Volume III, Treatise VI, Chapter VI

The Great Advantages Derived from an Exact Observance of Rules Even in the Least Things

“WELL done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful in small things, I will give thee the administration of greater; enter into the joy of thy Lord”.—Mat., xxv. 21. The Son of God points out in these words the recompense which is annexed to fidelity in little things; and to make us see more clearly the greatness of his recompense, he says not that the joy of the Lord shall enter into us, because our heart is too strait a vessel to contain it, but he says that we shall enter into the joy of the Lord, which marks the excess and abundance of this joy, and that we shall be altogether plunged therein. In another place he promises us “that they shall cast in our breasts good measure, a measure filled and heaped up so high as it shall even run over” (Luke 6:38) But let us consider a moment why he promises so great a recompense to those who shall be faithful in small things; it is because as a man behaves in little things, so he behaves in great ones, according to the words of the gospel, “he that is faithful in lesser, is also faithful in greater things” — ibid., xvi. 10. Moreover, take notice that he says, not that he who is faithful in great things shall be so in little ones, but he converts the proposition; because in fact fidelity makes itself more known in little things than in great ones. Is it in his not defrauding his master of one or two hundred pounds that the ‘fidelity of a steward appears? No; but it is in his not defrauding him of a single farthing. A good servant does not show himself so much in those great things which purely belong to his duty, as in certain little cares to which he is not obliged; and in fine, a son does not give so strong a proof of love and respect for his father by obeying him in matters of consequence, as he does by obeying him in the least thing, and by the lively care he takes to avoid everything which might in the least degree displease him. It is the same with a good religious. He displays his virtue less in hindering himself from falling into mortal sin, than in applying himself faithfully to perform thuse things which his rules and obedience prescribe, and it is for this reason that: God treats persons of this description so liberally and bestows so many graces upon them. He is liberal towards them because they are liberal towards him, which is conformable to the words of St. James, “approach to God, and he will approach to you” (James 4:8),—and the more they approach to God and use this liberality towards him, the more he approaches to them, and the greater graces he heaps upon them. He who takes particular care to please God, not only in things of duty and of precept, but also in those which are of counsel, and who, not only in the greatest but even in the least things, always diligently applies himself to do what he believes is most conformable to God’s will, is truly liberal to God, and God recompenses him by the like liberality. The persons who serve God in this manner are those whom he makes his favourites; it is upon them he showers down his graces and blessings in greater abundance than upon others, and in a word, these are the persons who ordinarily distinguish themselves from others by their virtue and perfection. I have known some religious amongst us who by this means have become great and admirable men in spirituality; and I have heard of others who, though very much advanced in age, yet were so faithful in the observarice of even the least rules, that they became an example to all their brethren, and at the same time gave them a. great confusion. But it is not to be wondered at that these are the beloved favourites of God; for we see even in the world that the domestics who do that only which they think pleasing to their master, and who with cheerfulness perform the lowest as well as the highest duties in his service, are those upon whom he bestows choicest benefits. It is the same in the house of God. Those who stoop to everything—who make little of themselves—those who pay lively attention to the least things which regard the glory and service of God, are the dearly beloved favourites of the Almighty. It is to them he opens the treasures of his blessings and graces, and it is of them he properly says, ‘“Permit these little ones to come unto me, and do not hinder them, for to them the kingdom of Heaven belongs”—Mat., xix. 14. On the contrary, those that affect to be distinguished from others—who believe their seniority in religion gives them right to dispense with themselves in the observance of the common rules, and to look upon little things as employments fit only for novices, disdaining to stoop to them themselves—those God humbles and rejects, according to the words of David: “If I thought not humbly of myself, but proudly elevated my mind, treat me, O Lord, as a nurse treats her infant when she weans it from her breast” (Psalms 30:2) What ought a nurse to do that weans her child? She carries him no longer in her arms, and not only ceases to give him suck, but even rubs her breast with some bitter thing, that he may there find bitterness where he before was accustomed to find so much sweetness. Behold the curse which David gave both to himself and to all those who would appear great, and are ashamed of being little. He begs that God would reject them, that he would deprive them of his consolations, and that he would change into bitterness all that spiritual sweetness with which he was wont to favour them.

St. Jerom, who knew perfectly well what the sentiments of a true servant of God ought to be, says, “that he who is entirely devoted to Jesus Christ, is no less exact in the performance of small things, than of great ones, knowing that he must render an account for even on unprofitable word”. He knows that from little defects we fall by little and by little into great ones, and it is very certain that he who is faithful in little things will be rewarded by a great abundance of God’s favours, and therefore he is exceedingly exact in doing small things, and neglects not one of them, how little soever it may appear. St. Basil recommends to us the like practice: ‘ Endeavour”, he says, “to attain the most elevated virtues; yet notwithstanding neglect not the least, and think no fault little, though it should appear to you smaller than even a mite”.

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