Then, why so fret myself ? It suflGices me to bo on my guard. niicavc othoirs at liberty, when there il8:tk>^iie8tion of a duty to perform ; as far as possib!e,ncver put yourself ia^ tWr W'ay, andif thry cross you,a<;oic?. but do not thwart them. ifffXo yields to comply, sometimes to withdraw a little and let others act, m^k is the ordinary course to adopt with the members of one^s family^ and with those we call our frienis. f yi henfiore you leave them the faci- lity of doing what they believe to, be "^ good, the more you share in the sen- timent thry have of their utility, their importance, the more you eclipse jroui self in order to leave clear the. road they wish to follow, the more w||l thej leave you at peace aud ca- 9 I 1 pablcf ofre^ideruig iJiem servirt. Do not bu^ y yourself with view- ing the aQtions of your friends in their s-mallest details, nor in the njo* tives that prompt them. — If their proceedini^s be wanting in delicacy , appear not to understand them, or ra- ther, si^iply believe that they Lave bqen mistaken. A sure means of overcoming the antipathy wo feel towards anyone, is to render him swie little service evert/ day and the way to ovpr- cqnie the antipathy that anyone may fe^r, towards us, is to say a good word of him ever^ day. Are those who surround you wick- ed, niaiieious ? Be on your guard, undoubtedly, but rest atca^e, they will harm you only to the dcgrfc willed by God : Th.it Will Divine thai hade the wave fnl>fiuld do it, and he sees mo. This work oc'cupies my intelligence perfects my soul, keeps away evil. " To be meek towards self is to en- courage one's self during those sad hours of universal abandonmenty when no one thinks of us, nor gives us the smallest mark of sympathy : Does it not suffice thee to do thy duty? — 11 God demands nothing more rf thee, and this duty will lead thee to Heaven. To be meek towards self is, more- over, 1o take courage after a fall, a hu- miliating fault, a failing that casts one down ; but to do so charitably, affectionately. " Come, my soul, it is nothing ; thou hast a good father, a generous master to deal with. — Ac- knowledge thy fault, humble thyself, and while awaiting absolution, re- Bunae thy daily duties with ordinary activity. Lastly, to be meek towards self is to fortify one's self against abandon- ment, discouragement etc. There are two things that fortify u« : prayer and labor. There is one that raises up again : devotedness and sacrifice. These remedies are always within tuy reach. — 12 _ 11 Bz nUMBLB Mumble towards God. lo Living habitually in His divino presence like a little child, or, even liko one that is in want, who asks, who loves, who waits, who knows that nothing is due him, but who also knows that,tVom one hour to another accordingly as he may require it , our good God will send to him and around him , all that is necessary , and even something beyond. Then live in peace under this fa- therly and merciful protection of Providence ; the more thou feelest thyself liale, weak, humbled, sick, iujipotent, unhappy ; even through thin'i own fault, tue more thou ha^it a right to the comjgassion and lOve of God. Ouly, thou m^sij>raif well : let thy I — 13 -- I prayer be pious and rather dow, ^weet atid full of hope. Th6 poor has nothing but prayer that he may call his own ; but when this prayer as- cends to the heart of (Jod, humble '*atid supplicating; how lovingly, how paternally it is listened to ! Do not make use of many different prayers ; let the'* Our Father'' effuse frequenily from thy heart to thy lips. Love to repea*i to God this sweet ** Oar Father'' which Jesus himself has taught us, so as to oblige himself as it were, never lo repulse us. 2o Consider thyself as a servant whom God has hired, and to whom he has promised a magnificent reward at the close of that day which we call '2ife /and place yourself each morning at Wi disposal, to do all thathe wish- ^^es, abd as he wishes, by whatever means it many please him to place "Within your reach. '^^.Ba6h day's work will not be rom* maiided dlrcttlyii'l this divine Mas- — 14 ~ ter ( it would be two sweet to obey directly to God ) ; but by his depu- ties or messengerd. These inesaengerH arc our Superiors, equals, inferiors, even our emmies. Do then your duty as best you caUy to yoHv utmost knowledge, and as it is coniniondcd you ; from time to time, Fay to God :^' Master, are you satisfied f and in spite of weari- oeps, fatigue, in s^^ite of repugnance, continue it to the end. Then, equally welcome praise or blame ; as to you, poor faithful scr- vanti remain in peace. 11 Sumbh towards others Look upon yourself sincerely, but without ostentation, so that others may not even suspect your intention to do i?o, as the servant 0/ all. Bepeat sometimes in a low voif^e, these words of the Blessed Virgin : Behold the handmaid of the Lord^ I — 1ft ~ and thess others of Our Lord : J%e Sm of rmnis not com^ to be minis' tered unto, but to minister unto others, and act towards all those who surround you, as if you really were in their service, antlcipatinc]f their wishes, assisting them, listening to them, b^ing almost confused at all they do for you, and appearing air- ways happy when they demand some- thing of you. Oh ! if you knew how much all these things cu'^ure of merit for heav- en, of jot/ and peace on earth, how you would cherish them ! Happy from the testimony of your conscience which would say: Thou hast done as Jesus-Christ would have done ; Happy at the thought of there- Ward primi'^rjl to him who givetha cup of cold water in the name of Je- sus Christ', Happy from tho assurance that God will do for you , what you will — 19 _ ham (Jonc jot others. Ah! what account would you then . make of iuujratitudti , jneglect , noo- su(?ce.ss, of contempt itself? Thes^,, would grieve you , undoubtedly, bu^., they would never be able to discoumge nor dishearten you I ' Precious couns^els , inspired byj' the Heart of Jesus, 1 bless you for ' all th^ good you have done me ! The first time that your words sank into my heart , they brought iheve peace and strength against dis- couragement and deception , with confidsnce and a determined will to live mote deootnt ^ more united to God , more miisfied with everything a id more resolved to advance in the way to Hi aven . Once more , I bless you ! Often , I will come to read you again at the foot of the altar. Precious counsels, enlighten ,guard me! and, should I stray, lead me sweetly back to God