Readings: From The Imitation of Christ
De Imitatione Christi
Depuis longtemps je me nourrissais de «la pure farine» contenue dans l'Imitation, c'était le seul livre qui me fît du bien, car je n'avais pas encore trouvé les trésors cachés dans l'Evangile. Je savais par coeur presque tous les chapitres de ma chère Imitation, ce petit livre ne me quittait jamais ; en été, je le portais dans ma poche, en hiver, dans mon manchon, aussi était-il devenu traditionnel ; chez ma Tante on s'en amusait beaucoup et l'ouvrant au hasard, on me faisait réciter le chapitre qui se trouvait devant les yeux.
For a long time I nourished my spiritual life with the "fine flour" contained in the Imitation of Christ. It was the only book which did me good, for I had not yet discovered the treasures hidden in the Holy Gospels. I knew by heart nearly every chapter in my beloved 'Imitation'. The little volume never left my side. In summer, I kept it in my pocket; in winter, in it was in my muff. It had become a custom with my aunt to open it at any page and ask me to recite by heart the chapter she had chanced upon.From Chapter V of the Autobiography of a Soul, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. See here on our sister blog and here for copies of her manuscripts.
Liber III: De intérna consolatióne
Cap. 40. Quod homo nihil boni ex se habet, et de nullo gloriári debet
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| Imitatio. Author's Latin copy. |
Dómine, quid est homo, quod memor sis ejus, aut fílius hóminis, quia vísitas eum? (Ps 8,5) Quid proméruit homo, ut dares illi grátiam tuam? Dómine, quid possum cónqueri, si déseris me? aud quid juste obténdere possum, si quod peto non féceris? Certe hoc in veritáte cogitáre possum et dícere: Dómine, nihil sum; nihil boni ex me hábeo, sed in ómnibus defício, et ad nihil semper tendo. Ego nisi a te fúero adjútus et intérius informátus, totus effácior tépidus et dissolútus.
Chapter XL - That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory
1. Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him? What hath man deserved, that Thou shouldest bestow thy favour upon him? Lord, what cause can I have of complaint, if Thou forsake me? Or what can I justly allege, if Thou refuse to hear my petition? Of a truth, this I may truly think and say, Lord, I am nothing, I have nothing that is good of myself, but I fall short in all things, and ever tend unto nothing. And unless I am helped by Thee and inwardly supported, I become altogether lukewarm and reckless.
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| Author's French copy of the Imitation. Imprimatur dated 1921. |
Tu autem, Dómine, semper idem ipse es, et pérmanes in ætérnum: semper bonus et justus et sanctus; bene, juste et sancte agens ómnia et dispónens in sapiéntia. Sed ego, qui ad deféctum magis pronus sum quam ad proféctum, non semper sum in uno statu perdúrans, quia septem témpora mutántur super me. Verum tamen cito mélius sit, cum tibi placúerit, et manum porréxeris adjutrícem: quia tu solus sine humáno suffrágio póteris auxiliári et in tantum confirmáre, ut vultus meus ámplius in divérsa non mutétur, sed in te uno cor meum convertátur et quiéscat.
The words on the scroll in the image above come from Chapter 8 of St John's Gospel: [12] Iterum ergo locútus est eis Jesus, dicens : Ego sum lux mundi : qui séquitur me, non ámbulat in ténebris, sed habébit lumen vitae.[12] Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
2. But Thou, O Lord, art always the same, and endurest for ever, always good, righteous, and holy; doing all things well, righteously, and holily, and disposing all in Thy wisdom. But I who am more ready to go forward than backward, never continue in one stay, because changes sevenfold pass over me. Yet it quickly becometh better when it so pleaseth Thee, and Thou puttest forth Thy hand to help me;[1] because Thou alone canst aid without help of man, and canst so strengthen me that my countenance shall be no more changed, but my heart shall be turned to Thee, and rest in Thee alone.[1] and Thou puttest forth Thy hand to help me: This recalls Matthew's account of Christ walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee:
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| Lord, save me. J-J Tissot |
[31] Et continuo Jesus extendens manum, apprehendit eum : et ait illi : Modicae fidei, quare dubitasti? [Matthew 14]
[26] And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear. [27] And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not. [28] And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters. [29] And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus. [30] But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.
