62 Chapter Nine The Virgin’s Mercy or Charity, ninth among her virtues mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary always had the most ardent love and abundant piety and mercy, and from her charity, in order to please God, she thought, spoke, and acted as follows: She nourished her Son with her own milk, saved Him from the persecution of Herod by carrying Him to Egypt [cf. Mt 2:14]; showed solicitude for her neighbor, asking for wine in Cana of Galilee [cf. Jn 2:3]; and finally, gave salutary instruction to the servants, advising and enlightening them [cf. Jn 2:5]. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, devoted souls, in order to please Christ, should nourish Jesus with milk, that is, love with holy feelings none other than Christ, and seek intimacy with no one except Jesus. Let them carry Christ to Egypt, that is, meditating in times of temptation on death (witch Egypt signifies). They will minister wine and instructions to their neighbor when they practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Since the members of the Order are, and are claimed to be, special and particular imitators
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