EVE AND MARY CONTINUED.
The history of the fall of man, caused by Eve, and of his
restoration, brought about by Mary, is a subject of grave
consideration for women of serious minds, for women who have at heart
the preservation of the dignity and vocation of their sex. By a close
consideration of these two models, which furnish the solution to so
many enigmas, explaining so many truths and throwing so much light
upon the most obscure and the most profound questions, they will
learn by a short and easy method what they should do, and what they
should avoid; they will learn how sin has been propagated, the reason
why it still exists; they will learn how justice and virtue flourish
upon earth, how men turn away from God, and how they return to Him.
It was with reason that God allowed sin and justice to attain us
through the agency of woman, and that her free consent was a
necessary condition for both the ruin and the restoration of the
human race.
It is therefore an interesting and useful study to consider in their
detail and most minute circumstances the acts (so extremely opposed)
of these two women, for one of them, according to the beautiful
expression of the Church, has restored to us by her divine Son what
the other had deprived us of by her disobedience. There is in these
two facts, so different in their nature and results, a wonderful
gradation which points out to us the fatal declivity by which the
human heart insensibly sinks to the lowest abyss of evil, or rises to
the highest degree of virtue and glory. In the sin of Eve the first
degree was a certain intemperance of language, which led her to reply
to the insidious questions of the devil; in appearance this
forgetfulness was very slight. To answer a question, give an
explanation requested of you, clear up a doubt, render an account of
a precept of the Lord, seem at first sight something natural and
permitted. It is quite easy to be deceived in this matter. We readily
convince ourselves that we are actuated by laudable motives in such
like conversations--motives for gloryfying God and justifying His
providence; but we should be extremely cautious: language is
something august and sacred, for it is the tie that unites the soul
to God, and man to his fellow-men,--it is the mysterious knot of all
societies, divine and human.
Language establishes between those who speak a more intimate
relation than they are generally aware of. Few persons realize the
prodigious transfusion of thoughts, sentiments, influence and life
that arise from conversation. Have you clearly understood this truth
in its full force? Language establishes between souls a very close
and mysterious union, and this is why discretion, prudence and
reserve are so necessary in regulating its use. This is why Jesus
Christ warns us in the Gospel, that we shall render an account of
_every idle word_, if indeed we may call idle a thing that
entails such frightful consequences or fatal results.
If this reserve is necessary for all it is more especially so for
woman, who, being more communicative than man, experiences a greater
necessity to speak--to express herself more freely, and in terms more
explicit. If women were sincere and impartial judges of themselves
they for the most part would not fail to recognize that nearly all
their faults spring from a useless word--an imprudent answer, or an
indiscreet question.
The word why is indeed very short, but in its insidious brevity it
comprises a multitude of things which are all the more dangerous
because they are unforeseen, being concealed in a perfidious and
cloudy vagueness. Why? This word is the beginning of the greater part
of those temptations against frailty. The enemy, seeking our
destruction, almost invariably announces his presence by this
captious question, either by the mouth of another or by our own mind,
in order to fill the heart with doubt and trouble. Why take such and
such precautions? Why avoid such a place, such a person, such
company? Why renounce such and such amusements? Why neglect or cast
off that ornament? Why suffer this or that privation? Why abstain
from this action, which is not bad in itself? Why turn away the ear
from those praises, those compliments, dictated by usage or
etiquette, to keep up that intercourse without which society would be
impossible? Why not read this book, this novel? Why not assist at
this play which the most rigorous moralist would not condemn; and
which has for its object to inspire horror for vice, by placing
before our eyes its doleful consequences true to reality? Why
restrain to inaction the finest faculties of the soul, and refuse
them the aliment they so ardently crave? Why deprive our heart and
imagination of the pleasures which the beautiful inspires? Why not
form at an early age a taste for worldly beauty, and be possessed of
all the resources and advantages that it affords us during life? Why
be mistrustful of the mind and heart, at an age when they still
possess all their simplicity and freshness, through vain fear which
renders after-life almost intolerable? Why not be more confiding in
the heart's fidelity and in the goodness of God, who has not
condemned man to constant privations?--Such is the language that the
enemy of our eternal salvation and happiness addresses us every day
with such perfidious adroitness; and who, spite of the experience of
those whom he has already deceived, deceives us every day.
This language is the more perfidious for being apparently truthful
and natural. When there is question of corrupting a heart that is yet
virtuous, vice conceals itself under the mantle of virtue, as
otherwise its efforts would be powerless. Now, we can safely say that
its venom has already tainted the young lady's heart, when, through
inattention and want of vigilance, she has suffered doubt to brood
over any of those obligations which are so delicate and difficult to
determine, and, nevertheless, most grave and important, since they
entail, when neglected, the most disastrous results. Firmness of
mind, assurance in her convictions, a clear and strong consciousness
of duty, are to her indispensable qualifications; and when she
suffers this tenor of conduct to be interfered with by imprudently
replying, like Eve, to a captious question, the peace and innocence
of her heart are certainly threatened.
The young girl's innocence is something that is very imperfectly
known; the delicate and almost imperceptible shades that reflect its
beauty and which render it delightful to God and His angels, escape
the general notice of mankind. It is composed of a chaste ignorance
of mind, a great simplicity of heart, and a constant and unwavering
firmness of will. Now, what merits our greatest attention is the fact
that this firmness of will begins to give way in woman the moment she
removes, even by a slight doubt, this precious veil of ignorance
which protects her virtue, or when, by an indiscreet question, or an
imprudent answer, she exposes the simplicity of her heart.
The virtues which adorn the heart of a young lady are concealed from
her own knowledge. God has so enveloped her in mystery that He alone
understands her. None other save the penetrating eye of God should
look into the sanctuary of her heart. None other than His light
should shine in this holy and chaste obscurity, and this is why
humility, of which we have found so perfect a model in Mary, should
be the necessary shield and guarantee of a young lady's innocence.
