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MAY 5 1959
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SAINT B/ERNARD
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SECOND EDITION
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BURNS AND OATES
1884
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48" ‘ 31
_B38 11035
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PREFATORY NOTE.
COVENTRY PATMORE.
HAST1NGS,
February 1 0, 1 88 1 .
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
LOVE OF GOD
CHAPTER I.
How should they win, seeing they care not first for
the prize, but put that last of all? How should they
do other than entangle themselves in a maze without
beginning or end? Not so with the just. Warned by
the blame addressed to those who thus err (for the
way is wide and well trodden that leads to death),
they choose the royal road which turns to neither
right nor left, for “ the path of the just is straight.”
They take the shortest road, guided by a word as
simple as simplifying, commanding them not to
heed what their eyes may see, but to sell all and
give to the poor ; for blessed indeed are such poor,
and the kingdom of heaven is theirs. The Lord
knoweth the way of the just, and commendeth it.
He knoweth also the way of the sinner, in which
he cannot but perish. The just are happy in their
poverty, and the rich unsatisfied in their abundance ;
for the wise man saith : “He that loveth riches shall
reap no fruit from them.” But they who “hunger
and thirst after justice shall be filled.” Justice is
their needful food. As to the things of this world,
the soul is no more nourished by them than the
body is by air. If we were to see a starving man
inhaling with wide open mouth, drinking long
draughts of wind to quench his thirst, we should
say, Poor fool! So is it with those who seek to
satisfy the soul with worldly goods, which do but
puff it out as with wind, and no more feed it than
LOVE OF GOD. 35
the Lord ; not to anoint the feet, nor yet the head
alone, but the whole body—to embalm Jesus. In
like manner I would have you all, not merely fulfil
the duties of charity to your kindred and your
friends, to those that have done good to you, or
from whom you have any hope of benefit (for the
heathen do as much as this), but to all, even
to your enemies. Be sure that this will make
you to abound in exquisite perfumes, and to anoint,
so far as in you lies, Christ’s whole Sacred Body,
which is the Church. The Lord Jesus waited not
in the grave for the spices prepared for His dead
body. Was it to save them for His living one, for
the Church? This is the body dearest to Him it
is plain ; for we know that He gave up the other
to death, but the Church He keeps alive by the
Bread which came down from heaven.
To speak for a moment of myself. It has
happened to me at times to be reproached. Either
Ihave been sitting at the feet of Jesus, for my
own soul’s good, weeping over the bitter remem
brance of my sins ; or, a rarer case with me, I have
been standing at His Head, rejoicing in His
praise; and Ihave heard it said: Wherefore is
this waste? I have been accused of living for
myself alone, and upbraided because it was thought
that I ought to be doing more for others. Now
the truth is this: How would it profit me to gain
76 FRAGMENTS FROM A FRAGMENT.
hear her words, are fired with like desire and run
with her.
God only knows the delights the Holy Gh'ost
reveals to His beloved, by what inspiration He
awakens and recruits the senses of the soul, and
with what odours He refreshes it. This is “a garden
closed, a fountain sealed,” but the waste water runs
through public places, and at these I may quench
my thirst, and then give drink to others. The
water runs in four great streams; or, to return to
the former figure, the Church is refreshed by four
rare perfumes whose ingredients are all heavenly,
and they fill the whole house, attracting the beloved
from the four quarters of the world, as the Queen
of Sheba came from afar to hear the wisdom of
Solomon, drawn by the odour of his reputation.
Let us search into the mystery of these four per
fumes, and try to know somewhat of the abundant ‘
ineffable fragrance of Him whom the Father hath
anointed with the oil of gladness.
The world sat in darkness and the shadow of
death when He arrived to deliver it. He dispersed
the shades of night by the illumination of His
wisdom. By the justice which comes of faith He
broke the chains of the captives, giving them free
pardon. Among a sinful people He lived holily,
and thus marked out a way for their return to the
lost home. He gave Himself up to death, appeased
86 FRAGMENTS FROM A FRAGMENT.
you are with many, and with many when you are
alone. In however numerous a company you find
yourself, you are alone with God, if you do not
listen curiously to anything that is said, and if you
do not judge rashly. If you hear evil of any one,
do not hasten to judge your neighbour, but excuse
him if you can. Excuse the intention if you cannot
the action. Think that he did it in ignorance, or
by misfortune, or was surprised into doing it, or, at
most, that‘ perhaps the temptation was exceedingly
strong; and say to yourself, What should I have
done under like pressure P
“Your neck is like pearls.” As by the cheeks
the intention seems to be signified, so we may take
the neck to mean the understanding. The under
standing is, as it were, the neck by which the
nourishment of the spirit, which is truth, passes
into the soul, and diffuses itself into all her afi'ections
and activities. When the understanding is pure
and simple, it shines like a pearl with the truth
itself, and has no need of the external ornaments
with which philosophers and unbelievers endeavour
to hide the deformities of their intelligence.
“ We will make you earrings of gold inlaid with
silver.” Here the companions of the Bride address
her, promising her that, until she attains to that
vision of her Lord the desire of which consumes
her soul, they will comfort her with the precious
108 FRAGMENTS FROM A FRAGMENT.
OF
OUR LADY
BY
MARIANNE CAROLINE IPATMORE
A ROSARY IN HONOUR OF OUR
LADY AS CO-REDEMPTRIX
A ROSARY IN HONOUR OF OUR
LADY AS CO-REDEMPTRIX.
OUR LADY
A ROSARY IN IMITATION OF
OUR LADY.
Poetical Works.
4 vols. Post 8vo, Roxburghe Binding, 28s.
Florilegium Amantis.
A Selection from C. Patmore’s Poems. Edited by
R1CHARD GARNETT.
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