For we see very many virtuous men, who practise these virtues as they should, to acquire strength and power against their own sinful and evil nature,-to gain, through these practices, courage to withstand the temptations and seductions of our three main enemies: the flesh, the world and the devil and in and by these means to obtain the spiritual supports, so necessary to all servants of God, and especially to beginners. There is no doubt whatever that they do represent means and effective means for attaining perfection in Christian life. Yet all these virtues do not by themselves constitute the Christian perfection we are seeking, but are only means and methods for acquiring it. But the majority limit perfection to a strict observance of all the rules and practices laid down by the statutes, falling into no excess or deficiency, but preserving a golden moderation. And there are others who think that our perfection consists entirely in mental prayer, solitude, seclusion and silence.
Others say that it consists in saying many prayers at home and in attending long services in Church. There are many who say that the perfection of Christian life consists in fasts, vigils, genuflexions, sleeping on bare earth and other similar austerities of the body. I will tell you plainly: the greatest and most perfect thing a man may desire to attain is to come near to God and dwell, in union with Him. For if you have not learnt this, you may turn off the right path and go in a totally different direction, while thinking that you make progress towards perfection. After all this we cannot fail to see that God demands from Christians the fullness of perfection, that is, that we should be perfect in all virtues.īut if you, my reader beloved in Christ, wish to attain to such heights, you must first learn in what Christian perfection consists. And David advises his son Solomon: ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind’ (I Chron. Thus God says to Israel in Deuteronomy: ‘Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God’ (Deut.
The same commandment is also found in the Old Testament. 12) and again: ‘Let us go on unto perfection’ (Heb. In another place he says: ‘Stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. Paul admonishes: ‘In malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (I Cor. The Lord commands: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt v. We all naturally wish, and are commanded to be perfect.
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