messenger of the queen of arts 106 There exists one underwater reef on which many wise people, carried away by the breeze of pride, excited by the pressure of foolish boastfulness resulting from knowledge possessed, crash and die, since it is completely natural for knowledge to inflate [man with pride]. Who at this point, not terrified by these dangers, would refuse to disregard temporal learning for the sake of eternal life? I beg you, dear students, that you would extend to me your hands as a sign, that you feel convinced, and such that you would be resigned from the continuation of studies, [for such continuation] is vain, futile, and even possibly very harmful for you. [Rather], adhere to the divine vocation and erase [these studies] entirely from your minds. Withdraw your boats from the dangerous ocean of the world and lead them as quickly as possible to the most blessed and most peaceful port of God’s grace, with favorable winds blowing, with the applause of all Heaven, [and] with the recognition of the entire congregation of the learned. Dangers will not threaten you then during the passage through the reef. I have already directed my boat through all the Syrtes and the dangerous Charybdis17 of the empty continuation of studies in school, showing to you the safest and most certain path. It depends on you, whether you want to come after me, or whether you will not want to, or whether you also will be afraid to direct your boats after my own. Recollect yourself, open your sails to the working of the inspiration of the Divine Spirit, as long as the weather favors the passage. With all your strength, straining your mind and heart, with the help of the sails and oars, hasten to the most blessed port of religious life. 17 Dangerous bays off the coast of Africa.
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