She ought not to have the slightest misgivings relative to the value
of the treasure she possesses or the loss she would sustain in losing
it.
The presence of an angel sufficed to trouble Mary. Oh, young ladies
should meditate well and frequently on the conduct that Mary observed
in this interview, and imitate her example! She did not answer the
Angel's words, but she observed an humble and modest silence. Not so
with Eve who, without reflection, answered the devil's question, and
by this first reply began a conversation the issue of which has
proved so disastrous to the whole human race. Learn from this two-fold
example, and from the effects so different which have resulted
from both, how much you should fear Eve's curiosity in yourself, and
with what care and assiduity you should labor to imitate the reserve
and silence of Mary.
Curiosity is a most dangerous rock for a young lady,--this is the
rock upon which a countless number of your sex and age have been
wrecked. The moment that you pander to the desire of knowing
everything, you immediately enter on a most dangerous way, the issue
of which is at least precarious. It was for having satisfied this
desire that Eve opened the door to all the calamities that afflict
and will afflict mankind till the end of time. And, since then, it
has caused the ruin of a countless number of women.
Intrench, so to speak, your mind in the citadel of your own heart.
Let it repose in the holy obscurity of an humble and docile faith,
and you will learn more useful things in this way than you could ever
learn even from the best books and the most eloquent instructions.
Faith and prayer should be the daily food of your soul. Faith, with
its imperfect yet celestial light, will meet all the legitimate wants
of your mind; and prayer, with its divine unction, will embalm your
soul.
Often turn your eyes toward heaven, and earth will soon lose all its
attractions. Converse frequently with God and you will find it easier
to dispense with the intercourse of men; keep your mind at a remote
distance from all worldly knowledge, and the innocence of your heart
will enjoy sweet repose. Seek not to anticipate by an indiscreet
precipitancy the time when the realities of life shall open out to
your view. Perhaps, more than once you will regret the happiness
which you now enjoy, and which is due both to your knowledge and
ignorance of things.
In reality, you possess by faith the same knowledge that the blessed
have in heaven, that knowledge which has been the object of the
study, research and love of the most renowned minds and of the most
perfect souls in this world. Faith, elevating you above yourself and
all earthly things, leads you to regions to which the most
distinguished genius, joined to the most profound and persevering
study, can never approach. Faith makes you in a certain way the
sister of angels and of men,--of men who have been the most
remarkable on earth for their excellent qualities of head and heart.
Faith associates you with the glorious choirs of heaven, and, when
truly lively and active, will bring you unalloyed felicity and
ineffable joy.
Why should you envy those women, who, for being older than you, have
gained by experience a knowledge of things that you should still
ignore? Why seek to compare their knowledge with that which you
possess? The knowledge that you have obtained by faith has cost your
mind no effort--not a single regret to your heart, no remorse to your
conscience. Every step that you make in this illuminated way recalls
to your mind a sweet and precious souvenir, the pure reflections of
which will be the only light that will dispel the gloom of the trials
and anguish of life. It shall be very different with regard to what
you must learn in time to come. Experience is a severe teacher, whose
lessons are dearly bought; this is clearly and forcibly expressed by
the Holy Ghost saying: "He that adds something to the knowledge
already acquired, adds at the same time new pains to those he already
suffers."
So far you have learned the one thing necessary to man, and which
meets all his wants: you have learned how to please God, to love and
serve Him by the observance of His commandments, and fidelity to his
inspirations, acknowledging and honoring His authority and power over
you in your parents, who are, in your regard, His representatives. So
that at present duty possessing pleasing attractions offers none of
those difficulties which, at a later period of life, will render it
oftentimes painful. Your virtues, protected by that reserve which the
world itself has imposed upon youth, guarded by the vigilance of a
tender and careful mother, aided by her examples, encouraged by her
exhortations and love, tranquilly grow up in the modest sanctuary of
the family, without the remotest idea of the trials they must one day
meet with.
To learn what pertains to faith and salvation, good will suffices.
We are always sure to succeed in pleasing God when we are sincerely
desirous to serve Him; in this regard we can never anticipate Him.
Not so with the science which teaches how to please men and secure
their good will or favor, to enter into their views, conform to their
laws and customs. No matter how great our desire may be to succeed,
we are never sure of success, and very often the efforts made to
secure it remove us farther from the desired end. Consequently, very
often the surest means of securing the esteem of the world is to
despise it, and withdraw from its tyranny. If you fail to disengage
yourself from it, and if you wish to servilely adhere to its maxims,
you will often experience that they are severe and hard; and you will
reproach yourself more than once for having desired in your youth to
taste of those fruits, externally so beautiful but internally so
bitter.
Hence, moderation of the mind's curiosity is necessary, and in order
to satisfy its activity apply it to those things that can be of
interest to your conscience and salvation, to the knowledge and study
of those sublime truths which, while enlightening your intelligence,
will elevate your heart and strengthen your will. The knowledge that
you will acquire in this way will serve you for the rest of your
life, much more than all the profane and useless books that you can
read. Accustom your mind to the love and search of serious things;
this will prove to be of invaluable utility to you.
There is little consistency in frivolous things, and those, who have
fed their souls upon them during youth, find themselves void and
abandoned when they arrive at the age when woman can please only by
interesting the mind and heart by solid charms and tried virtue. This
is the age which you should constantly keep before your mind, because
it is the one that lasts the longest, and which disposes us
proximately for that awful moment in which our fate will be decided
forever. Endeavor to become at an early age what you should be during
the greater part of your life, and what you would desire to have been
at the hour of death.