Volume 37 · p. 524
Chapter II. How someone, all other things having been despised, should adhere and attend to Christ alone?
Caput II. Qualiter quis, omnibus aliis spretis, soli Christo inhaereat et intendat?
Verumtamen quicumque talem statum aggredi et ingredi desiderat et satagit, opus est omnino, ut velut clausis oculis et sensibus, de nulla re se penitus implicet aut perturbet, sollicitus sit aut curet: sed cuncta tamquam impertinentia et noxia ac perniciosa funditus excutiat: deinde se totum intra se recipiat, nec aliud umquam objectum inibi mente attendat, quam solum Jesum Christum vulneratum: sicque per eum in eum, id est, per hominem in Deum, per vulnera humanitatis ad intima divinitatis suae, sedulo et obnixe intendat: ibique se suaque singula ac cuncta, indiscusse, suae infatigabili providentiae committat expedite et secure, juxta illud Petri: Omnem sollicitudinem vestram projicientes in eum 1, qui potest omnia. Et iterum: Nihil solliciti sitis 2. Et rursus: Jacta super Dominum curam tuam, et ipse te enutriet 3. Et iterum: Mihi adhaerere Deo bonum est 4. Et: Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper 5. Et sponsa in Canticis: Inveni quem diligit anima mea 6: quippe venerunt mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa 7.
Nempe hic est thesaurus ille coelestis absconditus, nec non margarita pretiosa, quae prae omnibus comparata fiducia humili, conatu instantissimo, taciturnitate tranquilla, etiam usque ad corporalis commodi, laudis vel honoris jacturam, in fortitudine spiritus quaeritur. Alioquin quid proficit religiosus, si totum mundum lucretur, et animae suae detrimentum patiatur? Aut quid relevat status, professionis sanctitas, perfectionis habitus, tonsura, et exterioris dispositio conversationis, sine vita in spiritu humilitatis et veritatis, ubi Christus habitat per fidem charitate formatam? Hinc est illud Lucae, XVII, 21: Regnum Dei intra vos est, quod est Christus Jesus.
Chapter II. How someone, all other things having been despised, should adhere and attend to Christ alone?
Nevertheless, whoever desires and strives to approach and enter such a state, it is altogether necessary that, as though with eyes and senses closed, he should not entangle or disturb himself at all concerning any thing, should not be anxious or care; but he should thoroughly shake off all things as irrelevant and harmful and destructive. Then he should receive himself wholly within himself, and there should attend with his mind to no other object at all than Jesus Christ alone, wounded; and thus through him into him, that is, through the man into God, through the wounds of the humanity to the innermost things of his divinity, he should earnestly and strenuously direct himself. There, readily and securely, without dispute, he should commit himself and all his own things, each and all, to his tireless providence, according to that saying of Peter: Casting all your care upon him 1, who can do all things. And again: Be anxious for nothing 2. And again: Cast your care upon the Lord, and he will nourish you 3. And again: To adhere to God is good for me 4. And: I set the Lord always in my sight 5. And the bride in the Canticles: I found him whom my soul loves 6; indeed, all good things came to me together with her 7.
For this is that hidden heavenly treasure, and also the precious pearl, which, having been purchased before all things, is sought with humble trust, most instant effort, and tranquil silence, even to the loss of bodily advantage, praise, or honor, in fortitude of spirit. Otherwise, what does it profit a religious if he gains the whole world and suffers loss to his own soul? Or what help is status, the holiness of profession, the habit of perfection, tonsure, and the outward arrangement of manner of life, without life in the spirit of humility and truth, where Christ dwells through faith formed by charity? Hence there is that saying of Luke 17:21: The kingdom of God is within you, which is Christ Jesus.
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