Lest You Remain

C HASTITY 1 Ponder that chastity is a virtue of angels, even more than angels, due to the fragility of the vessel in which this most expensive and very fragrant liquor is con- tained. Realize that you are obliged to keep chastity not only because you have loved it, but also because you pledged yourself under oath to keep it: so not only as a virtue, but also through the power of the vow. Remember, that as pure souls more than any other are pleasant to God, the souls given to unchastity are not likeable and fill Him with disgust. Now you have the time to reflect on how you have been keep- ing this vow. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 2 Each person is bound to keep the virtue of chastity not only on account of the positive law of God, but also the natural law. You are bound on the triple account; apart from the two mentioned above, there is also the vow. Thus, the more you were exposing yourself to the danger of breaking this vow, the more seriously you were sinning, because you were committing sacrilege. You should realize that you sinned like Lucifer who wanted to sit on the throne of God, or any other angel who rebelled against God. If, by God’s will, you are free from the temptations against this virtue, know that you are either not worthy or too weak to be tried. If, in turn, you have been put through your paces, it has come from the great grace of the Great and truly fore- seeing God and thus give Him the greatest thanks for that. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 3 Try to evaluate all your thoughts, whether they have not brought any moral dirt into your heart. In the sphere of chastity, an impure thought is a very serious issue, this which is kept in the heart and somehow allowed to enter your mind. It kills the souls as any unchaste act. L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 146