Centuries Ago Speak Today Part 2

Here is more from the Imitation of Christ.

Sensual desires sometimes entice you to wander about in search of their fulfillment, but when the pleasures of the moment are gone what do you bring back to your room except a disturbed conscience and a heavy heart! You go out gayly, but return sadly. A merry evening makes a mournful morning. Earthly pleasures begin sweetly but end in remorse of conscience and death.

If you wish to make progress in virtue, you must live in the fear of God; not seek too much freedom, but curb your senses and shun giddiness. Sorrow prepares the way for progress; dissipation retards it.

There is nowhere true liberty or happiness except in the fear of God and in a good conscience. That man is blessed who can set aside all distractions and keep his mind fixed on sorrow for his sins. He is blessed, too, who keeps his conscience free of guilt. Fight like a man; habit is overcome by habit.

And if you would seriously consider the future pains of hell or purgatory, you would be willing to undergo any toil or pain in this life. However, because these things do not strike the heart and you still love what pleases the senses, you remain cold and indifferent. Your wretched body complains so easily because your soul is spiritually lifeless.

You must pass through water and fire before reaching the eternal resting place. Unless you are severe with yourself, you will not overcome vice.

O how great is the weakness of human nature! Ever is it inclined towards evil! Today you confess your sins; tomorrow you commit the same sins you have confessed. One minute you resolve to be careful; the next minute you act as if you never had made the resolution.

When the hour of death arrives you will have an entirely different opinion of your past life; you will regret very much that you have been so careless.

Why are you not preparing yourself for the terrible Day of Judgment, when no one can make excuses for another, but when each man will have to answer for himself alone? While you yet live your activities are still meritorious, your tears of repentance useful, your sighs audible, and your sorrow pleasing to God.

...when he does frequent violence to himself in order to bring his body into complete subjection to the soul.

Then will good deeds have more value than fine words; and hard penance will be worth more to you than earthly pleasure.

Learn to suffer a little now that you may be spared greater pain later on.

A man makes the most progress and obtains the most grace when he most overcomes himself and mortifies his own will.

There are two things which are particularly helpful in making spiritual progress: 1) forcing yourself to withdraw from those things to which your nature is viciously inclined, and 2) working fervently for those graces which you need the most. Also, be sure to guard against the faults you find in others which displease you; strive to overcome them in yourself.

Watch yourself, arouse yourself, warn yourself, and regardless of what happens to others, don't neglect yourself. The harder you are on yourself, the more progress will you make in virtue.

Suffer with Christ and for Christ if you wish to be with Him in eternity.

A true lover of Jesus, who is free of uncontrolled affections, can turn to God at will and rise above himself to enjoy spiritual grace.

Nothing stains the heart of man and grips it so tightly as impure attachment to created things.

The one who knows how to suffer best, will enjoy the greatest peace, because he is conqueror of himself, master of the world, friend of Christ, and heir of heaven.

The little spiritual understanding you have is soon list by negligence, and often you are unconscious of your own spiritual blindness.

The glory of a good man is his clear conscience.

For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself more harm than all his enemies could ever do.

You have a long and difficult fight on your hands before you conquer yourself fully, and before you learn to direct all your attention to God.

The devil does not sleep, nor is your flesh yet dead.

Why look for rest when you were born for work? Resign yourself to patience rather than comfort, to carrying your cross, rather than to pleasure.

He can find many to share His banquets, but few to fast with Him.

No one is more wealthy, no one more powerful, no one freer, than the man who knows how to leave all things and put himself in the lowest place.

There is no other way to life and peace than through daily mortification on the cross.

No matter where you go, you cannot escape it; for wherever you go you take yourself with you-- that is your cross.

The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom; why do you seek rest?

Realize for certain that you must lead a dying life; the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live to God.

No man is ready to contemplate heavenly things unless he has resigned himself to suffer for Christ. Nothing is more acceptable to God, nothing more helpful to earth than to suffer willingly for Christ.

More to come in Part 3...