July 13. On Fervor in Serving God

1st Prel. Imagine you hear St. Paul saying, "In spirit fervent, serving the Lord." (Romans 12: 11.)

2d Prel. Beg for grace to set a just value on fervor.

POINT I NATURE OF FERVOR

CONSIDERATION.— That exactitude in observing all the points of religious discipline which we have meditated on supposes fervor of spirit; for in reality fervor is nothing more than promptitude in devoting our whole self with all our heart to the service of God. If this be the habitual disposition of the soul, it is worth to be called a virtue, (for all virtue is habitual;) though strictly speaking, fervor is only a quality of the virtue of religion, according to St. Thomas; according to others, of the virtue of charity. Therefore it is plain that a fervent religious will be faithful to the smallest observances of his rule, in which he sees the expression of the will of God.

APPLICATION.— Weigh well these words of the Imitation, "Our fervor and progress ought to be every day greater; but now it is esteemed a great matter if a man can retain some part of his first fervor." (1. Book xi.) It is very humiliating for us to find an author so versed in the knowledge of men making such an assertion. At first we are tempted to dispute it; but do we not find it fulfilled in ourselves? Compare the first year of your religious profession with the last: in which of the two were you most exact and fervent? What remains of your first burst of fervor? If it had been kept up, to what a high degree of virtue you would have already attained!

AFFECTIONS.— Humble yourself before God. Excite yourself to fervor, and animate your courage.

RESOLUTIONS.— Each morning, on rising, renew your good resolutions, and strive to animate your piety.

POINT II HAPPINESS OF A FERVENT RELIGIOUS

CONSIDERATION.— There is nothing more true than that the fervent religious is happy. With fervor, we have every thing; without it, nothing. With fervor, there is purity and peace of conscience, there is perfect happiness; labor is no longer a burden, and the yoke of religious life becomes light and sweet, the greatest sacrifices become delightful, and we heap up merits in a brief space of time. We become a consolation to our superiors and edification to our brethren; we draw down benedictions from heaven on our community, and on our good works and undertakings. Lastly, with fervor we make constant progress in virtue, obtain final perseverance, and a weight of glory in heaven.

APPLICATION.— If you have not always been very fervent, you have at least been so at times; and did you not then understand the reality of all these blessings of fervor? Were you not happy then? Did you not feel the truth of the Psalmist's words, that "it is sweet to serve the Lord"? Rekindle, then, your fervor, if it has grown cold; see by what means you once obtained it, and be assured that you can preserve it by the same means.

AFFECTIONS.— Acts of faith with regard to what has been said on the advantages of fervor, with an ardent desire to possess them.

RESOLUTIONS.— Imitate the examples of fervor given you by your brethren.

POINT III MISERY OF THE LUKEWARM RELIGIOUS

CONSIDERATION.—"If thou begin to grow lukewarm thou wilt begin to be uneasy. A negligent and lukewarm religious man has trouble upon trouble, and on every side suffers anguish, because he has no comfort within, and is hindered from seeking any without." (1. Book, xxv.) Thus does the author of the Imitation describe a lukewarm religious. He is indeed miserable, for he is the slave of his passions; he is daily staining his soul with sin; he seeks peace and can not find it; he carries the yoke of religion without its consolations; he labors hard, and reaps little for eternity. Finally, he runs the risk of losing his vocation, and with it the friendship of God and final perseverance.

APPLICATION.— Let these thoughts inspire you with a great fear, or rather a lively horror of lukewarmness, and especially because our vicious nature leans toward it. If you have fallen into it, come out of it, with a holy indignation against yourself — even to-day, when God speaks to your heart — and vigorously begin again to practice the means of preserving fervor. Make some very definite resolutions for this end, and place them at the feet of Jesus, and beg of Him in your fervent Colloquy that He will bless them and render them fruitful.

COLLOQUY with the holy Pope and martyr St. Anacletus, whose Feast we celebrate this day, or else with your holy Patron.