messenger of the queen of arts 98 would leave behind as quickly as possible all vanity of this deceptive world and the lustful seducer, so as to possess the priceless pearl of the state of religious life. If we are speaking of years, almost all of you are of the same age, in which one can expect that you will be considering what you desire to do further in life, and if we are speaking about heavenly inspirations, is there someone who could doubt that many of them can come from the examples and teachings of the religious teachers who are directing your consciences, from reading and hearing the Word of God, as well as from the immediate inspirations of God Himself, inflaming the heart, the mind, and the will? Therefore, just like a ship, tossed from one side by the blasts of the favorable Zephyr, and on the other side by the raving gusts of Eurus, as quickly as possible heads to port so as not to drown in the whirls of the storm, so also you — I believe — ought to behave [the same], by submitting to the breath of Favonius and eagerly exposing your heart to the working of divine grace, avoiding the most dangerous storms of the ocean of this world, and drawing close without the smallest delay to the most peaceful haven of religious life. And since there is never any lack of storms in this world, and the most gracious breath of the heavenly Wind propels you to shore while your very age urges [you] to the same: “Unfold the sails, grab the oars,” dear students desirous of learning, and direct your ships away from the whirlpools of the world, as well as from the dangerous straits of the sciences, to the most peaceful shore of the religious discipline. I play the role of the experienced Palinurus;14 when embarking on the small boat of a small speech, I avert you from the threatening Scylla, who intends only to impede the course of [your] glorious navigation. Inasmuch as, I say more clearly, I want to remove from you any doubt as to the studies to be forsaken; I want to convince you by means of the most just reasons, that on account of a divine voca14 Palinurus was the pilot of Aeneas.
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