Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862. Excerpt: ... pose to themselves not only to offer some general or particular sacrifice, but to deliver up the victim; immolate it to Him all entire, by the vows which irrevocably bind the soul. Section II.--Vows are the Essence of the Religious State. Vows are the essence of the religious state. It is of importance to define the difference between perfection and the state of perfection; between a religious life and the religious state. Religious perfection, in general, consists in the actual and entire execution of the evangelical counsels. This accomplishment may exist without any other bond than the will--a will that is liable to change, a bond that we are free to dissolve when we please. The state of perfection, on the contrary, consists not in the actual accomplishment of the counsels, but in the actual, permanent, stable obligation of forming ourselves to the practice of the counsels; as the word " state" means; so that we may be perfect, without being in a state of perfection; and we may be in a state of perfection, without being perfect. Religious life, to be a state of perfection, implies the obligation of tending constantly to perfection, otherwise it could not be a state of perfection, just as a person may have deep religious feelings and sentiments, yet not be in a religious state. Vows are an excellent preservative against the fragility and inconstancy of man, for nothing can be more inconstant than the human mind. This inconstancy is independent of the will of man, and, aided by grace, he can resist it, and persevere in the resolution of walking in the path of rectitude. But experience sadly demonstrates he is not always equallv faithful to grace, he does not always resist the deplorable inconstancy of his mind and heart. Thus the man of the world in the ...
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