519 part iv: meditations for weekly retreats MEDITATION XIV ON PRUDENCE 1. Consider that the Eternal Wisdom, Christ the Lord Himself, enjoined prudence to His disciples most assiduously in these words: “Be prudent261 as serpents” (cf. Mt 10:16). But He Himself also exercised it when both the demon Tempter and the Jews with their Pharisaic adroitness drew Him into a trap. Also, Solomon, that marvel of wisdom, urges it, saying: “Incline your heart to prudence” (cf. Prov 2:2). But for whom do you think that prudence is more necessary than for you who, having withdrawn beyond the streets of the world, hid yourself inside the walls of the religious institute; as if inside Paradise, where the ancient serpent, always envying your happiness, uprightness, and future glory waits with gapingmouth for a chance to surprise, grasp, devour, and swallow you?262 If only our first parents were guided by this virtue of prudence, perhaps they would not have fallen. If only the inconsiderate Eve would not have yielded to the most cunning serpent, or the incautious Adam would not have lent an ear to her deceptive words. Therefore, since you admit being a descendant of Adam and live in a religious house, as if in the Elysian meadows,263 know that you must be more cautious and more circumspect as well as most watchful in spirit for all things. Lest you be cheated and deceived by the common enemy of all men, who transforms himself into all kinds of figures: being the Angel Lucifer, he pretends to be the Angel of Light; he offers evil under the guise of good; under the cover of sweetest honey he gives to drink the bitterest mead, and is not choosy in picking tricks and cunning devices to catch us in his net. 261 In the CV the word prudentes is used, and thus it is also the word that St. Stanislaus used, saying that Jesus enjoined “prudence” to His disciples. Most English translations, however, render prudentes as “wise.” 262 Cf. 1 Pet 5:8. 263 According to Greek mythology, Elysium is the abode of the blessed. Cf. BHM, p. 133. Cf. Parandowski, pp. 156-157.
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