The Peace of the Soul and the Happiness of the Heart

The Peace of the Soul and the Happiness of the Heart By Catholic Author, Lorenzo Scupoli CHAPTER I. Of the nature of man's heart, and the manner of governing it. God created the heart of man to no other end than to love Him, and be beloved by Him again. The excellence of this end of the creation ought to convince us that it is the most noble and most excellent work of His almighty hand. On the government of this alone, depends our spiritual life and death. The art of governing it must need be very easy, since its true character is to act through love, and to do nothing by force. All we have to do is to watch with great calmness, the true spirit of our actions. To observe from whence they spring and whither they tend. Whether they are actuated by the heart, the source of divine love; or by the understanding, from whence arises human vain glory. You will discover that it is the heart which influences you in your good works, through a motive of love, when all you do for God seems little, and after doing your best, you are ashamed of having done so little. But you may conclude, that your actions proceed from the understanding, moved by worldly motives when your good works, instead of producing meek and humble sentiments, leave nothing behind them, but the empty illusions of vain glory, puffing you up with a false notion of having performed wonders, when in fact you have done nothing that is praiseworthy. Man's warfare mentioned by Job, consists in watching thus continually over ourselves. This is to be performed without the least peevishness or anxiety; for what is aimed at is to give peace to the soul, to calm and appease its motions, when troubled or disturbed in its operations or prayers. For we may be assured, in such a condition, prayers will be very indifferently said, till the soul be freed from all uneasiness. Know that this may be affected by a single emotion of mildness, which is the only means of remedying this disorder and restoring her former tranquillity. CHAPTER II. How careful the soul ought to be in acquiring perfect tranquillity. This mild, peaceable, and especially constant attention to all the motions of the heart will easily produce wonderful effects; for we shall not only pray and act with great facility and peace, but even suffer without repining, what occasions the greatest disturbances, contempt and injuries themselves. Not but that to acquire this external peace we must necessarily undergo much labor, and our want of experience will expose us to the assaults of powerful domestic enemies. But this we may depend upon that if we are not afraid of the encounter, we never shall want assistance and consolation in this combat; that our enemies will grow weaker and their powers be dispersed, whereas our command over our affections will increase, and we shall procure for our souls that precious repose in which their happiness on this side the grave alone consists.