THE UNION OF THE HUMAN WILL WITH GOD’S WILL IN INSPIRATIONS WHICH GO AGAINST ORDINARY LAWS AND THE PEACE AND GENTLENESS OF HEART, THE SECOND SIGN OF INSPIRATION
This is the way, Theotimus, we should conduct ourselves in inspirations which are extraordinary only in the sense that they move us to follow ordinary Christian practices with unsual fervour and perfection. There are other inspirations which are called extraordinary. They are so because they make the soul advance at a pace above the usual. Moreover, they also lead us to actions contrary to the laws, rules and common customs of the most holy Church. Hence they are more to be admired rather than imitated.
The saintly girl whom historians call Eusebia the Foreigner left Rome her native land. She dressed herself as a boy with two other girls, boarded a ship for going overseas and reached Alexandria. From there she sailed to the island of Cos. Feeling secure there, she dressed herself again in the attire of her own sex. She embarked the ship again and reached the land of Caria. There the great Paul who had found her in Cos and had taken her under his spiritual guidance brought her to the town of Mylassa. Soon, on becoming bishop, under his holy guidance, she established a monastery. She committed herself to the service of the ministry which in those days was called deaconess, with such charity that she died a very saintly death. She was recognized as a saint by the numerous miracles which God worked through her relics and intercession. To dress like the opposite sex and thus expose herself to journey with men these are not only above but contrary to the ordinary laws of Christian modesty.
A young man kicked his mother. Touched by a lively sorrow for his sin, he went and confessed to St. Anthony of Padua. The saint, in order to impress more deeply the soul of this youth with a horror of sin, told him, among other things: “My child, the foot which served as the instrument of such a heinous crime deserves to be cut off." The words of the saint would not have had such a power in their usual sense had not God added his inspiration to them. But it was an inspiration so unusual that one would have thought it to be a temptation had not a miracle confirmed it. For the blessing of the saint restored the foot that was cut off.
St. Paul the first hermit, St. Antony, St. Mary of Egypt were they not lost in those vast deserts, deprived of attending mass, receiving communion and going for confession? They were still young, deprived of guidance and all assistance. They would have been lost without a powerful inspiration. The great Simeon Stylite led a life which no one on earth would have understood or undertaken without heavenly prompting and assistance. St. John, a Bishop surnamed, the silent, left bishopric without the knowledge of his clergy and went to pass the rest of his days in the monastery of Laura. No one could get any news about him. Was it not against the rules of holy residence [binding on all bishops]? And the great St. Paulinus sold himself to redeem the child of a poor widow. How could he do this according to the customary laws as he was not his own? Did he not belong to his church and to his people by episcopal consecration? Those girls and women who were sought after for their beauty disfigured their faces by willingly inflicting wounds. It was for the sake of preserving their chastity under the guise of a holy deformity. Were they not doing something apparently forbidden?
One of the best signs of the genuiness of all the inspirations, especially of extraordinary inspirations, is the peace and tranquillity of heart of the one who receives them. For the Holy Spirit is indeed violent but a gentle, kind and peaceful violence. He comes like a rushing wind and like a thunder from heaven. But he does not throw down the apostles. He does not disturb them at all. The fear they experience from hearing his sound is momentary. Instantly it is followed by a calm assurance. That is why this fire rested upon each one of them as if taking and giving his sacred rest (Acts 2:2-3).
As our Saviour is called peaceful or pacific Solomon (Song 3:7)[1], His spouse is also called Sulamitess, tranquil and daughter of peace. And the voice, that is, the inspiration of the Spouse does not in any way disturb or trouble her. But it attracts her so sweetly that he makes her soul gently melt and as it were flow into him: My soul, she says, melted itself when my Beloved spoke (Song 5:6). Though she is warlike and martial, yet on the whole she is extremely peaceful. So in the midst of armies and battles, she continues the choirs of an unparalleled melody: What do you see, she says, in the Sulamites if not the choirs of armies (Song 7:1).[2] Her armies are the choirs, that is the harmonies of singers. Her choirs are armies because the weapons of the Church and of the devout soul are nothing else than prayers, hymns, canticles and psalms. Thus the servants of God who received the highest and most sublime inspirations were the most gentle and peaceful of the universe: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Moses is styled as the meekest of all humans (Num 12:3). David is recommended for his gentleness (Ps 132:1).
On the contrary, the evil spirit is wild, harsh, restless. Those who follow his hellish suggestions, thinking that they are heavenly inspirations are, as a rule, easily known. For they are anxious, stubborn, proud persons ready to undertake anything and interfere in the affaires of others. Under the pretext of zeal they turn everything upside down. They find fault with every one, criticize everyone and condemn everything. They are persons without guidance and kindness. They are intolerant. They follow the passions of selflove under the name of jealousy for God’s honour.
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[1] NRSV Look it is the litter of Solomon
[2] NRSV How graceful are your feet in sandals, O queenly maiden!