examination of the heart 494 You, indeed, are impelled to guard chastity for a threefold reason, namely: in addition to the above-said laws, you are also bound by the vow. Hence, the greater is the danger of breaking it, the graver is your sin, because you committed a sacrilege. Understand that you have sinned no differently from Lucifer, who aspired to the throne of God (cf. Is 14:12-14), nor from any other angel that would rebel against God. And if, by divine permission, you are not tempted in this virtue, you may know that you are undeserving or too weak for being tempted. However, if you are, it is due to the great grace of the good and most provident God, and therefore, give Him the greatest thanks. 3. Consider whether you have employed the means intended for the protection of this virtue. Have you controlled your eyes, restrained your hand, watched your thoughts so that they stay unblemished and pure; have you abstained from a softer garment, refined food, and leisure, which are the robbers of chastity; have you avoided indecent reading? Although all this should be absent and far away from you as a religious, nonetheless, since you have read, heard, and now learn that similar causes made the others to fall into a grievous precipice, scrutinize yourself as to these things, which place a chaste mind in great danger. 1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. [f.163v] MEDITATION VI ON THE SAME VIRTUE 1. Try to evaluate all your thoughts, if perchance they did not bring a stain into your heart. In the case of the virtue of chastity, an impure thought not only cherished in your heart, but also in some way received into the mind is a very grave thing because it ruins the soul as much as an impure act. It is also pertinent to this end to verify how you have guarded and used your senses since they bring into your soul every good
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