examination of the heart 518 If you detect these things in yourself, you should feel ashamed and, considering that fickleness may be condoned only in youngsters or children (indeed, not even in them), you should make the firmest resolution to observe in the future with a greater zeal religious gravity and modesty, the most appropriate virtue for you. 3. Consider that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary conducted herself with remarkable modesty, and that Jesus Himself, the Teacher of every possible perfection, was so excelled in this virtue that He showed no sign of immodesty in His whole life, even in the midst of the cruelest torments. In fact, He taught you what kind of a man you should be in gatherings and assemblies with others when, invited to the wedding at Cana, He showed a remarkable example of modesty to the guests watching Him, as He was not at all moved by an immoderate wedding joy. Therefore, imitate, as you should, Mary and Jesus; these two prototypes of modesty. Moreover, consider that while many vices are hidden, everybody can see immodesty; and so, since this vice escapes no one’s eye, it causes very grave scandal to many people. Finally, notice where you should observe modesty above all, that is, in which of your activities, namely: in looking, in moving, in your gait, in conversation especially among large groups of lay people who, unable to properly interpret the intention of human actions, notice and feel scandalized by the smallest things. Anyway, avoid whatever you are able to discern as contrary to this virtue, and arrange your conduct and life according to the lifestyle of the most modest saints and the rule of your Institute. This can be easily done if you consider more attentively that God is present near you everywhere. Just like immodesty is the clearest indication that the Divine Presence has been erased from your consciousness, so modesty would clearly show that this Divine Presence has been preserved and secured. For if no courtier says or does anything immodest in the presence of the king; then why would a religious commit immodesty in the presence [f.169v] of his Lord, the immortal God?
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