parts of their being to turn from pride and greed and sensuality,—the vices most opposed to human perfection, to holiness, to the soul's salvation,—and to consecrate all their life to humility, poverty and chastity, that they may find the blessedness of the lowly-minded, of the clean of heart; of those who possess nothing but have all, since they have peace and love.
We judge of a man's wisdom by his hopefulness, it has been said. Better still may we judge of it by his humility. If he be wise he says to himself: The world is too great for thee; in the universe thou art as though thou hadst no being at all. Whether thou think or strive, thou art blind and weak. Yet do thy little with a brave and cheerful spirit. This is all that is required of thee. Thou art not worthy to be the least of God's servants. Learn, then, to bear with an humble and patient heart what is or shall be given thee to bear, thankful that thou hast been able even for a moment to look to Him with devout faith and hope and to bless His name. If he truly know himself, however much he be praised and extolled, he can never be flattered into self-complacency. Others he may please, but not himself.
This wisdom of the thoughtful is revealed to sincere and innocent souls, who when they look to God find that they can know and love Him only when, in self-forgetfulness, they deny themselves and think only of Him. They are meek and mild, and whatever they do or suffer the spirit of lowly-mindedness precedes, accompanies and follows them. They are peaceful, patient, faithful and obedient. It costs them little to resign their own will that they may walk the more securely in the way of the divine counsels. As the hearts of children are drawn to a mother, as exiles yearn for home, they turn from a world they hardly know—not caring to know it—and long to fly from all the vanity and show, all the strife and turmoil, to seek in the company of kindred souls the sense of security and freedom, the quiet and the bliss that belong to those who have found the truth and follow after love; who, having overcome the pride of life, give themselves to the service of sufferers and little ones. As they seek not honors and distinctions, they are not fascinated by the glitter of gold—the world's great idol, master
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