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126.1
First Point
While
a student at Athens, Saint Gregory applied himself more to the perfection
of his soul than to learning literature. He had such great concern to
avoid sin that he paid special attention to shun bad companions and
particularly persons of the opposite sex; he felt sure that this is one of
the occasions which contributes the most to make us sinners. At this
period he gladly spent much time with Saint Basil, with whom he formed
such a close friendship, that when Saint Basil retired into the solitude
of a hermitage in Pontus, Saint Gregory went to find him there and lived
with him an angelic life.
How fortunate it is to live far from occasions of offending God! To
have this is an advantage. A person ought, therefore, to thank God
frequently and even daily for this grace, because it is one of the main
means of salvation.
Bad companions are so dangerous, especially in youth, that there is
nothing to which you should pay more attention than to prevent those you
teach from keeping such company. Nor is there anything you should
recommend more strongly to them than to become close friends with the best
of their companions, the most pious, and the best behaved.
126.2
Second Point
This
saint, having been chosen to govern the Church of Constantinople, suffered
a great deal from the opposition of the Arians, who persecuted him
viciously in various ways. They accused him of being an idolater who
wanted to introduce several gods. At this the people wished to stone him,
and he was brought before judges who had been stirred up against him to
have him condemned.
Yet he always remained a firm and indomitable defender of the true
faith. He preached with so much zeal and so effectively that during the
three years he lived in that city he converted a large number of heretics.
By the time he left the city it was purged not only of Arianism and all
the other errors with which it had been infested on his arrival, but also
of many of the vices which had reigned there previously, as this saint
himself testifies.
Such are the usual consequences of persecutions suffered by those
who labor for the salvation of souls. The more they are burdened by
difficulties in their apostolic labors, the more conversions God brings
about through their ministry, and the more effectively they procure the
salvation of souls.
Do not be surprised, therefore, if in doing your work you meet with
difficulties and contradictions. The more you suffer, the more you should
be encouraged to fulfill your duties well, because you can then be sure
that God will pour out abundant blessings on the work you do.
126.3 Third Point
This
saint resigned his bishopric not long after he had entered it in order to
calm down the trouble caused by the Arians concerning his election. He
withdrew entirely from contact with the world and applied himself
assiduously to prayer, which became his main occupation. He lived
austerely in constant mortification, especially of his tongue, because he
recognized that this is one of the most necessary mortifications. He even
says, out of humility, that his tongue escaped him so readily that he
experienced much trouble restraining it, and that for this purpose he took
great care to watch over it. Once he even imposed on himself a penance of
not talking for forty days, because he thought he had spoken too much.
The work you do during the day does not prevent you from living in
seclusion; love this seclusion and willingly preserve it after the example
of this saint, who sanctified himself by means of it. It will help you
very much to acquire the perfection of your state and procure piety for
your disciples. But if you do not appreciate a secluded life, and if you
apply yourself but little to prayer, you will not possess the fervor
necessary to inspire your students with the spirit of Christianity.
Also, control your tongue; such self-control will make it easy for
you to practice recollection and remember the presence of God. It will
also be an excellent means for you to keep yourself in silence, order, the
exact practice of your spiritual exercises, the faithful observance of
your rules, self-control, tranquility, and peace. These great advantages
should induce you not to give free rein to your tongue.
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