St. Bernard declares, that at first when he entered into religion, the very sight of some religious who were full of zeal and charity, nay, even the remembrance of them when they were absent or dead, imparted so much comfort and joy to him, and so deeply impressed him with sentiments of tenderness for God, that oftentimes tears fell from his eyes in great abundance. " The memory of Josias," says holy Scripture, " is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer." (Ecclus. xiix. 1.) Such were the good religious of whom St. Bernard speaks, and such ought we endeavour to become, according to the words of the apostle: " We are the good odour of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor.ii. 15 ) Let us then be in effect like unto a box of perfumes, which freely communicates its odour, and delights and fortifies all who touch it. Above all, let us be exceedingly careful never to give occasion of scandal, or bad example to any of our brethren. A religious of an exemplary life does a great deal of good in a community. He may edify the rest and induce them to copy his virtues. But a bad religious is the author of incalculable mischief; he alone is capable of destroying an entire community, and will the more easily plunge it into disorder, because our inclinations being much more prone to vice than to virtue, example urges us more forcibly to evil, than to good.
We read in Deuteronomy, that when the people of Israel were drawn up in order of battle, Almighty God commanded the captains to have it proclaimed throughout the whole army, " that whosoever was fearful or faint-hearted should depart and return home, lest he make the heart of his brethren to fear as he himself was possessed of fear." (Deu. xx. 8.) The example of a tepid and slothful religious produces similar bad effects in religion. He communicates his negligence to the rest, and renders them feeble in all their efforts to attain perfection. It is therefore very justly remarked by Eusebius, 6i that whoever has chosen to live in a community either does good to a great many by sanctity, or injures them by his laxity of manners."
To those already mentioned, we can add a third means which is very conducive to our spiritual advancement. This is the obligation we lie under of giving good example not only to our brethren with whom we daily converse, but likewise to ail others in general, lest through the scandal given by an individual
