Page 69 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

CHAPTER 10
HIS INTERIOR LIFE

I
t is time that we should turn aside from Saint Gerard's deeds of
miracle and goodness to the study of his inner life, which was
hidden with Christ in God. This was the source of all his activity,
the secret of his power over the hearts of men. Fortunately there is
no need of drawing upon our imagination in searching even into the
depths of his soul. Our Saint shall speak for himself. On the plea of
wishing to examine whether he was really guided by the Spirit of
God, one of his Directors required him to commit to writing his
mortifications, his good desires, his resolutions — all that concerned
his spiritual life. Gerard obeyed with the simplicity of a true child of
God. The document in which he unconsciously draws the picture of
his sanctity with his own hand still remains to us. From it we will
now quote:
Your Reverence is anxious to know in detail the mortifications
that I practise, as well as my wishes, feelings, and good resolutions:
likewise the exact meaning of the Vow which I have taken always to
do that which is most perfect. Behold me, then, ready to give an
account, not only of my external actions, but also of all that passes
within me, in order to unite myself the more closely with God, and
thus walk with greater security in the way of Eternal Salvation.
He then proceeds to give a long list of the mortifications which he
practised — some every day, some on Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays; others on special occasions, such as the Novenas
preceding great Feasts. From the enumeration of his corporal
penances — penances which prove that he was hardly, if at all,

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