THE
Pearl Among the Virtues.
CHAPTER I.
Chastity, the Light of Youth.
"THE light of thy body is thy eye," says our Saviour; "is thy eye simple, then thy whole body is lightsome." Yes, indeed, effectually and cheerfully does our body perform its task, and confidently does it strive to attain its mark, so long as the eye is sound, so long as it is bright, and able to receive exterior light. "But if thy eye be evil," thus continues our Lord, "thy whole body shall be darksome;" then the body feels uneasy, then it trembles at every movement, then dangers threaten it; now, an abyss, then robbers or wild animals, sometimes other unforeseen perils, which it is not able to avoid.
Your light, O Youth, is your chastity; it is the light of your soul. The more perfect your chastity, the brighter your soul, the more resplendent before God, the better able to reflect the likeness of the Most-High, and to receive within itself every other virtue. Chastity is, moreover, the light of your body; it gives to the body a certain brightness, it clothes it with a becoming charm, it impresses it with something indescribably heavenly, which wonderfully elevates it, in contrast to its opposite degrading vice.
Wonder not, therefore, if I undertake to place even this virtue before you, and, as it were, unroll there its splendor. Oh! that it might so charm you, that, in order to obtain this treasure, you would be willing to engage in every combat, and to make every sacrifice.
Are you chaste, then you possess all things; as long as you are not chaste—then all is yet to be accomplished, then the most important, the most eminent virtue is certainly wanting. Are you chaste—have you preserved your chastity, or have you by a great and continual struggle recovered it? then, indeed, you may say, as it is written in the Book of Wisdom: "All good things come to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hand."
Example. We read in the life of St. Jerome, that he had an insatiable thirst for learning. When still very young, his father sent him to Rome to complete his studies. In this city, he had the misfortune of growing careless in the exercise of that piety which had been instilled into him in his infancy. He no longer restrained his passions, and was full only of worldly views. Being, however, very desirous of improving in his studies, he resolved to travel. He visited the famous schools at Marseilles, Toulouse, Bourdeaux and Treves. At this latter place, he was conducted by the Divine Mercy into the paths of virtue and salvation; in consequence of which he took a resolution to devote himself wholly to the divine service in a state of perpetual chastity. After he had formed this resolution, he dedicated his great learning to the service of Almighty God. In order to accomplish this, the more fully, and, at the same time, the more securely to protect his virtue, he retired into a desert lying between Syria and Arabia, where the holy abbot Theodosius received him with great joy. Although he made such progress in his learning, that he is allowed to be in many respects, the most learned of all the Latin fathers, still the devil did not desist from tempting him most violently to sins against holy purity. He himself says of these severe afflictions: "My face was pale with fasting, and yet my body felt violent assaults of irregular desires; and though I vigorously repressed all their sallies, they strove always to rise again. I, often, joined whole nights to days, crying, sighing, and beating my breast till the desired calm returned. The Lord is my witness, that after so many sobs and tears, after having looked in such sorrow up to Heaven, I experienced most delightful comfort and interior sweetness, and these were so great, that transported and absorbed, I seemed to myself to be amidst the choirs of Angels; and glad and joyful, I sang to God: "After Thee, O Lord, we will run in the fragrancy of Thy celestial ointments."
If you but knew the worth of chastity, how carefully would you watch over this light of your soul, that it might not be turned into darkness! Oh! how happy you are as long as this eye of your soul is bright and serene; woe to you, however, if it is surrounded by darkness.
