Thursday in the Octave of Pentecost. On Fervor and Lukewarmness

Meditation.

ON FERVOR AND LUKEWARMNESS.

1ST POINT. By the descent of the Holy Ghost on the disciples the lukewarm were rendered fervent, and the timid courageous. A soul that is filled with the Holy Ghost, finds nothing difficult in the service of God: it runs, it flies, it rejoices, and undertakes even that which appears impossible, believing there is nothing above its strength; it finds its pleasure only in laboring and suffering for God. The true life of the soul is active; if the Holy Ghost does not animate it, or if He has withdrawn himself from it, it is without movement or action, and lives no longer.

2D POINT. A lukewarm soul is, of all things, the most miserable. It has lost all relish for God; it is deprived of all consolation; it has wandered from the ways of his Providence; sins without remorse or fear; flies from communion with itself, and dares not look within, or examine its condition. It is diseased, but unconscious of its danger; wicked, but blind to its vices; a slave, and believes itself free; it abuses all remedies, rejects every inspiration; is insensible to the impressions of grace; dishonors virtue; cries down devotion; scandalizes its neighbor, and is a burden to the community. It grieves the Holy Ghost; afflicts the sacred heart of Jesus, and, by its own stubbornness and sin, compels Him, in a manner, to spurn it away with violence, after which it can return no more, as that which has been vomited cannot be again eaten.

3D POINT. Am I not in this deplorable state? Am I warm? am I cold? am I fervent? am I lukewarm? Am I all to God, or do I offer Him a divided heart? Has He not driven me away from his heart? Is He not ready now to do so? Oh, I am a dastard in the service of God! I am negligent in acquitting myself of my duties; I am wilfully distracted in prayer; I frequently omit all devotion, or practice it with difficulty; I devote but a short time to prayer, and find but little profit therein; I do no penance, and have a horror of mortification; I seek only to amuse and enjoy myself; I am free of speech, and indulge in scoffing and raillery; I do not keep silence; I consult only my ease, and am taken up with the luxuries of this life; I do not desire to commit glaring sins, but do not scruple in committing those which are less; I am remiss in all that pertains to spiritual life, but do not believe it; I have been fervent, and am no longer so. I have, then, great reason to fear that I am lukewarm, and that Jesus Christ will soon cast me out of his divine heart for ever.

Oh, divine Saviour, how long have I not afflicted Thee? how long have I not lain heavily on thy heart? Oh I implore Thee not to cast me off; withdraw not thy Holy Spirit from me, and deprive me not of thy love. Take from me all that my soul holds most dear, but leave me thy grace and love. Drive me, if Thou wilt, from all consolations, but not, oh not, dear Saviour, from thy sacred heart, my shelter and stronghold. Ah, I am not still lukewarm, for it seems to me that I fear thy hatred more than all the pains of hell, and am resolved, from this moment, to labor, without ceasing, for my perfection.

My soul, remember the state into which you have fallen; return speedily to your former fervor, lest they take your candlestick away and put another in its place. Jesus is ready to drive you from his heart, and, perhaps, it may be forever. Do penance, then, for the past; work with more fervor for the future, for your perfection. Pray without ceasing.