OF THE FIRST SENTIMENTS OF LOVE WHICH DIVINE INSPIRATIONS CAUSE IN THE SOUL BEFORE SHE HAS FAITH.
THE wind that raises the apodes blows first upon their feathers, as the parts most light and most susceptible of its agitation, by which it gives the beginning of motion to their wings, extending and displaying them in such sort that they give a hold by which to seize the bird and waft it into the air. And if they, thus raised, do contribute the motion of their wings to that of the wind, the same wind that took them will still aid them more and more to fly with ease. Even so, my dear Theotimus, when the inspiration, as a sacred gale, comes to blow us forward into the air of holy love, it first takes our will, and by the sentiment of some heavenly delectation it moves it, extending and unfolding the natural inclination which the will has to good, so that this same inclination serves as a hold by which to seize our spirit. And all this, as I have said, is done in us without us, for it is the divine favour that prevents us in this sort. But if our will thus holily prevented, perceiving the wings of her inclination moved, displayed, extended, stirred, and agitated, by this heavenly wind, contributes, be it never so little, its consent - Ah! how happy it is, Theotimus. The same favourable inspiration which has seized us, mingling its action with our consent, animating our feeble motions with its vigour, and vivifying our weak cooperation by the power of its operation, will aid, conduct, and accompany us, from love to love, even unto the act of most holy faith requisite for our conversion.
True God! Theotimus, what a consolation it is to consider
the secret method by which the Holy Ghost pours into our
hearts the first rays and feelings of his light and vital heat!
O Jesus! how delightful a pleasure it is to see celestial love,
which is the sun of virtues, as little by little with a progress
S. Pachomius then a young soldier and without knowledge of
God, enrolled under the colours of the army which Constantine
had levied against the tyrant Masentius, came, with the troop
to which he belonged, to lodge nigh a little town not far distant
from Thebes, where he, and indeed the whole army, were in
extreme want of victuals. The inhabitants of the little town
having understood this, being by good fortune of the faithful of
Jesus Christ, and consequently friendly and charitable to their
neighbours, immediately succoured the soldiers in their necessities, but with such care, courtesy and love, that Pachomius was
struck with admiration thereat, and asking what nation it was
that was so good, amiable and gracious, it was answered him
that they were Christians; and inquiring again what law and
manner of life were theirs, he learned that they believed in
Jesus Christ the only Son of God, and did good to all sorts of
people, with a firm hope of receiving from God himself an
ample recompense. Alas! Theotimus, the poor Pachomius,
though of a good natural disposition, was as yet asleep in the
bed of his infidelity, and behold how upon a sudden God was
present at the gate of his heart, and by the good example of
these Christians, as by a sweet voice, he calls him, awakens him,
and gives him the first feelings of the vital heat of his love.
For scarcely had he heard, as I have said, of the sweet law of
Our Saviour, than, all filled with a new light and interior consolation, having retired apart, and mused for a space, he lifted
Methinks I see in this example a nightingale which, awaking at the peep of day, begins to stir, and to stretch itself, unfold its plumes, skip from branch to branch in its grove, and little by little warble out its delicious wood-music. For did you not note, how the good example of the charitable Christians excited and awakened with a sudden start the blessed Pachomiua? Truly this astonished admiration he had was nothing else than his awakening, in which God touched him, as the sun touches the earth, with a ray of his brightness, which filled him with a great feeling of spiritual pleasure. For which cause Pachomiua shakes himself loose from distractions, to the end he may with more attention and facility gather together and relish the grace he has received, withdrawing himself to think thereupon. Then he extends his heart and hands towards heaven, whither the inspiration is drawing him, and beginning to display the wings of his affections, flying between diffidence of himself, and confidence in God, he entones in a humbly amorous air the canticle of his conversion. He first testifies that he already knows one only God Creator of heaven and earth: but withal he knows that he does not yet know him sufficiently to serve him as he ought, and therefore he petitions that a more perfect knowledge may be imparted to him, that thereby he may come to the perfect service of his divine majesty.
Behold, therefore, I pray you, Theotimus, how gently God
moves, strengthening by little and little the grace of his
inspiration in consenting hearts, drawing them after him,
as it were step by step, upon this Jacob's ladder. But what
are his drawings? The first, by which he prevents and
awakens us, is done by him in us and without our action; all the others are also done by him and in us, but not without our