Norma Agendorum

[Asti] November 15, 1866

In the morning, I feel a law in my members... St. Paul –hence offer all actions to God. Jam Lucis, with oremus.

Mass, meditation point unfailingly prepared the evening before, attention to the prayers; on entering Church forget everything and think of needing to deal with the Master. Can. Martini.

Recollection in Actiones, discipline in study. Read something of St. Paul’s letters, or Proverbs, or the Wisdom books during spare moments; no idle thoughts, no idle glances, school time.

At lunch, recollection during the blessing and attention to the reading. During our walk, humble, controlled, and prudent conversation. Rosary according to the spirit of the Church. Avoid proud impulses especially when the opportunity arises. Fairness in voting. Prayer to God before going to bed; written review of the day’s actions; free reading before falling asleep.

Constancy in resolutions, perseverance in reading, propriety in the arrangement of books, regularity in studying Theology, Canon Law, and oratory. Never total idleness; keep the mind always busy and rendering praise and glory to God. Avoid talking about people; speak always of things foreign to the indulgence of our selfish, lustful passions, etc., etc. Never compromise; as much as possible put off and drive out bothersome thoughts that disturb one’s peace of soul. Repeat often in moments of discouragement or perplexity: Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat. When faced with presumption: Servi inutiles sumus. In particular flee from exaggeration and so much more so when the word “I” is involved. In a word keep mind and heart in control in every circumstance.

Written at 11:30 a.m. on November 15, 1866.

Rule of Life

[Asti, around January 12, 1867]

In the holy name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, under the bond of our common faith we propose to observe the following Rule...

Prayer is a sure means to perfection. It must therefore be considered the substratum of all our actions.

On waking in the morning, the first thought must be turned toward God. To God must be offered that little bit of discipline that we will exercise over ourselves so as to promptly set ourselves on the path of duty. A moment of satisfaction indulging our laziness could perhaps prejudice our good dispositions throughout the entire day.

Bedroom recitation of the Jam Lucis with the Oremus, “Domine Deus, qui ad principium hujus diei pervenire fecisti...”

For the sake of averting distractions during prayer, imposition of a rigorous silence of mind and heart in entering Church. Age quod agis: begin immediately the practice of the presence of God and remain before Him for the whole time allotted for prayer.

Make regular use of study in the performance of scholastic duties and faithfully take advantage of spare morsels of time, consecrating them to study of the porro unum...

Recreation times must be used with great caution, keeping in mind the great accounting spoken of in the Gospel: De omni verbo... It should be decided in each case how to distribute available hours in the exercise of special duties arising in the progressive, fruitful practice of the Rule.

At table and everywhere the fourth sense must be trained: constant temperance, occasional mortification...

At day’s end before getting into bed, thorough Examination of conscience. Recitation of the Penitential Psalm Miserere prostrate on the bare ground. Act of resolution. Invocation of the Virgin to obtain for us purity of affections. Invocation of the Angels and Saints. Recollection and rest.

To these general and basic rules there must be added other more specific rules as aids on the way to perfection:

1.         The manner of hearing Mass.

2.         The manner of behaving with appreciation of Community rules.

3.         The manner of fruitfully making spiritual meditations.

4.         The manner of restraining vain curiosity, juvenile fancy, inconstancy of will, vagueness of purpose, fickleness of desire.

5.         The manner of assuring peace of soul and even-tempered spirits.

6.         The manner of keeping our soul in the state of being continually raised to God.

Having discovered these methods, impose on ourselves an increasingly strict rule that can preserve for us the fruit of our good dispositions and can constantly keep us in that childlike simplicity that we should strive to attain before all else.

The interpretation of this rule will be sought in daily meditation on the life of J.C. who has become the Master of all and particularly of us his chosen disciples.

Note of Conscience

[Asti, November 22, 1867]

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, on November 22, the holy day of Friday reminding us of the death of Our Lord J.C., I begin to examine my conscience and I resolve to fulfill all that I am now putting into writing.

First of all it is helpful for me to propose the daily exercise of making note of my every sin and making amends for them, so that with the passage of time I may more and more come to know and value my commitments and may nourish an appropriate hatred for all sins, since they are hindrances to my happiness. Amen.

What I must seek first of all is to keep my thoughts under control, so that they may not wander about and turn to matters that are sinful of useless. Hence prompt suppression of the satisfaction felt in leaving our mind with a sense of freedom and independence. Self-discipline, realizing that the greater the difficulty, the greater the merit. When the soul is self-possessed and concerned only for that which really benefits it, then it is rendered more capable of persevering in its resolutions. Behold the first failing that needs to be corrected! That is sufficient for us to advance. Besides, activity, I need activity! Our conscience is never safer than when intent on work. Activity furnishes us an indescribable serenity which, if I’m permitted the expression, provides an image of the Supreme Actor, God, who is eternal precisely because He is serene and even-minded. (St. Augustine).

Spiritual Gift

[Asti, December 1867]

To people of good will

who stand united to the Cross,

the author dedicates and entrusts

this spiritual gift

1868

TIME IS EVERYONE’S INHERITANCE

Time is a jewel that is of incalculable worth today only, not tomorrow. Its value must be redeemed immediately in the precious currency of good actions.

