Part V, Chapter XVI

Of the Sentiments We Must Retain after This Exercise

On the day on which you have made this renovation, and the days immediately following, you ought frequently to repeat from your heart those inflamed words of St. Paul, St. Austin, St. Catherine of Genoa, etc.; “No, I am no more my own; whether I live, or whether I die, I am my Saviour’s. I have no longer anything of me or mine; my me is Jesus, and my mine is to be wholly his. O world! thou art always thyself, and I have hitherto been always myself, but from henceforth I will be myself no more.” No, we shall be no more ourselves, for we shall have our heart changed, and the world which has so often deceived us shall be deceived in us; for, perceiving our change only by degrees, it will think us still Esaus, but we shall find ourselves to be Jacobs. All these exercises ought to remain fixed in the heart, and when we finish our consideration, and meditation we must turn gently and quietly towards our ordinary affairs and conversations, lest the precious liquor of our resolutions should be suddenly spilt; for it must penetrate through all parts of the soul, without, however, any effort of mind or body.

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