Untitled - Saints' Books

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298 Material for Instructions. [PART n.
Bethlehem than in all his studies! Father Suarez used
to say that he would rather lose all his knowledge than
one hour s mental prayer. May the wise men of this
world," says St. Paulinus, possess their wisdom, the
rich their riches, the kings their kingdoms. Jesus Christ
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is our wisdom, our riches, our kingdom." Let the
learned of the world enjoy their wisdom, let the rich
possess their wealth, and kings their kingdoms, but let
Jesus Christ be our wisdom, our riches, our kingdom;
:
let us say with St. Francis. God and my all."
This true wisdom we should in a special manner ask
of God, for he will certainly give it to all who pray for
it.
If any ofyou want wisdom, says St. James,
let him ask
of God, who giveth to all men abundantly, and upbraideth not. 3
I do not deny that study is useful, and even necessary
for priests; but the study of the crucifix is still more
necessary. In a letter to Jovius, who devoted a great
deal of time to the study of the works of the philoso
phers, but through pretence of not having time, paid
but little attention to the exercises of a spiritual life, the
same St. Paulinus writes. have time to be a
philosopher, but you have no time to be a Christian."^
Some priests spend so much time in the study of mathe
matics, geometry, astronomy, and profane history (oh
that they would at least study what is better suited to
their state), and afterwards say that they have not time
to make mental prayer. To them it should be said:
have time to be a learned mail, but you have no
1 "
Sfbi habeant sapientiam suam philosophi, sibi divitias suas divites,
sibi regna sua reges, nobis gloria, et possessio, et regnum, Christus
est."
Ep. ad Aprum.
2 "Deus meus, etomnia!"
3
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Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet
a Deo, qtii dat
omnibus affluenter, et non improperat." James, i. 5.
4 "
ad Jovium.
Vacat tibi ut philosophus sis; non vacat ut christianus sis ?"
Ep.