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Chapter XVI. How That We Should Follow the Infallible Guide and Redeemer Upon the Straight Road Which He Hath Shown Unto Us
Verily, this is the true and straight road pointed out by God, and foolish exceedingly is he who doubteth, or who reckoneth not (seeing how that the Son of God did walk upon that road), to follow the Lord, his ineffable Guide and Redeemer. Of a certainty He knew how much of good there was in pains and tribulations. For which reason He did assume and choose these woes, fleeing from joy, censuring worldly consolations and declaring them to be hateful. Wherefore doth it not unreasonably appear that before the Son of God did in His own person take these sufferings upon Himself, it did in some ways seem as though there might be found some excuse for those who followed their own wills and fled from tribulation (albeit He had nevertheless through His saints and prophets shown forth the contrary a long time before), but when the Son of God Himself did choose to bear such great adversities, the man would truly be both miserable and mad who doubted or neglected the truth so clearly set forth, and so loudly preached, and of which the Lord Himself hath given an example unto the world. Of a certainty none would doubt, saving he were void of sense and worthy of all damnation.
Of this damnation, therefore, are we wretches worthy. For, being vile sinners, not only do we refuse to take those sufferings upon us as a penance, but we do resist even when God in His supreme mercy and wisdom sendeth them upon us in order thereby to save us and purge us of evil; we do flee from them and refuse them impatiently, murmuring and lamenting grievously against them, eagerly seeking consolations and remedies whereby we may be relieved from these tribulations. Oh wretched and truly miserable are we, who not only seek to escape those worldly pains and afflictions which are the remedy and cure for sin, but we do even refuse the assistance of our most wise physician Jesus Christ. If the supreme wisdom of God ordaineth that there should come a little cold, we do immediately draw nigh unto the fire, and do cover ourselves with many garments; if it chance to be hot or scorching, then we seek the cold; if our head or our stomach do hurt, we cry and weep and sigh and run unto the physician; we seek remedies, we lie softly in bed, eat delicate food, and in order that the pains may be relieved, we do weary God and the saints with constant prayers, with promises and vows of fasting, pilgrimages, and atonements. Thus merely that we may be spared those pains and afflictions which are profitable unto us and are sent from God, we do all these and many other things which we would not do for the remission of our sins or the good of our soul. If God doth further permit that for our profit we should suffer adversity or injury at the hands of some man, we are instantly troubled and moved thereat, we grow angry and lament and do judge that person wickedly, speaking evil against him, and if we can, we do take revenge. Fleeing from harm and injury, we do refuse as far as we are able all suffering, affliction, or adversity which the Eternal God, our heavenly Physician, hath sent unto us, and nothing will we endure with patience or resignation.
How many things are done and how much money is spent in order to avert those pains, afflictions, and adversities which God in His mercy sendeth or permitteth to fall upon us! It would doubtless be more salutary and meritorious were we to accept and endure these things willingly instead of choosing other penances and afflictions for ourselves. It is better to wait for God and patiently to bear that which He sendeth; He is the heavenly Physician who sendeth affliction and adversity to purge and teach and make perfect the soul, and He knoweth better than sick and ignorant man. Wherefore are those afflictions and penances which we ourselves seek and choose often, if not always, an excuse for vaingloriousness, but those which man is apparently forced to bear of necessity and against his will are those which are sent by divine dispensation, and those should be borne with great patience and willingness, albeit their heavenly source is hidden from him.
Wherefore do I say and counsel you, oh my children, that ye shall endure cold and ice, heat and scorching, vermin and sweatings, pains in the head or stomach or other parts of the body (saving, however, that which concerns the maintenance thereof), not being curious to seek remedies, save in urgent necessity, for they hinder the good of the soul. I say unto you, moreover, that when God ordereth or permitteth poverty, the death of friends, oppressions, persecutions and shame, beatings and rapine to fall upon us, that we should not bewail ourselves; but inasmuch as they are given and administered by the supreme Physician, our Saviour, we should not only bear them with patience, but for His love and our own great good we should accept them very willingly. For if we do gladly and readily accept them of our own free will, it is an act far more meritorious than if we accepted them only to do penance, albeit of our own will.
Oh, wretched that we are, what more can we say? Not only do we seek to escape the pains, afflictions, and adversities, sent unto us by a most wise and merciful God (and like unto what He bore Himself), but we do endeavour day and night to enjoy bodily luxury and softness, diligently seeking worldly consolations and continually begging for vain delights. Verily, this is not the way of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all. How shall a miserable soul who is ever seeking consolation in the world approach Him who is the way and the example of suffering? Of a truth, the wise soul who desireth to live wisely should regard naught else in this world save suffering; yea, if it did gaze upon Jesus its Beloved and possessed naught save one drop of love, it should seek for no other gain and no other state in this world save His; that is to say, the state of pain, anguish, and tribulation. And this should be its whole consolation, not only in earthly, temporal, and bodily things, but in spiritual things likewise.
