But to the end that you may see yourselves in this little book as in a looking-glass, and that nothing be neglected out of forget fulness, let it once a week be read unto you.
We are admonished to read the rule in order that it may be deeply graven in our memory. St James says : ” He that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work ; this man shall be blessed in his deed ” (James i. 25).
This little book may well be called a mirror. In it we are able to see our state of soul, whether it present an appearance of beauty or ugliness, that is to say, whether it be holy or sinful. It will tell us whether we are living a truly regular life, whether we are making progress or losing ground ; whether we are pleasing or displeasing in the sight of God. These holy writings show to us the state of our interior life, making known what is fair and what is deformed within the soul.
They indicate how we can cultivate the beauty of holiness, how we may adorn ourselves with the glory of virtues, and how we may cleanse away every stain of sin.
The wicked are accustomed to cover up their evil deeds, they have no wish to recall them to mind, they close their eyes upon all their transgressions as though they would never be remembered. But those that aim at holiness constantly look into the sacred writings to examine their lives, to scrutinise their deeds. And if they find anything reprehensible, inordinate, or out of keeping with their state, they at once use every effort to amend and set it right, according to the light they have received. And in this way they always strive to maintain themselves before God, holy and spotless, in body and in soul. So may these say with the Psalmist : “Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments ” (Ps. cxviii. 6). They carry out the advice of St Paul : ” Be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind ” (Eph. iv. 23). It may be said of them : ” The inward man is renewed from day to day” (2 Cor. iv. 16).
And when you find you have observed all that is written therein, give thanks to God, the Giver of all good.
We have reason to render continual thanks to the Father of Lights from whom descends (as Holy Writ reminds us) ” every best gift and every perfect gift” (James i. 17). For no one is any the
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better for the gifts of God, whatever they be, if he is ungrateful to the Giver. ” What hast thou,” says St Paul, “that thou hast not received?” (1 Cor. iv. 7). With reason, then, we are reminded of this duty, so that we may all of us acknowledge that if there be any good in our lives, it is through God’s Grace that we have it. Moreover, if we make any advance in the pursuit of virtue our success can only come from Him. This thought will give fresh impulse to our piety, it will instil into our minds that wisdom which constitutes the piety whereby we worship God, the Father of Lights. We worship Him by our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and we give glory, not to ourselves, but unto Him alone.
But when any one perceives that she has failed in any point, she must be sorry for what is past, take better care for the future, beseeching our Lord that her fault may be pardoned, and that she may never be led into temptation.— Amen.
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