Sorrow of Heart
IF YOU wish to make progress in virtue, live in the fear of the Lord, do not look for too much
freedom, discipline your senses, and shun inane silliness. Sorrow opens the door to many a blessing
which dissoluteness usually destroys.
It is a wonder that any man who considers and meditates on his exiled state and the many
dangers to his soul, can ever be perfectly happy in this life. Lighthearted and heedless of our defects,
we do not feel the real sorrows of our souls, but often indulge in empty laughter when we have
good reason to weep. No liberty is true and no joy is genuine unless it is founded in the fear of the
Lord and a good conscience.
Happy is the man who can throw off the weight of every care and recollect himself in holy
contrition. Happy is the man who casts from him all that can stain or burden his conscience.
Fight like a man. Habit is overcome by habit. If you leave men alone, they will leave you alone
to do what you have to do. Do not busy yourself about the affairs of others and do not become
entangled in the business of your superiors. Keep an eye primarily on yourself and admonish
yourself instead of your friends.
If you do not enjoy the favor of men, do not let it sadden you; but consider it a serious matter
if you do not conduct yourself as well or as carefully as is becoming for a servant of God and a
devout religious.
It is often better and safer for us to have few consolations in this life, especially comforts of
the body. Yet if we do not have divine consolation or experience it rarely, it is our own fault because
we seek no sorrow of heart and do not forsake vain outward satisfaction.
Consider yourself unworthy of divine solace and deserving rather of much tribulation. When
a man is perfectly contrite, the whole world is bitter and wearisome to him.
A good man always finds enough over which to mourn and weep; whether he thinks of himself
or of his neighbor he knows that no one lives here without suffering, and the closer he examines
himself the more he grieves.
The sins and vices in which we are so entangled that we can rarely apply ourselves to the
contemplation of heaven are matters for just sorrow and inner remorse.
I do not doubt that you would correct yourself more earnestly if you would think more of an
early death than of a long life. And if you pondered in your heart the future pains of hell or of
purgatory, I believe you would willingly endure labor and trouble and would fear no hardship. But
since these thoughts never pierce the heart and since we are enamored of flattering pleasure, we
remain very cold and indifferent. Our wretched body complains so easily because our soul is
altogether too lifeless.
The Imitation of Christ Thomas, à Kempis
Pray humbly to the Lord, therefore, that He may give you the spirit of contrition and say with
the Prophet: “Feed me, Lord, with the bread of mourning and give me to drink of tears in full
measure.”