Publisher's Preface | p. iii |
Timeline | p. v |
Introduction | p. vii |
Preface | p. xi |
Foreword | p. xxi |
Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul | |
Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth | p. 1 |
Having a Humble Opinion of Self | p. 2 |
The Doctrine of Truth | p. 3 |
Prudence in Action | p. 5 |
Reading the Holy Scripture | p. 6 |
Unbridled Affections | p. 6 |
Avoiding False Hope and Pride | p. 7 |
Shunning Over-Familiarity | p. 8 |
Obedience and Subjection | p. 8 |
Avoiding Idle Talk | p. 9 |
Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection | p. 9 |
The Value of Adversity | p. 11 |
Resisting Temptation | p. 11 |
Avoiding Rash Judgment | p. 13 |
Works Done in Charity | p. 14 |
Bearing with the Faults of Others | p. 15 |
Monastic Life | p. 16 |
The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers | p. 16 |
The Practices of a Good Religious | p. 18 |
The Love of Solitude and Silence | p. 20 |
Sorrow of Heart | p. 22 |
Thoughts on the Misery of Man | p. 24 |
Thoughts on Death | p. 26 |
Judgment and the Punishment of Sin | p. 28 |
Zeal in Amending Our Lives | p. 30 |
The Interior Life | |
Meditation | p. 35 |
Humility | p. 37 |
Goodness and Peace in Man | p. 38 |
Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose | p. 39 |
Ourselves | p. 40 |
The Joy of a Good Conscience | p. 41 |
Loving Jesus Above All Things | p. 42 |
The Intimate Friendship of Jesus | p. 43 |
Wanting No Share in Comfort | p. 44 |
Appreciating God's Grace | p. 47 |
Few Love the Cross of Jesus | p. 48 |
The Royal Road of the Holy Cross | p. 50 |
Internal Consolation | |
The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul | p. 55 |
Truth Speaks Inwardly without the Sound of Words | p. 56 |
Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them | p. 57 |
We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth | p. 59 |
The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love | p. 60 |
The Proving of a True Lover | p. 62 |
Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility | p. 64 |
Self-Abasement in the Sight of God | p. 66 |
All Things Should Be Referred to God as Their Last End | p. 67 |
To Despise the World and Serve God Is Sweet | p. 68 |
The Longings of Our Hearts Must Be Examined and Moderated | p. 69 |
Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence | p. 70 |
The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ | p. 72 |
Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds | p. 73 |
How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing | p. 74 |
True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone | p. 75 |
All Our Care Is to Be Placed in God | p. 76 |
Temporal Sufferings Should be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ | p. 77 |
True Patience in Suffering | p. 78 |
Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life | p. 79 |
Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God | p. 80 |
Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God | p. 82 |
Four Things Which Bring Great Peace | p. 84 |
Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others | p. 85 |
The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress | p. 86 |
The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than by Study | p. 87 |
Self-Love Is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good | p. 88 |
Strength Against Slander | p. 90 |
How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses | p. 90 |
The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace | p. 91 |
To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures | p. 93 |
Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites | p. 94 |
Restlessness of Soul--Directing Our Final Intention Toward God | p. 95 |
God Is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him | p. 96 |
There Is No Security from Temptation in This Life | p. 98 |
The Vain Judgments of Men | p. 99 |
Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart | p. 100 |
The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers | p. 101 |
A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs | p. 102 |
Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing | p. 102 |
Contempt for All Earthly Honor | p. 104 |
Peace Is Not to Be Placed in Men | p. 104 |
Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge | p. 105 |
Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things | p. 106 |
All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech | p. 107 |
Trust in God Against Slander | p. 109 |
Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life | p. 110 |
The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of this Life | p. 112 |
The Desire of Eternal Life; The Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle | p. 114 |
How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God | p. 116 |
When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works | p. 118 |
A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement | p. 119 |
God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded | p. 120 |
The Different Motions of Nature and Grace | p. 122 |
The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace | p. 125 |
We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross | p. 126 |
A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls into Defects | p. 128 |
High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized | p. 129 |
All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed in God Alone | p. 132 |
An Invitation to Holy Communion | |
The Great Reverence with Which We Should Receive Christ | p. 135 |
God's Great Goodness and Love Is Shown to Man in This Sacrament | p. 139 |
It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often | p. 141 |
Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily | p. 143 |
The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood | p. 145 |
An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion | p. 146 |
The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend | p. 147 |
The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering | p. 148 |
We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All | p. 149 |
Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion | p. 151 |
The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul | p. 153 |
The Communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care | p. 156 |
With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament | p. 157 |
The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ | p. 158 |
The Grace of Devotion Is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial | p. 159 |
We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace | p. 161 |
The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ | p. 162 |
Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith | p. 163 |
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