Chapter I The Virtue of Chastity The Virgin Mary’s Chastity, among her virtues the first mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and practice in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. Unable to enumerate in detail all the virtues of the Virgin Mary, we shall recall only those that are specially mentioned in the Gospel. It is the virtue of purity which holds first place, so that devout souls may know that first of all they must direct and apply all their faculties to please Christ, as true brides, in chastity, in imitation of the Virgin, and think, say, and do that which the Gospel says Mary thought, said, and did on account of her purity. We read in the Gospel that the Virgin, in order to please God most perfectly in her virginal purity, first, made a vow of virginity; second, we read in the same Gospel that she was engaged to Joseph [cf. Lk 1:27]; and finally, that she asked Gabriel: “How can this be, since I do not know man?” [cf. Lk 1:34]. The members of this Order, according to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, in order to please Christ their Spouse, take the vow of perpetual chastity, and take the true Joseph (namely, Jesus) for their Spouse: They seek after nothing vain, nor say or listen to any empty word of love, but they strive to be intimate with Jesus, their Spouse, alone. How sweet and joyful be the death of the one who during life has had no other Lover than Jesus! In order to possess this virtue of purity, let them avoid idleness, drunkenness, suspicious companionships, and dealings with others; vain adornments of face and body; and singing to please men. They must seek and strive to please Christ alone, who is all desirable [cf. Sg 5:16], all lovable, and more beautiful than anybody else. How many have been lost through idleness and drunkenness! How many are those whom worldly companionships, familiarities, letters, or small gifts have brought to damnation!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==