Chapter XXIV: Of Other Good Books

IF you had no other book than the New Testament, it would be an abundance of good reading. Still, it is well to have a little variety. Any good book of instructions, such as the Mission Book, is of great advantage, because there you will find what you most want to know laid out in order, and in such a way that you can understand it. The Scripture excites you to do right in general; but such a book teaches you how to carry out the teaching of the Scripture, and to regulate your life in practice; how to behave under the actual circumstances of life, so that you need not fear being led astray through want of knowing what to do.

St. Philip Neri was once asked what books he thought the best. He replied, those whose writers’ names begin with an S. That is, those written by the saints, by men or women filled with the spirit of God. There are many beautiful books written by such persons; for instance, the works of St. Francis of Sales and of St. Alphonsus Liguori. Choose among these a few that suit your taste, but do not be anxious to get too many.

There is one book which I think very good for daily reading during the year, and that is, Butler’s Lives of the Saints. We feel so much encouraged to press on in the way of virtue, and to follow the Saviour, when we read how others have done so before us. In this excellent work are the lives of the principal saints, with many good instructions and observations which explain what otherwise might be misunderstood.

It was by reading the lives of the saints that St. Ignatius was excited to a holy life. He had been wounded in battle, and was laid up a long time before he recovered. The time hung heavy on his hands, and to occupy his mind he read all the novels he could get. When there were no more, they brought him some lives of the saints. Soon after he began to read, their earnestness and courage in striving for the Kingdom of Heaven touched his heart. “Why cannot I do likewise?” said he; and immediately he began to give himself up heart and soul, with all his energy, to serve God.

These moving and affecting lives may touch your hearts too, and urge you on to do your whole duty with courage and perseverance. Only be careful not to attempt rashly to imitate them in those things that are extraordinary and singular, such as great fasting or bodily austerities. The humility, the meekness and patience of the saints, their love to one another — these things you can safely follow, the more closely the better. But their extraordinary works of penance were performed through a particular inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and it would be both unwise and injurious for ordinary persons to undertake them. Leave all that is wonderful and unusual. These things we can admire, but must not be too quick to imitate.

But above all, put out of your heads the wish to see visions, or to have miracles performed by God for you, or to dream dreams, or any things of the sort. When God sends them it is all well. It is not probable, however, that He will send them, and it is not pleasing to Him if we ask for them or desire them. It would be much better to say, “O my God! I am content to walk by the simple light of faith. If it be Thy will, please preserve me from all dreams, visions, or any extraordinary ways, and let me sanctify myself by doing my duty and Thy blessed will in all things.”

The devil has no chance to deceive the soul that walks in this road, and her humility will draw down God’s richest graces.

Read, then, and pray, and what the Scripture says of the just man will be true of you: “His will is the law o5 the Lord, and in His law he shall meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted near the running water, which produces its fruit in due season, for its leaf shall not fall. And behold, whatever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm i.) Be faithful to these holy exercises, and you will be watered abundantly by the divine grace, grow steadily and rapidly in goodness, and produce in due time the fruits of holiness. Everything will turn out well for your soul, until you shall reap your blessed reward in heaven.