The narrow way.: a brief, clear, systematical expositon of the spiritual life for the laity, and a practical guide book to Christian perfection for all of good will

Front matter

Class Ji.2^^:M!^ Book 'Q 4-^

Gopght)^"

COPYRrCHT DEPOSrn

Introduction

KKOWLEDGEi of the theory and practice of the spiritual life is essential to solid virtue. Without it the soul drifts on a sea of doubt and uncertainty, and wastes time, grace, and opportunity of merit and spiritual progress. With this knowledge an ordinary good will suffices to appreciate how sweet is the Saviour's yoke and how light His burden. Like the ladder which the patriarch Jacob saw reaching from earth to heaven the service of God becomes attractive in proportion to our knowledge and application of the teaching of holy faith.

A favorable sign of Catholic life in our day is the desire for religious information among our people. Not only are the clergy and the religious alert and anxious to use every means to qualify for their labors and to promote their spiritual welfare, but there is a growing class among the laity that relishes the higher things. While " The Narrow Way " is specially intended as a Manual of the Spiritual Life for the Laity, it will equally serve as a handbook for viii lyTRODUCTIOX

postulants, novices, and seminarians that will introduce them to the principles of the spiritual life and enable them to appreciate and derive profit from larger works. May Providence use this Manual to lead many souls on the way to intimate union with a loving and merciful God. Thos. p. Beowx, C.SS.E., Sup. Prov.

St. Louis, Mo.

Preface

'' How narrow is tlie gate, and strait the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it'' {Matt vii. 14).

^' The Narrow Way " is a manual of the spiritual life for all of good will. It is intended to serve as a handbook for intelligent and devout Catholics in the world and as an introduction to more comprehensive works on the spiritual life for postulants and novices in religion. To both it will give that general direction which is so essential to a life of solid virtue and which many cannot always obtain on account of the large numbers that throng around the confessionals in our large parishes.

As a brief, clear, systematic exposition of the spiritual life " The Narrow Way " presents the practical doctrine of ascetic and mystic theology in a popular form and according to a plan that makes the mysteries of grace and free will reasonable to the average mind. For the sake of clearness " The Narrow Way " is divided into two parts: the one treating of asceticism or the Interior Life, the other of mysticism or

IX

X PREFACE

the Supernatural Life. For the same reason each part is subdivided into sections, chapters, and articles, and so combines brevity and clearness v^ith a systematic exposition of Catholic theory and practice.

May '' The Narrow Way " help many to life eternal, and may those who find light and guidance in it recommend the author to Jesus and Mary in their prayers.

OcoNOMOwoc, Wis.

Aug. 15, 1913.

Contents

PAGE

Introduction 7

Preface 9

The Spiritual Life. il

Section I. — The Foundation of the Interior Life I. — ^A Knowledge of GtOd's Claims on Man . . 17

