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Have you ever closely observed a field of corn when it is ripe for harvest? The greater number of ears bend beneath the weight of the grains of corn which they contain. Some few stand proudly erect, but they are empty and useless, destitute of grain. Just so is it with most persons who pride themselves upon their wealth, splendid apparel, or other external advantages; they possess no true merit. They resemble a pupil of Apeles, the famous painter of ancient days. This pupil painted the figure of a woman and adorned it with rich jewels; his master said to him: “Because you are not skillful enough to paint a beautiful form, you adorn your canvas with gold and gems.”
Do you, Christian maiden, avoid pride, haughtiness and self-esteem; cultivate the violet of true humility, according to the description of this virtue which I have given you in the two last instructions. It is known by its three fruits: gentleness, modesty, and decorum—purity of soul and body.
The humble maiden is distinguished by her meekness and gentleness. God has specially adapted the heart of woman for the exercise of this virtue. It is naturally soft, impressionable and sympathetic, readily moved to share in the weal or woe of others. These qualities cause the Christian maiden always to appear gentle and amiable. Bright tears glisten in her eyes at the mere recital of her neighbor’s sorrows, and when she perceives that those around her are weeping she cannot restrain her own tears; she is always ready to help and comfort as far as it lies in her power to do so, and she endeavors to pour some drops of sweetness into the bitter cup of life.
Like Noe’s dove, she is a messenger of peace to the quarrelsome and discontented; she reconciles those who are at enmity; she bears with the exacting and eccentric, and if her efforts to placate them are of no avail she puts up with everything in silence, never allowing herself to wrangle, or to indulge in open complaints.
Modesty is the second fruit of humility, more especially modesty in dress. See that you make this modesty your bosom friend. I do not mean that you are to cause annoyance to others by singularity in your dress. I wish only to remind you that your appearance ought to be simple and unpretending. Extravagance and ostentation in the matter of dress have reached a lamentable pitch in the present day. Many women dress far above their station. The daughter of a tradesman or a laborer is hardly to be distinguished from a lady of leisure and wealth; the servant maid can hardly be distinguished from her mistress on Sundays and holidays. Every change of fashion is followed, each one striving to outdo her neighbor.
Understand, dear child, that I am not referring to girls who dress according to their station, neatly and prettily; I am speaking of the foolish girls who try to be in the forefront of the fashion, and who spend all their thoughts on dress and finery. Girls such as these fall into almost all the deadly sins. Pride induces them to make a showy appearance. In order to obtain expensive gowns in spite of their narrow means, they become avaricious and hard-hearted in regard to the poor; unchastity and pride are closely related; vain persons allow their feelings of envy to grow into bitter hatred: their vanity is the generator of anger and family dissensions; showy girls are idle because they are afraid of disfiguring their charming persons by honest labor. A girl can preserve herself from these sins and failings by cultivating modesty and simplicity in her dress and appearance.
Let decorum, which is the third fruit of humility, accompany you throughout your life. Thus you will, according to the admonition of St. Paul, “think on the things of the Lord, that you may be holy both in body and in spirit.” You will shrink from everything which might defile either body or soul. You will value purity of heart above all else, and rather forfeit your life than lose this precious treasure.
That is the disposition which characterizes a virgin. This sense or disposition makes its presence known by the delicate blush on the maiden’s cheek, by the reticence of her glances, by the care she takes not to depart from that which becomes her sex and position in life, by her conscientious avoidance of everything in her speech, dress and demeanor which is or might be hurtful to modesty.
Such a maiden not only flies from what is really dangerous, but from what has the least suspicion of danger; she not only shuns what is evil, but what might lead to evil. But because she is so careful and modest she need not be melancholy, nor shrink from society. On the contrary, cheerfulness and mirth accompany the virtuous and lowly maiden in all her paths. Joyousness and innocent merriment dwell where the fear of God abides. Yes, where this holy fear protects the pure heart like an invincible shield there does the maiden appear in her true dignity. Her dignity and gravity hold those in check who would be too familiar, and all who behold her admiringly exclaim: “How truly charming are innocence and virtue!”
You may perchance be saying to yourself that it would be delightful indeed to be such gentle, modest, retiring maiden, but that you lack strength to make these virtues your own. You desire to possess these virtues! Well, then, be not discouraged; persevere in this desire with all sincerity, doing at the same time everything in your power to further the fulfillment of your wish.
Humility with its sweet fruits will bring peace to your soul. For this reason Our Lord so frequently exhorts us to the practice of humility. That we may more earnestly seek to acquire it He promises us peace of heart as our reward: “You shall find rest to your souls.” Such are His own words. Do you not desire to have peace in your heart; peace with God and your fellow men, eternal peace one day in heaven?
In order that you may be able to gain this peace by the practice of humility, have recourse to the means which I have so often pointed out to you—be diligent and earnest in prayer. Every day strive anew to overcome vanity and pride; constantly make fresh resolutions carefully to avoid all sins against meekness and humility.
To enable you to do this, think of the eternal glory which is the reward of humility. St. Philip Neri was one day talking confidentially to Bernardine Corna, one of the lay-brothers in his community. In the course of conversation he said to him: “Bernardine, I am told that the Pope intends to offer me a cardinal’s hat; what do you say to it?” The brother answered in all simplicity and sincerity: “Methinks you ought not to refuse that dignity, for the sake of the Congregation, if for no other reason.” Thereupon the saint gravely lifted his biretta, and raising his eyes to heaven, with a look of holy inspiration, he said: “O, Bernardine, think not of earth, but of heaven, of paradise!” “Forgive me, Father,” the brother replied, “I really did not think of it at that moment.”
Alas, so it is! “I did not think of it, I did not think of heaven, I did not think of paradise,” must be the confession of many Christians, of many young girls, when they give themselves to the pleasures, amusements and vanities of the world. But do you, Christian maiden, think of heaven, and then:
Let the modest violet be
An example unto thee;
Love all humble, lowly ways;
Strive not after human praise.
The Daffodil—Industry.