[31] And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? [Matthew 14]
Cap. 7. De occultánda grátia sub humilitátis custódia.
4.DÓMINUS. Subtráhitur grátia ad nostram cautélam et ad Dei glóriam
Qui tempóre pacis nimis secúrus esse volúerit, sæpe tempóre belli nimis dejéctus et formidolósus reperiétur. Si scires semper húmilis módicus in te permanére nec non spíritum tuum bene moderáre et régere, non incíderes tam cito in perículum et offénsam. Consílium bonum est ut fervóris spiritu concepto meditéris quid futurum sit abscedénte lúmine. (...)
Chapter VII - Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility
4. He who in time of peace willeth to be over-secure shall be often found in time of war over dispirited and full of fears. If thou knewest always how to continue humble and moderate in thyself, and to guide and rule thine own spirit well, thou wouldest not so quickly fall into danger and mischief. It is good counsel that when fervour of spirit is kindled, thou shouldest meditate how it will be with thee when the light is taken away. (...)
Notes on Latin vocab
abs-cēdo, cessi, cessum, 3, v. n. to go off or away, to depart.auxĭlĭor, ātus, 1, v. dep. auxilium, to give help or aid, to help, aid, assist, succor
cautēla, ae, f. cautus, caveo (mostly post - class.), caution, precaution.
cito : (adv.), speedily; soon; (comp.), citius
conqueri: present, infinitive active (dep):con-quĕror, questus, 3,v. dep. a. and n., to complain of a thing, or to bewail, lament passionately or much
dē-fĭcĭo, fēci, fectum, 3. to make off from; free one’s self from; desert, leave, forsake, fail, be wanting, be exhausted, fail; give way, sink, faint, to be broken down, prostrated, sick at heart,to be depressed, discouraged
deseris: second pers sing, pres, ind, act. dē-sĕro, rŭi, rtum, 3, v. a. Lit., to undo or sever one's connection with another; hence, with esp. reference to the latter, to leave, forsake, abandon, desert, give up
dis-solvo, solvi, sŏlūtum, 3, v. a., to loosen asunder, to unloose, disunite, separate, dissolve, destroy
formidolosus 1 inspiring fear, terrifying. 2 fearful, terrified.
gloriari: present, infinitive active (dep): glōrĭor, ātus, v. dep. a. and n. id., to glory, boast, vaunt, to brag of any thing, pride one's self on any thing
mŏdĭcus, a, um, adj. modus, having or keeping a proper measure, moderate (cf. mediocris); esp. in behavior, modest, temperate;
porrigō, rēxī, rēctus, 3, a.: to stretch forth, hold forth, lift; (pass.), to be stretched out, extend,(prō and regō)
prōfĭcĭo, fēci, fectum, 3, v. n and a. [pro-facio], to go forward, advance, gain ground, make progress.
promeruit: third person, sing, perf, ind, act from: prō-mĕrĕo, ŭi, ĭtum, 2, v. a., and prō-mĕrĕor, ĭtus, 2, v. dep. a.To deserve, be deserving of, merit, in a good or bad sense
quō-mŏdŏ, or quō mŏdŏ, adv., in what manner, in what way, how.
reperiō, repperī, repertus, 4, a.: to find again; find by searching, discover, find out, detect
sub-trăho, xi, ctum, 3, v. a., to draw away from underneath or by stealth; also, in gen., to draw off, carry off, withdraw, take away, remove, etc. (class.; syn. subduco).
suffrāgĭum, ii, n. a favorable decision, assent, approbation, applause; perh. kindr. with suffrago, and therefore, prop., the pasternbone; hence, transf.,a votingtablet, a ballot (syn. tabella), and in gen., a vote, voice, suffrage.
vērum-tămen (vērun-tămen; in recent edd. more freq. as two words, vē-rum tămen; conj. but yet, notwithstanding, however, nevertheless.
Prayers
Ave Maris Stella
Magnificat
Gloria
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam
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