My Prayer Book_LASANCE - the Catholic Kingdom!

60
Why Deny Yoursel/ ? - WmiH While NOW
nature. Some things we desire inasmuch as we are
animals, as food and warmth and rest; some things
as we are reasonable beings, as honor, knowledge,
friendship; other things as we are Christians, as ho5
ness, sacraments, heaven. All these desires a n be
accommodated and harmonized, but tot without a
watchful effort; they will not fall into hartnony of
themselves. The desire of food and drink carries
some persons to such lengths that they become incapable
of the pursuit of knowledge; their study hours
are turned into revels. In others the curiosity of
knowledge is gratified to the neglect of prayer and the
endangering of faith. Thus self-denial in me is called
upon to do the function of the policeman, to keep order
in the crowd of my jostling and conflicting desires.
Then there is the desire of ease, the sheer, pure,
undiluted love of doing nothing and vegetating quietly.
Otium, Grosphe, and the rest, as Horace sings There
are those in whom this desire does not wait the hour of
enfeebled old age to attain its majority. 'L'he indulgence
of that do-nothing desire will not make my
fortune in this life; and for the world to come, when
they pray over my dead body: "Eternal rest give to
him, 0 Lord!" may not the angels reply: "Why, this
creature entered into his rest long ago, and has slept
throughout life like a dormouse; what claim has he
to rest for eternity, who has not labored in time." I
need self-denial to overcome my lazinesp.
Wbat 1s mortb WbTte #ow7
1s always worth while doing the good that just at
1: this moment lies within my power to do. St. Fran~is
of Sales, when a student at the University of Park, suf.
Private Use Only