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 Primus: Admonitiónes as spirituálem vitam utiles
Cap. 18. De exémplo Sanctórum Patrum
Chapter XVIII - Of the example of the Holy Fathers
1. Consider now the lively examples of the holy fathers, in whom shone forth real perfectness and religion, and thou shalt see how little, even as nothing, is all that we do. Ah! What is our life when compared to theirs? They, saints and friends of Christ as they were, served the Lord in hunger and thrist, in cold and nakedness, in labour and weariness, in watchings and fastings, in prayer and holy meditations, in persecutions and much rebuke.
Deum quaerébant in labóre et oratióne
They sought God in labour and prayer
2. O quam multas, et graves tribulatiónes passi sunt Apóstoli, Mártyres et Confessóres, Vírgines et réliqui omnes, qui Christi vestígia voluérunt sequi. Nam ánimas suas in hoc mundo odérunt, ut in vitam ætérnam eas possidérent. O quam strictam et abdicátam vitam sancti Patres in erémo duxérunt, quam longas, et graves tentátiones pertulérunt: quam frequenter ab inimíco vexáti sunt, quam crebras et férvidas oratiónes Deo obtulérunt, quam rígidas abstinéntias peregérunt, quam magnum zelum, et fervórem ad spirituálem proféctum habuérunt, quam forte bellum advérsus edomatiónem vitiórum gessérunt, quam puram, et rectam intentiónem ad Deum tenuérunt, per diem laborábant, et nóctibus oratióni diutínæ vacábant: quamquam laborándo ab oratióne mentáli mínime cessárent.
2. O how many and grievous tribulations did the Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, endure; and all others who would walk in the footsteps of Christ. For they hated their souls in this world that they might keep them unto life eternal. O how strict and retired a life was that of the holy fathers who dwelt in the desert! what long and grievous temptations they did suffer! how often were they assaulted by the enemy! what frequent and fervid prayers did they offer unto God! what strict fasts did they endure! what fervent zeal and desire after spiritual profit did they manifest! how bravely did they fight that their vices might not gain the mastery! how entirely and steadfastly did they reach after God! By day they laboured, and at night they gave themselves ofttimes unto prayer; yea, even when they were labouring they ceased not from mental prayer.
Ómnibus bonis abdicátis, in grátia divína dívites erant
Eschewing all earthly goods, they were rich in Divine grace
3. Omne tempus utíliter expendébant, omnis hora ad vacándum Deo brevis videbátur. Et præ magna dulcédine contemplatiónis, etiam oblivióni tradebátur necéssitas corporális refectiónis. Ómnibus divítiis, dignitátibus, honóribus, amícis et cognátis renuntiábant. Nihil de mundo habére cupiébant: vix necessária vitæ sumébant, córpori servíre etiam in necessitáte dolébant. Páuperes ígitur erant rebus terrénis, sed dívites valde in grátia, et virtútibus. Foris egébant, sed intus grátia, et consolatióne divína reficiebántur.
3. They spent their whole time profitably; every hour seemed short for retirement with God; and through the great sweetness of contemplation, even the need of bodily refreshment was forgotten. They renounced all riches, dignities, honours, friends, kinsmen; they desired nothing from the world; they ate the bare necessities of life; they were unwilling to minister to the body even in necessity. Thus were they poor in earthly things, but rich above measure in grace and virtue. Though poor to the outer eye, within they were filled with grace and heavenly benedictions.
Notes on Latin vocab
abdicatam: acc sing fem pp from ab-dĭco, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to deny, disown, refuse, reject.
cessarent.
crebras: acc plur fem from crēber, bra, brum: (adj.), repeated, frequent,
diutinae: dat, sing, fem from dĭūtĭnus, a, um, adj. diu, of long duration, lasting, long
edomationem: acc sing F? from edomatio subdual.
egebant: 3rd pers plural imperf indic intrans, from egeō, uī, 2, n.: to be in want or need; (w. abl. or gen.), to want, need,to be poor, destitute,
eremo: abl sing masc from ĕrēmus, i, m. (sc. locus), or f. (sc. regio), a wilderness, desert,
fame: abl sing f, from famēs, is, f.: hunger
Foris: fŏris, adv. abl. form (denoting both the place where and the place whence),1 (adv.) on the outside, out of doors, outside.externally, on the outside. b outwardly.
fulsit: 3rd person sing, perf, ind, act: from fulgeō, fulsī, 2, and fulgō, 3, n.: to shine brightly; flash, gleam, glance,
Intuere; 2nd person sing, imperative act (dep) from in-tŭĕor, ĭtus, 2, v. dep.to look at, upon, or towards
oblivioni: dat, sing. fem from: oblīvĭo, ōnis, f. obliviscor. a being forgotten, forgetfulness, oblivion.
passi sunt: 3rd pers plural perf indic active (dep) from patior , passus sum, 3, dep. a.: to suffer, permit, allow, 1.644; submit to, bear, undergo, endure,
peregerunt: 3rd pers plural , perf, ind, act from peragō, ēgī, āctus, 3, a.: to drive through; carry through; execute, achieve, accomplish, finish, perform
reliqui: nom plural masc, from rĕlĭquus (rĕlĭcŭus), a, um (relinquo) the rest of, the remaining, (pl.) the other; b (m. pl. as sb.).
siti: abl sing f, from sitis , is, f.: thirst; dryness, drought,
sumebant: 3rd pers plural, imp, act, indic, from sūmō, sūmpsī, sūmptus: to take up, 2.518; to take, accept, receive; to exact, take, inflict,adopt, select, choose,assume, put on. (sub and emō)
Prayers
Veni Creator Spiritus (for chant, see here).
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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