The Road to Perfection

The first means towards the attainment of perfection is the purity of heart; by it alone a St. Paul the hermit, a St. Mary of Egypt, and so many other holy solitaries attained thereto. Next after purity of heart comes the precepts and spiritual doctrine to be found in books; then direction and faithful cooperation with the graces bestowed. This is high road of perfection. We must devote our whole care to the purifying of our heart because their lies the root of all evils. To be able to conceive how requisite the purity of heart is to us, it would be necessary to comprehend the natural corruption of the human heart. There is in us a very depth of malice, which we do not perceive, because we never seriously examine our own interior. If we did, we should find therein a multitude of desires and irregular appetites for the honors, the pleasures, and the comfort of the world unceasingly fermenting in our heart.

We are so full of false ideas and erroneous judgements, of disorderly affections, passions, and malice, that we should stand confounded at ourselves, could we see ourselves such as we are. Let us imagine ourselves a muddy well, from which water is continually being drawn: at first, what comes up is scarcely anything but mud; but by the don’t of drawing, the well is gradually cleansed, and the water becomes purer, until at last it is as clear as crystal. In like manner, by labouring incessantly to purge our soul, the ground of it becomes gradually cleared, and God manifests His presence by powerful and marvelous effects which He works in the soul, and through it, for the good of others.

When the heart is thoroughly cleansed, God fills the soul and all its powers, the memory, the understanding, and the will, with His holy presence and love. Thus purity of heart leads to union with God, and no one ordinarily attains thereto by other means. The shortest and surest way of attaining perfection, is to study purity of heart rather than exercise of virtues, because God is ready to bestow all manner of graces upon us, provided we put no obstacles in their way. Now it is by purifying our hearts that we clear away everything which hinders the work of God. When all impediments are removed, it is inconceivable what wonderful effects God produces in the soul.

(Spiritual Doctrine of Fr. Louis Lallemant)