Journal in France in 1845 and 1848 with Letters from Italy in 1847

VII. Christian and Ecclesiastical Virtues

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Tim. iv. 12.

"In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity." Tit. ii. 7.

The seminarist regards the seminary as a school of Christian and ecclesiastical virtues, which he must acquire before he enters upon the holy ministry.

1. He sets before him constantly, as example, our Lord Jesus Christ.

"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." John, xiii. 15.

2. He applies at first to the three means necessary to attain holiness; frequent reflection on his actions and their motives; prayer; mortifying, specially of the imagination, the senses, and his private judgment.

"The whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart." Jer. xii. 11.

"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke, xviii. 1.

"They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Gal. v. 24.

3. He makes humility the foundation for the acquisition of virtues.

"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." 1 Peter, v. 5.

4. He applies specially to the virtue most necessary for him, and most opposed to the inclinations of corrupt nature, such as contempt of one's self, support of one's neighbour, &c.

"I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them; neither will I turn again until I have destroyed them." Ps. xviii. 37.

VIII. Devotions of the Seminary

"Exercise thyself unto godliness.

"Godliness is profitable unto all things." 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8.

Practices of devotion support piety, and contribute to progress in holiness and perfection. The most suitable to the seminarist are:

1. Devotion towards the august Trinity.

"So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son." John, iii. 16.

"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." John, xvi. 17.

2. Devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament.

"The love of Christ constraineth us." 2 Cor. v. 14.

"Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy." Heb. iv. 16.

3. Devotion to the Cross.

"Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. ii. 20.

"God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal. vi. 14.

4. Devotion to the sacred Heart of Jesus.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Rom. viii. 35.

"Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." Matt. xi. 29.

5. Devotion to the most holy Virgin.

"Behold thy mother." John, xix. 27.

6. Devotion to the holy Apostles, to holy Bishops, and to holy Priests.

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Heb. xiii. 7.

7. The seminarist addresses every day prayers to his guardian angel, to his patron saint, and for the refreshment of souls in Purgatory.

IX. Reading of the Seminary

"Give attendance to reading." 1 Tim. iv. 13.

The reading of works which develop the rules and spirit of the seminary, which treat of Christian and ecclesiastical virtues, of fitness to receive holy orders, as likewise that of the lives of saints, is indispensable to the seminarist. The following are those which he will chiefly read:

Manual of Piety. 8th edition.

The Good Seminarist. 2d edition.

Practice of Direction, of the monthly Retreat, and of Monition.

Manual of the Seminarist. By M. Tronson. 2d edition.

Treaty on Obedience. By M. Tronson.

Nepotian; or, The Pupil of the Sanctuary.

The Spiritual Combat.

The Presence of God, the Faithful Mirror, and the Golden Book.

The Spirit of Christianity. By Father Nepveu.

Christian Infancy. By M. Blanlo.

Catechism of the Interior Life. By M. Olier.

Practice of the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. By S. Liguori.

Excellence of Devotion to the holy Virgin. By Father Galliffet.

Treaty on Holy Orders. By M. Olier.

Ecclesiastical Instructions. By M. de Lantages.

Meditations of Chenart, specially for vacations.

Life of Berchmans, S. Louis de Gonzaga, Calixtus Frèze, Antony Gohier, S. Vincent de Paul.

X. Direction

"Ask council of all that are wise." Job, iv. 18.

One of the most important exercises for maintaining fidelity to one's duties, and for acquiring perfection, is communication with the director. It is the means of avoiding self-deception, fickleness, disturbance, and lukewarmness. The seminarist will find, in careful reading of the preceding articles, what ought to form the matter of his direction. He will make a special point of the following particulars, which he should never omit in intercourse with his director.

1. General and Particular Rule. – How far do I keep my engagements? What are the points in which I feel most difficulty or repugnance? What have I done to establish myself in the virtues of obedience and self-denial?

2. Prayer. – What preparation do I make for it? What method have I followed in this exercise? What are my resolutions? Have I put them in practice? What fruit have I hitherto derived from my prayers, and what is my desire to profit by them? What difficulties do I meet with?

3. Virtues. – What progress have I made in thoughtfulness, humility, and purity of intention? and what conquests have I gained over heedlessness, vanity, self-love, and my ruling passion?

4. He will not fail to communicate to his director his pains, temptations, dryness and hardness of mind; as, likewise, the books he has, what he has read, those with whom he has intercourse, the visits which he makes and receives.

5. He never goes out from direction without taking a practical resolution in concert with his director.

"A faithful friend is a strong defence, and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure." Eccles. vi. 14.

XI. Monthly Retreat

"I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her." Hos. ii. 14.

The object of the monthly retreat is: 1. More deeply to examine the conscience; 2. To make firmer resolutions for the correction of faults; 3. To choose the most effective means to advance in virtues, and specially to be confirmed in the life of faith, and in contempt of the world, by a serious preparation for death.

In order to profit by this exercise, the seminarist sets before him the following considerations:

1. To learn his ruling and oftenest recurring fault; for instance, love of the world and its pleasures; sloth and want of application to his duties; fear of humiliations; inclination to slander and unfavourable judgment of his neighbour; liking for his own will and opposition to obedience.

2. To search into the causes of lukewarmness and slackness; habitual heedlessness; little preparation for prayer and attendance on Sacraments; frivolous reading and conversation; indisposition for and want of openness in direction; irresolution in complete surrender to God, in avoiding slight faults, and in seeking the society of the most earnest.

3. To examine the most necessary virtue, and pursue the practices fitted to acquire it; to meditate seriously on the necessity of obedience, humility, self-denial, charity, good example, in the holy ministry.

4. To write down his feelings and resolutions, communicate them to his director, and read them over frequently.

XII. Ordinations

"Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke, xiv. 28.

One of the principal duties of the seminarist is to prepare himself with the greatest care for receiving holy orders, considering that, in proportion to the preparation, is the abundance of the grace which they confer.

1. He will read attentively the Pontifical, and works treating of ordination, to learn the excellence of holy orders, their office, their obligations, the virtues they require, the disposition to be brought to them.

2. He will prepare himself for ordination by practices of piety; by deeper examinations of conscience; by more frequent communications with his director; by uniting in prayer with those who receive the same orders.

3. After ordination he will take pains to preserve the grace which he has received, by fulfilling the resolutions he has written down and the advice of his director.

"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. ix. 13.

4. He will mark the anniversaries of his different ordinations, to stir himself up at those times in the practice of ecclesiastical virtues, and especially of a hearty religion; a continual modesty; a holy and exemplary life; an ardent zeal for the salvation of souls.

"I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands." 2 Tim. i. 6.

"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations." Exod. xii. 14.