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sacrifices made are to purge out sin； and to buy safety。 The
hopelessness of Christian theology in respect of the flesh and
the natural man generally has； in systematizing fear； made of it
one tremendous incentive to self…mortification。 It would be
quite unfair； however； in spite of the fact that this incentive
has often been worked in a mercenary way for hortatory purposes；
to call it a mercenary incentive。 The impulse to expiate and do
penance is； in its first intention； far too immediate and
spontaneous an expression of self…despair and anxiety to be
obnoxious to any such reproach。 In the form of loving sacrifice；
of spending all we have to show our devotion； ascetic discipline
of the severest sort may be the fruit of highly optimistic
religious feeling。
M。 Vianney； the cure of Ars； was a French country priest； whose
holiness was exemplary。 We read in his life the following
account of his inner need of sacrifice：
〃'On this path；' M。 Vianney said； 〃it is only the first step
that costs。 There is in mortification a balm and a savor without
which one cannot live when once one has made their acquaintance。
There is but one way in which to give one's self to God that
is； to give one's self entirely； and to keep nothing for one's
self。 The little that one keeps is only good to trouble one and
make one suffer。' Accordingly he imposed it on himself that he
should never smell a flower； never drink when parched with
thirst； never drive away a fly； never show disgust before a
repugnant object； never complain of anything that had to do with
his personal comfort； never sit down； never lean upon his elbows
when he was kneeling。 The Cure of Ars was very sensitive to
cold； but he would never take means to protect himself against
it。 During a very severe winter； one of his missionaries
contrived a false floor to his confessional and placed a metal
case of hot water beneath。 The trick succeeded； and the Saint
was deceived： 'God is very good；' he said with emotion。 'This
year； through all the cold； my feet have always been warm。'
〃＇179＇
＇179＇ A。 Mounin： Le Cure d'Ars； vie de M。 J。 B。 M。 Vianney；
1864； p。 545； abridged。
In this case the spontaneous impulse to make sacrifices for the
pure love of God was probably the uppermost conscious motive。 We
may class it； then； under our head 3。 Some authors think that
the impulse to sacrifice is the main religious phenomenon。 It is
a prominent； a universal phenomenon certainly； and lies deeper
than any special creed。 Here； for instance； is what seems to be
a spontaneous example of it； simply expressing what seemed right
at the time between the individual and his Maker。 Cotton Mather；
the New England Puritan divine； is generally reputed a rather
grotesque pedant； yet what is more touchingly simple than his
relation of what happened when his wife came to die？
〃When I saw to what a point of resignation I was now called of
the Lord；〃 he says； 〃I resolved； with his help； therein to
glorify him。 So； two hours before my lovely consort expired； I
kneeled by her bedside； and I took into my two hands a dear hand；
the dearest in the world。 With her thus in my hands； I solemnly
and sincerely gave her up unto the Lord： and in token of my real
RESIGNATION； I gently put her out of my hands； and laid away a
most lovely hand； resolving that I would never touch it more。
This was the hardest； and perhaps the bravest action that ever I
did。 She 。 。 。 told me that she signed and sealed my act of
resignation。 And though before that she called for me
continually； she after this never asked for me any more。〃＇180＇
＇180＇ B。 Wendell： Cotton Mather； New York； no date； p。 198。
Father Vianney's asceticism taken in its totality was simply the
result of a permanent flood of high spiritual enthusiasm； longing
to make proof of itself。 The Roman Church has； in its
incomparable fashion； collected all the motives towards
asceticism together； and so codified them that any one wishing to
pursue Christian perfection may find a practical system mapped
out for him in any one of a number of ready…made manuals。＇181＇
The dominant Church notion of perfection is of course the
negative one of avoidance of sin。 Sin proceeds from
concupiscence； and concupiscence from our carnal passions and
temptations； chief of which are pride； sensuality in all its
forms； and the loves of worldly excitement and possession。 All
these sources of sin must be resisted； and discipline and
austerities are a most efficacious mode of meeting them。 Hence
there are always in these books chapters on self…mortification。
But whenever a procedure is codified； the more delicate spirit of
it evaporates； and if we wish the undiluted ascetic spiritthe
passion of self…contempt wreaking itself on the poor flesh； the
divine irrationality of devotion making a sacrificial gift of all
it has （its sensibilities； namely） to the object of its
adorationwe must go to autobiographies； or other individual
documents。
＇181＇ That of the earlier Jesuit； Rodriguez； which has been
translated into all languages； is one of the best known。 A
convenient modern manual； very well put together； is L'Ascetique
Chretienne； by M。 J。 Ribet； Paris； Poussielgue； nouvelle edition；
1898。
Saint John of the Cross； a Spanish mystic who flourishedor
rather who existed； for there was little that suggested
flourishing about himin the sixteenth century； will supply a
passage suitable for our purpose。
〃First of all； carefully excite in yourself an habitual
affectionate will in all things to imitate Jesus Christ。 If
anything agreeable offers itself to your senses； yet does not at
the same time tend purely to the honor and glory of God； renounce
it and separate yourself from it for the love of Christ； who all
his life long had no other taste or wish than to do the will of
his Father whom he called his meat and nourishment。 For example；
you take satisfaction in HEARING of things in which the glory of
God bears no part。 Deny yourself this satisfaction； mortify your
wish to listen。 You take pleasure in SEEING objects which do not
raise your mind to God： refuse yourself this pleasure； and turn
away your eyes。 The same with conversations and all other
things。 Act similarly； so far as you are able； with all the
operations of the senses； striving to make yourself free from
their yokes。
〃The radical remedy lies in the mortification