Verily, this is the true and straight road pointed out by God, and foolish exceedingly is he who doubteth, or who reckoneth not (seeing how that the Son of God did walk upon that road), to follow the Lord, his ineffable Guide and Redeemer. Of a certainty He knew how much of good there was in pains and tribulations. For which reason He did assume and choose these woes, fleeing from joy, censuring worldly consolations and declaring them to be hateful. Wherefore doth it not unreasonably appear that before the Son of God did in His own person take these sufferings upon Himself, it did in some ways seem as though there might be found some excuse for those who followed their own wills and fled from tribulation (albeit He had nevertheless through His saints and prophets shown forth the contrary a long time before), but when the Son of God Himself did choose to bear such great adversities, the man would truly be both miserable and mad who doubted or neglected the truth so clearly set forth, and so loudly preached, and of which the Lord Himself hath given an example unto the world. Of a certainty none would doubt, saving he were void of sense and worthy of all damnation.
Of this damnation, therefore, are we wretches worthy. For, being vile sinners, not only do we refuse to take those sufferings upon us as a penance, but we do resist even when God in His supreme mercy and wisdom sendeth them upon us in order thereby to save us and purge us of evil; we do flee from them and refuse them impatiently, murmuring and lamenting grievously against them, eagerly seeking consolations and remedies whereby we may be relieved from these tribulations. Oh wretched and truly miserable are we, who not only seek to escape those worldly pains and afflictions which are the remedy and cure for sin, but we do even refuse the assistance of our most wise physician Jesus Christ. If the supreme wisdom of God ordaineth that there should come a little cold, we do immediately draw nigh unto the fire, and do cover ourselves with many garments; if it chance to be hot or scorching, then we seek the cold; if our head or our stomach do hurt, we cry and weep and sigh and run unto the physician; we seek remedies, we lie softly in bed, eat delicate food, and in order that the pains may be relieved, we do weary God and the saints with constant prayers, with promises and vows of fasting, pilgrimages, and atonements. Thus merely that we may be spared those pains and afflictions which are profitable unto us and are sent from God, we do all these and many other things which we would not do for the remission of our sins or the good of our soul. If God doth further permit that for our profit we should suffer adversity or injury at the hands of some man, we are instantly troubled and moved thereat, we grow angry and lament and do judge that person wickedly, speaking evil against him, and if we can, we do take revenge. Fleeing from harm and injury, we do refuse as far as we are able all suffering, affliction, or adversity which the Eternal God, our heavenly Physician, hath sent unto us, and nothing will we endure with patience or resignation.
How many things are done and how much money is spent in order to avert those pains, afflictions, and adversities which God in His mercy sendeth or permitteth to fall upon us! It would doubtless be more salutary and meritorious were we to accept and endure these things willingly instead of choosing other penances and afflictions for ourselves. It is better to wait for God and patiently to bear that which He sendeth; He is the heavenly Physician who sendeth affliction and adversity to purge and teach and make perfect the soul, and He knoweth better than sick and ignorant man. Wherefore are those afflictions and penances which we ourselves seek and choose often, if not always, an excuse for vaingloriousness, but those which man is apparently forced to bear of necessity and against his will are those which are sent by divine dispensation, and those should be borne with great patience and willingness, albeit their heavenly source is hidden from him.
Wherefore do I say and counsel you, oh my children, that ye shall endure cold and ice, heat and scorching, vermin and sweatings, pains in the head or stomach or other parts of the body (saving, however, that which concerns the maintenance thereof), not being curious to seek remedies, save in urgent necessity, for they hinder the good of the soul. I say unto you, moreover, that when God ordereth or permitteth poverty, the death of friends, oppressions, persecutions and shame, beatings and rapine to fall upon us, that we should not bewail ourselves; but inasmuch as they are given and administered by the supreme Physician, our Saviour, we should not only bear them with patience, but for His love and our own great good we should accept them very willingly. For if we do gladly and readily accept them of our own free will, it is an act far more meritorious than if we accepted them only to do penance, albeit of our own will.
Oh, wretched that we are, what more can we say? Not only do we seek to escape the pains, afflictions, and adversities, sent unto us by a most wise and merciful God (and like unto what He bore Himself), but we do endeavour day and night to enjoy bodily luxury and softness, diligently seeking worldly consolations and continually begging for vain delights. Verily, this is not the way of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all. How shall a miserable soul who is ever seeking consolation in the world approach Him who is the way and the example of suffering? Of a truth, the wise soul who desireth to live wisely should regard naught else in this world save suffering; yea, if it did gaze upon Jesus its Beloved and possessed naught save one drop of love, it should seek for no other gain and no other state in this world save His; that is to say, the state of pain, anguish, and tribulation. And this should be its whole consolation, not only in earthly, temporal, and bodily things, but in spiritual things likewise.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre