A Letter from Florentius to one of the Canons regular at Windesbeim
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MY MOST BELOVED,
WHY dost thou trouble me thus? Are not mine own miseries enough for me? Yet overcome by weariness and yielding to thine importunity I am constrained to write to thee of matters that concern me not. Firstly, for all these necessities of thine I bid thee be thus importunate before God, in knocking continually at His door, and He shall straightway open to thee and give thee light far clearer than any man could give, although thou didst persist without ceasing in asking him questions, knocking at his door and making supplication to him, and he spent a whole lifetime in writing to thee.
Secondly, I urge thee above all things to submit thyself humbly to all men. It is expedient for thee to do this in thought, word and deed.
Continually remember, as the Blessed Bernard said to the Brothers on the Mount of God, that there is sunshine everywhere save in thy conscience, and a clear sky everywhere save in thy heart.
This humility doth come by constant use and by considering thine own worthlessness in both body and soul, not by dwelling upon the faults of other men or making excuses for thyself. Above all things be careful when thou dost reprove another, not to exalt thyself. The Blessed Jerome commenting upon St. Mark, saith, “The blind man who was restored to light by the Lord saw men as trees walking.” In like manner (saith he) a sinner should think that all men are higher than himself. So do thou look upon all the Brothers as being trees for loftiness compared with thyself. In thy work take upon thee the baser and menial tasks, and from time to time think upon thine own vileness, or else meditate of death, punishment, judgement, or any other thing that may abase thee or kindle thy love for God and thy neighbour. For the object of such meditation should be either to acquire this love, or to root out thy vices, or to attain virtue.
(2) Thirdly, as St. Bernard saith to the Brothers on the Mount of God, once daily compare to-day with yesterday, that thou mayest judge thy progress in virtue, or thy backsliding.
Learn to sit in judgement upon thyself once or twice every day, to set thy life in order, to regulate thy conduct, to accuse, condemn, or exact punishment from thyself. I counsel thee to keep to hand “The Mirror for Monks” or “The Mirror of Saint Bernard,” that thou mayest order thy doings thereby. The contents of this book thou shouldest repeat because in whatsoever thou art engaged these will readily suggest how thou shouldest behave thyself, and that wherein thy conduct hath been amiss. Likewise prevent all thy doings with meditation and brief prayer as to the manner in which thou shouldest act, and this will be easy to thee when by continued use thou canst repeat the contents of the book.
(3) Fourthly, early in the day and after the morning meal put before thine eyes thy evil habits, and the chiefest of thy vices, and also the virtues after which thou wouldest strive, and thus ever renew in thy heart the struggle with thy foes—the world, the flesh, and the devil; do this nothing doubting, for they that are with us are more than they that are against us. So wilt thou fulfil the precept of St. Bernard: “In the morning reckon with thyself for the night that is past, and take heed to thyself for the coming day how thou wouldest order thy conduct throughout its course.” The same also saith: “For every hour write down the exercises thou shouldest perform therein. Spiritual exercises for the hours of prayer, bodily exercises for the hours of labour, so that at Vespers when thou dost reckon up thy several deeds if thou dost find any duty ill done, as to the manner, or the place, or time in which it was done, it may not go unpunished or unpaid.”
Seek the common good and keep thy heart ever lifted up.
Pray for me, my Brother, for I have always been negligent in this, and fare thee well.
Before the morning meal meditate upon our Lord’s Passion: afterward of death, judgement, and the pains of Hell: after supper think on thy vices and thy sins.
Certain notable Sayings of Master Florentius the Priest
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BEFORE all things know thy vices and thy passions.
Be watchful against temptation and the promptings of the passions. If thou dost feel these and instantly reject them they do not harm thee. If thou dost dally therewith it is evil; if in addition to such dalliance thou dost think with pleasure thereupon it is worse.
Reply humbly to them that ask of thee.
Avoid women, and beware of looking upon them. It is an ill example to the world to keep no guard over the eyes.
Tell thy sins with shame and sorrow, and a full intention to put them from thee, in the presence of God and thy confessor.
Tell thy faults one by one saying: “This have I done.” Mark well in what thy fault doth lie, and tell this in simple words.