1. Man Owes God Reverence 17

2. Man Owes God Gratitude 18

3. Man Must Fear God 19

4. Man Should Love God 20

11. — A Knowledge of Human Nature .... 22

1. The Microcosm 22

2. Life 24

3. Temperament 25

4. Delusions 27

5. The Predominant Passion 28

6. The Responsibility of Human Acts ... 29

7. The Morality of Human Acts 30

8. Good Will 31

9. The Good Intention 32

10. The Universal Laws of Life . . . . . 33

11. Virtue 34

12. Character 35

13. Moral Growth 36

14. Happiness 37

III. — Knowledge of Man's Enemies .... 39

1. The Flesh 39

2. The World 40 xii CONTENTS

PAGE

3. The Devil 42

4. Temptation 43

5. The Proximate Occasion of Sin 44

6. Bad Will 45

7. Vice 46

8. Remorse of Conscience 47

IV. — Knowledge of Man's Existence .... 48

1. Time 48

2. Eternity 50

Section II. — Dispositions for the Interior Life

I. — Diffidence in Ourselves 53

1. We Are Nothing of Ourselves 53

2. We Can Do Nothing of Ourselves .... 54

3. Our Nature is Corrupted by Sin .... 54

4. Heaven Is Beyond Our Unaided Reach ... 55

5. The Enemies of Our Salvation Are Powerful . 55

II. — Confidence in God 56

1. On Account of God's Goodness, Love, and

Mercy 56

2. On Account of God's Promises 57

3. On Account of the Merits of Jesus Christ . . 57

4. On Account of the Protection of Mary ... 58

5. On Account of the Mission of the Catholic

Church 59

6. On Account of the Power of Prayer ... 69

7. On Account of the Intercession of the Angels

and Saints 60

III. — Submission to God's Representatives . , 60

1. Loyalty to Jesus Christ 60

2. Loyalty to the Catholic Church 61

3. Respect for Lawful Authority 62

4. Obedience to Our Spiritual Director ... 63

IV. — Determination to Attain Perfection . . 63

1. The Christian Ideal 65

2. A Horror for Sin 66

Mil

CONTENTS xiii

PAGE

3. A Spirit of Reflection , . 67

4. A Spirit of Compunction ...... 6S

5. Subjugation of the Flesh 69

6. Subjugation of the Spirit 70

7. Contempt for the World 70

8. Contempt for Satan 71

9. A Spirit of Prayer 72

10. Sincerity 72

11. Desire 73

12. Resolution 74

13. Generosity 75

14. Fervor 76

15. Docility 76

V. — Striving After Perfection 77

1. Promptitude 77

2. Continuous Effort 77

3. Gradual Progress 78

4. Patience 79

5. Decision in Temptation 80

6. Avoidance of the Occasion of Sin . . .81

7. Search for the Occasion of Doing Good . . 82

8. Sadness and Cheerfulness 83

9. Attention to Details 84

10. Good Use of the Present Moment .... 84

11. Frequent Renewal of Good Intention ... 85

12. Fidelity 86

Section III. — Self-Denial or Active Purgation

I. — Self-Denial in General 89

1. Object of Self-Denial— Purity of Heart ... 89

2. Motive of Self-Denial— The Fear of the Lord . 89

3. Order in Self-Denial 90

4. Signs of Self-Denial 91

5. Practical Counsels on Self-Denial .... 92

II. — Self-Examination 92

1. A General Examination of the Interior . . 93

2. The Daily Examination of Conscience . . 94

3. The Particular Examination 95 xiv CONTENTS

PAGE

4. The Examination for a Good Confession . . 96

6. Sinful Actions 97

6. Bad Habits 98

7. The Predominant Fault 99

8. Human Imperfections 100

9. Idiosyncrasies 101

10. The Delusions of Wrong Principles . . 101

11. The Delusions of Self -Love 102

12. Ambition 103

13. Self-will 105

14. Sensuality 105

15. Peculiarities of the Cross 107

16. Man's Limitations 108

III. — Self-Castigation or Penance . . .110

