St Bernard says, that in the exercise of mortification, we must always carry the hook in our hands; and that there is no person, no matter how mortified, who stands not in need of pruning or retrenching something or other. “Believe me,” says he, “that which is cut out, sprouts anew; that which is cast away returns; that which is extinct takes fire again; and that which appears asleep awakes upon a sudden. It is not sufficient therefore, adds the saint, “to have pruned once, we must cut it often, and even daily if possible; for if you will not deceive yourself, you’ll always find something to cut, and to retrench within yourself.” The hedges which we see in gardens furnish us with a very fit comparison for this subject. The myrrh and the box are cut with so much art, that here they represent the figure of a lion, there that of an eagle, and also a variety of other figures. But if the gardener be not very careful to cut off the leaves and little branches, which shootout every moment, in a very short time, we shall not see the form of an eagle, nor of a lion, nor of anything else; because nature continually, according to its custom, shoots forth new wood and leaves. The same happens here; though you should be a lion or an eagle; though you seem to yourself so strong, as to fear nothing; nevertheless, if you do not daily cut and retrench something by mortification, you will soon become like a monster without shape; because the root of the evil, which is within us, shoots forth branches every moment; so that there is always something to be mortified within us. “Whatever progress you may have made in virtue,” says St Bernard, “you deceive yourself, if you believe you have entirely destroyed all vices within you; for you have only brought them under, and whether you will or not, the Jebusite will always remain with you. It is an enemy you may overcome, but you’ll never be able to exterminate.” “I know,” says St Paul, “that there is nothing good within me, that is to say within my flesh.” And the same saint discoursing upon these words, says, that the apostle had said very little, if he had not presently added, that sin made its abode in him; saying, “I do not the good which I would do, but execute the evil I would not. But if I do what I would not, then it is not I that do it, but it is sin that dwells within me.” “Wherefore, hereafter,” adds the saint, “you must either prefer yourself to the apostle, or else acknowledge with him, that you are not exempt from vice.” –Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez ‘The Practice of Christian & Religious Perfection II’
A continual lifelong chant: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, forgive me for I am a sinner.
