sin by which God is offended, they must continually look into their hearts as to their observance of The Rule of the Blessed Virgin Mary and as to their life, whether it is pure and pleasing in the sight of Jesus. Above all, they must beware of Herod and Archelaus. It is not without spiritual significance that the Virgin fled from these two kings: because Herod personified the vice of the flesh; and Archelaus, that of ambition—two sins better overcome by flight than by combat. After the example of the Virgin, those professing the Rule must avoid all familiarity, and shrink from all office and positions of authority. Moreover, they may be said to have truly fled from Herod when they are so dead to the flesh and so far from ambition that it is only by force of obedience that they accept the offices assigned to them. For the more perfect practice of this prudence of the Virgin, no one may be admitted to Mary’s House except angelic persons, that is, sound in mind and body, of good reputation, true and faithful Catholics, sufficiently educated, and bound to no one by worldly ties. Chapter III The Virtue of Humility Humility, the third virtue mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary was always most humble, and the Lord regarded her humility. Out of this humility [cf. Lk 1:48], in order to please God, she thought, spoke, and acted in the following way: She was troubled and made fearful by Gabriel’s praise, and replied with humility, saying: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say” [cf. Lk 1:38]. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, members of this Order should be troubled and afraid when they are praised or placed in office. There is true humility in The Rule of Imitation of the Ten Evangelical Virtues 311
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==