Treatise on The Spiritual Life by St. Vincent Ferrer

[Hildegard of Bingen]

Treatise on
The Spiritual Life

By
ST. VINCENT FERRER
Of the Order of Preachers

Translated form the French by the

Rev. Fr. T.A. Dixon, Ord. Praed.

FOREWORD

     This book was written by St. Vincent at the instance of certain religious of the Order of St. Dominic, placed under his direction. It is short, but it abounds in matter. Each sentence is more valuable than gold. The reader will find herein great lights, and by meditating seriously on its contents, will be enabled to make much progress in virtue. St. Lewis Bertrand made it his special delight; he counseled all who where desirous to advance in piety to read it constantly. “Nowhere,” said he, “have I seen virtue painted in such bright colors as in this book.”


CHAPTER I

On poverty (page 9-10)

      HE who aspires to be the director of others is bound to despise all earthly goods as so much dross, to accept of nothing but what a rigid necessity allows, and to suffer some inconvenience for the sake of poverty. A certain author observes: "To be poor is a thing which in itself merits no praise; but what renders it meritorious is the fact of loving poverty, and of suffering with joy, for Christ's sake, whatever wants poverty entails on us."

      Unhappily, there are many who glory only in the name of poverty, who embrace it merely on the condition that they shall want for nothing. They desire to pass for the friends of poverty, but strenuously shun its daily accomplishments, viz. hunger and thirst, contempt and humiliation. Such is not the example given by Him Who, being sovereignly rich, became poor for our sakes. Such is not what we discover in the acts and instructions of the Apostles; neither is it the model that we find in the life of our Father St. Dominic: this requires no proof.

      Ask nothing of any one, except when absolute necessity obliges you; neither accept the presents which people offer you, unless it be to distribute them among the poor. By acting thus, both they whose gifts you refuse, and they who hear of your disinterestedness, will be edified; thus will you the more easily lead them to despise the world and to relieve the poor.

     All that is implied in the term necessity, may be reduced to a frugal diet and plain clothing, without caring to provide for the future, but having only what is needful for the wants of each day.

     I do not include among necessaries a goodly store of books; since, under this pretext, avarice not infrequently lurks. The books of the community, and those that may be borrowed, are sufficient to instruct you. He who would qualify himself in study, ought first of all to practice, with a humble heart, the lessons that have been taught him. If contrariwise, he contradicts these by a spirit of pride, he will never acquire the light of intelligence. Jesus Christ, who has taught us humility by His own example, conceals His truth from the proud, and reveals it only to the humble.