Chap. XI Of the Small Number of the Lovers of the Cross of Jesus
1. Jesus has now many lovers of his heavenly kingdom: but few that are willing to bear the cross.
He has many that are desirous of comfort, but few of tribulation.
He finds many companions of his table, but few of his abstinence.
All desire to rejoice with him: few are willing to suffer for him.
Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread; but few to the drinking the chalice of his passion.
Many reverence his miracles; but few follow the ignominy of his cross.
Many love Jesus as long as they meet with no adversity; many praise him and bless him as long as they receive consolations from him.
But if Jesus hide himself and leave them for a little while; they either fall into complaints, or excessive dejection.
2. But they that love Jesus for Jesus’s sake, and not for any comfort of their own, bless him no less in tribulation and anguish of heart, than in the greatest consolation.
And if he should never give them his comfort, yet would they always praise him, and always give him thanks.
3. O! how much is the pure love of Jesus able to do, when it is not mixed with any self-interest or self-love!
Are not all those to be called hirelings, who are always seeking consolations!
Are they not convinced to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, who are always thinking of their own profit and gain?
Where shall we find a man that is willing to serve God gratis?
4. Seldom do we find any one so spiritual, as to be stripped of all things.
For who shall be able to find the man that is truly poor in spirit, and naked of all things created? His value is (as of things that is brought) from afar and from the remotest coasts, Proverbs xxxi.
If a man gives his whole substance, it is yet nothing.
And if he do great penance, it is yet little.
And if he attain to all knowledge, he is far off still.
And if he have great virtue, and exceeding fervent devotion, there is still much wanting to him; to wit, one thing, which is chiefly necessary for him.
And what is that? That having left all things else, he leave also himself and wholly get out of himself, and retain nothing of self-love.
And when he shall have done all things which he knows should be done, let him think that he has done nothing.
5. Let him not make great account of that which may appear much to be esteemed: but let him in truth acknowledge himself to be an unprofitable servant: as truth itself has said, When ye shall have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. Luke xvii.
Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and may say with the prophet, I am all alone, and poor. Psalms xxiv.
[USCCB: Psalms xxv, 16.]
Yet no one is indeed richer than such a man, none more powerful, none more free; who knows how to leave himself and all things, and place himself in the very lowest place.