1. First Cause for Penance — Mortal Sin . . .110

2. Second Cause for Penance — Venial Sin . .111

3. Third Cause for Penance — Tepidity . .112

4. Fourth Cause for Penance — Participation in

the Sins of Others 113

5. Fifth Cause for Penance — The Sins of the

World 113

6. Sixth Cause for Penance — Imperfections . .114

a. Imperfections Tending to Pride . . .115

b. Imperfections Tending to Avarice . .115

c. Imperfections Tending to Lust . . .116

d. Imperfections Tending to Anger . . .117

e. Imperfections Tending to Gluttony . .118

f. Imperfections Tending to Envy . . .119

g. Imperfections Tending to Sloth . . .119

7. Castigation of Actual Sin — Sacramental Con-

fession 120

8. Castigation of the Guiltv Mind — Detestation

9. Castigation of the Guilty Will — Sorrow for

Sin 123

10. Castigation of all the Guilty Faculties — Pur-

pose of Amendment 124

11. Castigation of Sinful Man — Satisfaction . . 125

12. Castigation of the Repentant Sinner — Actual

Amendment 126

13. Medicinal Castigation — ^Mortification . . . 127

CONTENTS XV

PAGE

14. Rigoro'us Castigation — Austerities .... 129

15. Our Spiritual Guide— The Priest .... 130

IV.— Subjugation of the Carnal Man . . . .131

1. Spirit of Retirement 132

2. Plain Dwelling 132

3. Modest Dress 133

4. Plain Fare 134

5. Simplicity 134

6. Cheerfulness 135

7. Habit of Industry 135

8. Patient Endurance 136

9. Avoidance of Singularity 137

10. Home Life 138

11. Recrea.tion 139

12. Care of Health 139

13. Friends . 140

14. Catholic Spirit . 142

15. Intercourse with the World 143

16. Christian Charity 144

17. Patriotism 145

V. — Subjugation of the External Senses . .146

1. Custody of the Eyes 147

2. Custody of the Ears 147

3. Custody of the Sense of Smell 148

4. Custody of the Taste 149

5. Custody of the Touch 150

6. Custody of the Tongue 150

VI. — Subjugation of the Internal Senses . .151

1. Controlling the Central Sense 151

2. Purifying the Imagination . . . . . .152

3. Restraining the Instinct 153

4. Purifying the Memory 153

VII. — Subjugation of the Sensitive Appetite or

of the Passions 155

2. Hatred 157

3. Desire 157

XVI CONTENTS

PAGB

4. Aversion 158i

5. Joy or Delight 158

6. Sadness 158

8. Despair 160

9. Courage 161

VIII. — Subjugation of the Will 164

1. Detachment from Riches 164

2. Detachment from Comforts 165

3. Detachment from Pleasures 166

4. Detachment from Relatives and Friends . .166

5. Detachment from Honors 167

6. Detachment from Self-Esteem 168

7. Detachment from Self -Love 169

8. Detachment from Self-Will 170

IX. — Subjugation of the jVIind to Teuth . .171

1. Removal of Ignorance 171

2. Removal of Prejudice 172

3. Removal of Error 172

4. Cure of Spiritual Blindness 173

5. Dismissal of False Principles 174

6. Restoration of the Mind 175

7. Curing Fickleness 176

8. Remedying Curiosity 177

9. Moderating Rashness 177

10. Conquering Obstinacy 178

X. — Subjugation of the Ceeature to the

Creator — Use of the ]Means of Grace . 178

1. Prayer 180

a. Vocal Prayer 181

b. Mental Prayer 182

c. Mixed Prayer 184

2. The Sacraments 185

3. The Sacrifice of the Mass 186

4. The Sacramentals 186

5. Indulo^ences 187

CONTENTS xvii

PAGE

6. Pious Practices 187

7. Counsels on the Use of the Means of Grace . 188

Section IV.— The Practice of Virtue or Active Illumination I. — The Practice of Virtue in General . . .190

