Two Hundred and Sixtieth Subject. Means to Adopt to Preserve the Holy Virtue of Purity

Brother Philippe, Subjects for Particular Examen, 1870, pp. 420–422

Watch ye and pray.........the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.—ST. MATT. xxvi. 41.
Let us adore our Divine Saviour teaching us by these words what the principal means are for preserving the virtue of holy purity. Yes, we are weak; we must ask for strength. We are inclined to evil; we must prevent it by vigilance. We must watch over our eyes; see nothing, above all, look at nothing which may be hurtful to our innocence, either in the streets or in our necessary intercourse with the world. We must watch over our ears, hear nothing which may leave on us bad impressions. We must watch over our tongue, never to say a single word the least unguarded. We must watch over our hands, never to use them for anything capable of wounding this holy virtue. We must avoid every act the least equivocal, with much greater reason any forbidden by the rule. We must avoid all intercourse, all familiarity with any one, especially with persons of the opposite sex, or with children, under any pretext whatever. We must profit by our experience, and provide from the beginning against everything that we know to be fatal, since it would be the cause of some fault, of some temptations.
We must be moderate in our repasts, impose on ourselves some privations, some mortifications, to obtain the grace to be victorious. We must distrust our own weakness very much; never rely on ourselves, on our good dispositions, but on the goodness of God; have a great devotion to the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Virgin.
Is it thus that we have done? Have we prayed? Have we watched? Watched over our eyes, preserving them from everything which might make an impression on our heart? Have we watched over our tongue, over our ears, and over our heart? Have we watched over ourselves, in our intercourse with the world, with our pupils and their parents? Have we respected the presence of God? Have we respected ourselves? Finally, have we followed the counsel of our Lord: Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation? Have we asked of God this virtue, He alone being able to give it to us? for, says the wise man: This also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was.— WISDOM viii. 21.
Pause.
ACT OF CONTRITION.—O my God! instead of praying and watching, to preserve in me this holy virtue, I have given myself up to levities; I have wished to see everything, to hear everything, to know everything, and I have often offended Thee! Pardon, O my God! pardon, by the merits of Jesus Christ, and by the intercession of Mary.
I make the resolution to......