Teachings

Counsels to Sr. Albertina Fasolis, Oct. 9, 1884:

Humility and purity are related to each other.

From notes of Homily at the Milliavacca Institute in Asti, in Sr. Albertina's diary; Oct. 19, 1884, 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Healing of the son of the official of Capernaum--Jn 4:46-53):

Purity is obtained and maintained through prayer, that is through insistently asking God for it. Yes, let us ask for it and we will obtain it. The saints passed among these earthly things like a stream running between two banks, freshening and beautifying the flowers its meets in its path. This virtue is attained from God's embrace and not from this earth: it is a virtue that comes from on high. Let us ask Mary to show us her virginal heart and we too will promptly become pure and spotless.

Counsels to Sr. Albertina, Aug. 13, 1885:

The Lord desires our sanctification. Let us remember that prayer is necessary to preserve chastity, as Savio teaches us: et ut scivi... -- knowing well that I would not be able to remain chaste without God's grace, I drew near to Him and begged Him for it.

Counsels to Sr. Albertina, Feb. 23, 1887:

Let us ask the Lord for purity and He will not fail to grant it to us, because He so strongly desires it, especially in the persons consecrated to Him.

Counsels to Sr. Albertina, Oct. 25, 1888:

Purity, humility, obedience, and patience are the four wheels of the car which must take us to paradise.

Counsels to Sr. Albertina, undated:

Purity opens the gate to heaven. The guardians of purity are humility and charity. This type of demon is conquered by prayer and fasting: mortify yourself in everything.

From Discourse for the Investiture of the Daughters of Mary, 1889:

There is still another virtue which shone in a singular manner in your Immaculate Virgin Mother, a virtue dearest to Jesus and which you should imitate, because it is a young lady's most beautiful adornment. I mean purity, the virtue by which man rivals the angels, and even surpasses them in merit, because they are pure by nature, we by grace; not having bodies, they are pure by necessity, we by will; it is up to us to struggle, to watch, to pray much, and to mortify ourselves to obtain and preserve this most fragile virtue. And when speaking of the virtue of purity, I really am not referring to a whiteness of soul, a freedom from stain, a purity which exists naturally and effortlessly from never having to struggle. Nor do I mean a purity maintained through a certain natural self-esteem, which can be preserved from vice for a time, but when subjected to strong temptations is easily lost and allowed to fail miserably. Many times under apparent dignity, dishonor and vice are discovered. This self-esteem and dignity was nothing but a curtain covering the sad reality, and God one day allows this veil to be rent and hidden evils are revealed. No, it is not about this negative virtue that I wish to speak to you, but about that purity which more than whiteness of soul and freedom from stain is splendor, a very ray of divinity reverberating from the soul; not an unproven natural purity, but a virtuous habit acquired through great vigilance and continued struggle, preserved through much careful attention by one who truly knows its value and desires it so as to be more pleasing to God. Oh! See your first sister, St. Agnes, who is willing to suffer a thousand martyrdoms rather then renounce her virginity. Look at the constancy with which she preserves her virtue in the midst of the most horrible torments. God showed his satisfaction with that soul's generosity by his miracles through her and even by sending an angel to defend her. Do you wish to acquire this beautiful virtue and merit for yourselves similar graces? Be generous with Jesus, and above all guard your heart, consecrating it entirely to Jesus.

See your Holy Sister who at the early age of 13 loved her divine Spouse so ardently that, when sought for a wife, she renounced a rich and splendid wedding and disregarded honors, riches, and earthly loves, repeating to her suitor: "Ab alio amatore preventa sum." ["I already belong to another lover."] Besieged and threatened, she was able to remain firm and stay pure, chaste and faithful to her heavenly Spouse. To those who went about boasting to her of the wealth and honor to which she would be raised, she replied that her Spouse had already placed the ring on her finger, had given her precious jewels and had bound her to Himself with golden chains. She wanted no other husband because Jesus had already made her His own. Young ladies, may you too keep your faith in Jesus intact. Bind yourselves to Him with the chains of a generous and constant love. Arm yourselves with modesty and Christian prudence. Unite yourselves to Him frequently in Holy Communion and He will grant you the gift of this angelic virtue. Preserve it through Christian mortification: mortification of the heart, by not leaving it too free in its affections; mortification of the spirit by keeping yourselves quite recollected and united to Jesus, removed from curiosity, vanity, and frivolity; mortification of the senses by keeping your eyes modest, your ears cautious, your every act simple, and your every thought pure, your mouth closed to all vain and dangerous talk, and open only to bless and praise the Lord.--

Holy purity is guarded by humility, its sister. Oh' It is not possible to be pure without being humble. The Most Holy Virgin was enriched with such a singularly brilliant purity because she was so humble. Mary's humility is almost infinite and we cannot even imagine it. She so emptied herself and so deepened in humility that only God made man could surpass her. After Jesus Christ, Mary is certainly the most humble of creatures. --Humility is absolutely necessary for maintaining oneself pure. Show me a young lady as pure as an angel and tell me that she is proud, and I will reply to you that she will not preserve her innocence for long, but will fall. Do not try to tell me that her very pride will serve her as a safeguard; to remain pure God's grace is necessary, and He does not give His grace to the proud whom He resists. And do not let yourselves be deceived by the false maxims of the world which would have woman emancipated to flatter her vanity and self-love, removing her from her sublime mission: they are empty words which inflate one's spirit and leave one's heart empty and cold. All that does not come from God and does not look towards Him, is not worthy of a Daughter of-Mary and cannot lead the soul to perfection.