authors have advanced in their writings. For (as the Directory attests), very many, after having been well trained by these Exercises, abandoned the world to embrace the religious state; many who were already inmates of the cloister effected wonderful reformations of their lives, nor was this the case of merely a few individuals, but even of entire monasteries; and very many secular persons, also, who had been living in every kind of vice, from which neither sermons nor entreaties nor any other ordinary means could win them, were converted merely by going through a course of the Spiritual Exercises, and afterwards steadfastly persevered in virtue to the end of their lives (a). In a word, unusual movements of the soul, extraordinary changes of life, and wonderful progress in the paths of virtue and perfection are the ordinary fruits gathered from this holy Retreat.

It is certain that the society of Jesus acknowledges itself indebted to this little book for its establishment, its growth, its extension, its strength, and its preservation to the present day. S. Francis de Sales, S. Charles Borromeo, S. Philip Neri, S. Francis Borgia, S. Francis Xavier, S. Teresa, and S. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi gratefully attribute to it the commencement or the growth of their sanctity. Lewis Blosius, Lewis of Granada, the Bishop of Torres, the Cardinal Henry, afterwards King of Portugal, Bellarmin, Peter Camus, Faber, Lainez, Natalis, and countless others cited by Rossignoli, tell us that they were indebted to these Exercises for having embraced a more perfect life. Add to these those countless martyrs of India, who

(a) In proœm. n. 7.

drew from the Spiritual Exercises that noble fortitude, which enabled them to endure for the sake of Jesus Christ the many terrible torments to which they were subjected.

Thirdly: now the reason of all this is most evident. For, on the one hand, by means of this happy retirement from the bustle of worldly business and the distractions of temporal cares, we effectually remove those many obstacles which are so dangerously calculated to exclude the lights of heaven from our souls. On the other hand, by meditating on the eternal truths for eight continuous days, the soul is more thoroughly prepared to receive that abundant downpour of graces, with which heaven is wont to inundate our souls during the solitude of this retirement. What wonder is it, then, that after the removal of so many obstacles, with our souls so well disposed, and with such abundant favours, placed within our reach by God, lives which were once disorderly should experience a total reformation.

If, then, the utility of these Exercises is so great, how culpable shall we not be if we neglect to banish tepidity from our souls by that self-same means by which so many others have become saints! if that which has proved the balsam of life to so many others should become poison to us! How appalling at the hour of death will be this thought: I was bound to become a saint in virtue of my vocation: I could have sanctified myself by means of the Exercises, and, nevertheless, I have always lived shamefully enslaved by tepidity. Though living in such close proximity to the Divine light, to the fountain of grace, to the heavenly fire, yet I have always re

mained in spiritual darkness, aridity, and coldness. O what a thorn will this be in your heart at the hour of death!

III. The urgent necessity of this holy Retreat is proved, in the first place, by the present condition of your soul, which cannot discover any more expeditious, or more powerful means to effect its reformation. For, the many rebellious passions which we have not as yet brought under subjection, the many vices which we have not as yet eradicated, the many evil habits which we have not as yet cast off; moreover, the many troublesome offices we may be called upon to discharge, the many afflictions which await us, the many temptations we shall have to combat— all point out to us the absolute necessity that exists for applying the axe to the root of our disorders during these days of grace, and of plucking from our soul every germ of sin, while, at the same time, we lay, deep and strong, the foundation of all those virtues which the sanctity of our state, the abundance of grace which has been lavished upon us, and God's will, both expect and demand.

Secondly moreover, the love which we bear to the Society (of Jesus) as our mother, requires that we should apply ourselves with all earnestness to the due performance of the Exercises, inasmuch as she herself declares in the Directory (a), "that it is principally to them she owes her existence and gradual growth," and it is on them alone she relies for her future preservation. Wherefore, we must regard as his mother's ungrateful enemy, whosoever neglects or performs with tepidity that which sup

(a) In proœmio. n. 7.

plies the most efficacious and most necessary help towards her preservation.

:

Finally, this Retreat may be, perhaps, the last you shall ever make: perhaps the final grace is annexed to it on it, perhaps, depends your perfection, and, perhaps, the salvation of others also whom God has decreed to convert through you agency, if you render yourself a fitting instrument for his purposes. It would be extremely rash to commit this important "perhaps" to chance, while it is absolutely certain that you will never have reason to repent if you attend to it with diligence. Therefore, select the more secure course; otherwise be afraid and tremble; for "unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required” (a).

From all these considerations, then, we may infer not only the very great excellence and utility of the Spiritual Exercises, but likewise their urgent necessity. Wherefore, we ought to apply ourselves to them with all possible fervour; and to do so successfully, we ought to attend to the following counsels, which are all directed to this end. These counsels are of three kinds. Some regard the interior preparation of the soul, others the external arrangement of matters which should precede the Retreat, and others, in fine, have reference to the practices to be observed during those days of retirement.

N.B. The third number (III.) of this first paragraph may furnish matter for the meditation or consideration to be made in the forenoon or afternoon of the day preceding the Retreat. The other numbers, as well as the following paragraphs, will furnish matter for

(a) Luke xii. 48.

spiritual reading both before and after dinner. Care should be taken to read at least the first and second of the following counsels on the day preceding the Retreat.

§. II. Counsels regarding the interior preparation of the Soul.

I. Since the fruit of this holy Retreat consists neither in an abundance of heavenly lights, nor in the gift of copious tears, nor in the full enjoyment of heavenly consolations, nor in merely employing more time than usual in prayer, or in spiritual reading, or in interior recollection, but rather, first, in a solid reformation of our lives; secondly, in a more marked progress in virtue; and finally, in a more perfect knowledge and a more scrupulous accomplishment of the Divine will concerning ourselves and our state of life; we must undertake the Exercises in this spirit, and with the intention of becoming, in fact, through their means, quite different persons from what we were before-entirely changed, and in everything pliable to the will of God. Nor ought this resolution to be limited merely to the commencement of the Exercises, but to the very end we ought solely, perseveringly, and most earnestly keep this object in view (a).

II. To accomplish this purpose we must, on the day preceding the Retreat (after having made a cursory examination of the state of our soul), direct our attention to the three following points :-First, we must conceive an earnest desire to know God's will in our regard, repeating oftentimes in the course of

(a) Directory, ch. 2, n. 4.