407 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts for Moses, and one for Elijah. For indeed, you should observe obedience every moment; possess nothing contrary to poverty; preserve chastity with great care since the evil spirit attacks it more in solitude. This is the tabernacle of Christ. Moreover, you should continuously have the divine commandments before your eyes and mind so that neither in your mind, by mouth or by deed do you commit anything against them. This is the tabernacle of Moses. Finally, you should make time there for pious contemplations: sometimes turning in your mind to the rewards of Heaven; at another time, to the punishments of hell; sometimes to the Passion of Christ; at another time, to the life of the Virgin, to the life of the saints and to your own life; sometimes to the beauty of virtues, and at other times to the foulness of vices. This would be the tabernacle of Elijah. This, therefore, is the way of life in solitude that is meant by: “It is good for us to be here.” FOR THE FEAST OF ST. LAURENCE, DEACON AND MARTYR Before Holy Communion 1. “Unless the grain of wheat falling to the earth dies, it remains only a single grain” (Jn 12:24). Consider that persecutions and afflictions are necessary for attaining eternal glory. Without them, it would be impossible for somebody to be a follower and disciple of Christ and a true Catholic, and to reach the dwelling of eternal salvation. The Savior declared this in today’s Gospel by giving a beautiful metaphor about the fruitfulness of a grain of wheat that dies, and the uselessness of the one remaining alive. [f.130v] It is as if He wanted to indicate that a man couldn’t enjoy the fruit of virtues, nor God the fruit of a man, unless the man dies; that is, unless he would be oppressed by various afflictions and would forsake the life proper to lovers of the world. In this sense Ignatius of
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