Napoleon I used to say that every hour wasted is one die lost in the game of life.

To deceive time – to pass away the time! Wretched are we. What if time should want vengeance and deceive us?

When will it be that time will reach its end? My brother, are you in good health? It will end along with you.

When will death come? When time has marked our last action.

Are we masters of past time? No. Of future time? No. Of present time? Yes, but with one condition: that we take possession of it immediately.

Courage brother–if the year that was

Will return no more,

Renew your faith, your hope, and your love,

And a more beautiful year you’ll receive from the Lord.

To believe, hope, and love: this is life. Doubt muddles our intellects, taints our affections, and makes us feel like a burden to ourselves, while faith illumines our minds, purifies our hearts, and makes us happy. Indifference is a deadly shadow producing only the weeds of vice, while hope is a fertile dew which gives bud to the most beautiful flowers of virtue.

Courage brother–may next year be

A bearer of good, a beginning of virtue,

A guide and direction for new time,

The faithful History of time that was.

Is there a single person on Earth who looking back on the years of his past life does not find some action that he now wishes he would have avoided? And so, how great is the number of misguided persons who at this moment are doing things of which they will one day have to be ashamed. Dear reader, would you like some friendly advice? Do not wait until tomorrow to recognize today’s evil.

Promise me that you will follow this advice, and I promise you that this will be the most beautiful day of your life.

PRAYER FOR EVERYONE

My Lord, I pray for those living in material wealth, that in their joy they may remember that they are in a land of exile. I pray for those who suffer under the weight of misfortune, that in their sadness they may remember that they are on the road to Heaven. I pray for those who have descended to the grave, that they may sleep in peace. I pray for myself, naked in your sight, that You may will to reclothe me with the garment of my first innocence. I pray for the whole pilgrim family of Adam: may You be their Guide in their exile, that they may reach salvation in the Heavenly fatherland.

Confessions

[Asti, January 21, 1868]

In the name of the Lord God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, under the patronage of the Virgin Mary, my mother, of her Holy Spouse Joseph, my protector, of my Guardian Angel, of all the Angels and Saints who blessedly reign in Heaven, I begin my confession.

Today, St. Agnes day, January twenty-first, 1868, since my conversion must be preceded by confession of my nothingness, a sincere profession of humility before God and the world is necessary. Oh what a great victory it would be if I had sufficient strength to really combat the ridiculous pretenses of my self-love. The one who achieves self-mastery in every situation is a sight worthy of humans and angels. But unwittingly I have already outlined a general plan of action, which if followed will put me on the path of perfection. Allow no thought to enter my mind without first being reviewed by my conscience, and then once I have made a resolution, put into practice the adage: age quod agis. Behold the foundation of my conduct: stifle the inordinate tendencies of the lower faculties, and act in such a way the will may be its own master at every moment. Once the will has thus become capable in its obligations, it will be the faithful guardian of all our deeds and will effectively administer all our human actions. Oh God, help me. Mind directed by reason, heart controlled.

In any case the first ring of the bell must find me ready to jump out of bed, and my will then will unfailingly command my lips to speak the Lord’s praises. At Mass I shall never allow myself to forget to recite the Miserere, the Laudate, and the paraphrase of some prayer, while taking care to chase away distractions first with a Sign of the Cross, and then if still necessary with positive contrary decisions of my will. During study my mind will not be allowed to wander according to its whims. And my eyes which are sometimes the stumbling block will also have their instructions to avoid turning to objects capable of arousing distractions. Let the same be said for my ears and my mouth. At school we thus ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit and it will be enough. At recreation possibly alone or with a book from which some profit may be drawn. A light and invariably moderate dinner–four of five breadsticks and nothing more. Before falling asleep, a few dear Scripture verses to ponder.

 This is a Christian day, a Cleric's day to behold.

            Now let's get down to specifics. Overcome laziness, and not stay for a single moment with a dissolute mind or hands unoccupied. Homo nascitur ad laborem sicut avis ad volatum. Why flee from toil when we know it is our heritage. "Either suffering or death, the saints would say, and we should say at least, "Either toil or death." Whatever the cost always suppress the very first buds of vainglory, for it is the moth¹⁰ that most eats away at virtue. When a thought about ourselves arises, unless we are sure that it is harmless, let us put it out of our minds. Vainglory is a very volatile fluid that permeat omnia: it can be present in our speech, our action, and even in our silence. Let us not trust ourselves, let us not trust ourselves, let us not trust ourselves. Tibi soli Deo honor et gloria. If a Pastor from Lanzo ¹ refuses an honor of which he is well deserving, why should such a wretched creature as myself by seeking it? These are thus the two pivotal points for thoughts: a negative one consisting in repelling everything dangerous, and another positive one continuously impelling the will in turn to activate its productive power. Everything points to a sublime economy whose final achievement can be attained only in Heaven. Let us not [be] led astray by the difficulties which cross our path. The main thing is to begin the first step, and our legs will then move ahead on their own.

            Now to sum things up. Continual vigilance over our thoughts following the rule we have set for ourselves, and continual effort at learning to put our will in its place. God, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, will be there at the beginning of our journey, will teach us how to preserve, and will accompany us to Heaven via veritas et vita. Amen.