1. The Object in Practising Virtue — Spiritual

Growth 190

2. The Motive in Practising Virtue — Hope of Re-

ward 191

3. Order in the Practice of Virtue 192

4. Signs of Progress in Virtue 193

5. Counsels on the Practice of Virtue .... 193

XL — The Theological Virtues 194

1. Faith 195

3. Charity 197

III. — The Cardinal Virtues 198

1. Prudence 199

2. Justice — Religion, Devotion 200

3. Temperance 202

4. Fortitude 203

Section V. — Living in Union with God. — Active Union

I. — ^Active Union with God in General . . , 206

1. Object of Union with God — Happiness . . 208

2. Motive of Union with God — Love .... 209

3. Means of Union with God — Conformity to

God's Will 210

4. Signs of Union with God 210

5. Counsels on Union with God 211

II. — Heroic Union with God — The Beatitudes . 212

1. The Beatitudes in General 212

2. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit for Theirs is

the Kingdom of Heaven 213 xviii CONTENTS

PAGE

3. Blessed are the Meek, for They Shall Possess

the Land 214

4. Blessed Are They That Mourn, for They Shall

Be Comforted 215

5. Blessed Are They That Hunger and Thirst

After Justice, for They Shall Have Their Fill 216

6. Blessed Are the Merciful; for They Shall Ob-

tain Mercy 217

7. Blessed Are the Clean of Heart; for They Shall

See God 218

8. Blessed Are the Peacemakers; for They Shall

be Called the Children of God .... 219

9. Blessed Are They That Suffer Persecution for

Justice' Sake: for Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven 220

Section VI. — Development of the Interior

Life in the Religious State I. — The Religious Life in General 224

1. Tlie Religious Vows 225

2. The Religious Rule 226

3. Community Life 226

11. — The Excellence of the Religious Life . .227

1. The Religious Life is Supernatural . . . 228

2. The Religious Life a Life of Labor .... 229

3. The Religious Life a Life of Self-Denial . . 230

4. The Religious Life a Life of Prayer . . . 230

5. The Religious Life a Life of Virtue . . .231

6. The Religious Life Facilitates Christian Per-

fection 232

7. The Religious Life a Life of Union with God . 234

Section I. — The Supernatural Order L—GoD 240

1. The Nature and Attributes of God ... 240

2. The Mind of God 242

CONTENTS xix

PAGE

3. The Will of God 242

4. The Virtues of God ....... 244

II« — The External Works of God 245

1. The Economy of God's Work 246

2. The Creation of the World .249

3. Government of Creatures in General . . .251

4. Government of Irrational Creatures . . . 252

5. God's Government of the Sinner 254

6. God's Government of the Just 259

III. — The Permanent Assistance God Gives

Man 263

1. The Desire of Happiness 264

2. The Desire of Truth and Virtue .... 265

3. Parental Influence 266

4. Conscience 267

5. Vocation . 268

6. The Ministry of the Church ...... 270

7. The Communion of Saints . . . , . .271

8. Sanctifying Grace 272

9. The Divine Adoption . 274

10. The Sacraments 275

11. The Infused Virtues 276

12. The Gifts of the Holy Ghost 277

IV. — The Transient Assistance God Gives Man . 279

1. The Dispensations of Divine Providence . . 279

2. Actual Grace 281

Section II. — The Divine Influence in Self- Denial — Passive Purgation I. — The Grace of Sensible Devotion

1. Its Nature — Spiritual Sweetness

2. Its Preparation — Sincere Reflection

3. Its Occasion — Christian Resolution .

4. Its Effect—Good WMU ....

5. Its Danger — ^Delusions ....

II. — ^The Purification of Sensitive Nature 1. The Nature of this Purification .

. 292 . 292 . 293 . 295

. 296

. 297

299 299

XX COSTEXTS

PAGE

2. Tlie Necessity of this Purification .... 300

3. Die Effects of this Purification 301

4. Signs of this Purification 302

5. Counsels on the Purification of Sensitive Na-

ture 303

6. The Rebellion of Sensitive Xature .... 304

7. The Purification of Sensitive Xature by Tem-

poral Losses ". . . 306

8. The Purification of Sensitive Xature by Temp-

tations of Satxin . . 307

9. Divine Chastisements 308

III. — The Pubificatiox of Ixtellectual Xatube 309

1. The Xature of this Purification 309

2. The Necessity of this Purification . . . .311

3. Tlie Efi'ects of this Purification 311

4. Signs of this Purification 312

5. Counsels on the Purification of Intellectual

Xature 312

6. Temptations from Xature During This Purifi-

cation r . . . . 313

7. Trials from the World During This Purifica-

tion " 314

8. Temptations from Satan During This Purifica-

tion 315

9. Extraordinary Trial from God During This

Purification 316

Section III. — The Divine Influence in the

Pru^lCtice of Virtue — Passbt: Illumination I. — The Special Dispexsatioxs of PBo^TDE^-CE . 318

1. The Opportunitv To Know. To Love, and To

2. The Opportunity for Man To Know and To

Follow His Vocation 319

3. The Opportunity to Practise Every Virtue . 320

11. — The Allurements of Grace ..... 320

1. The Fear of the Lord 320

2. Tlie Desire of Reward 321

CONTENTS xxi

PAGE

3. The Excellence of Virtue 322

4. Gratitude to God 323

5. The Incentive of Contemplation 324