Twenty-Ninth Meditation

(Ascent of Mount Carmel, book III: chapter 16)

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." (60)


Steeds Of Passion

The four-fold passions of the will
Are joy and hope, sorrow and fear.
With strength, they pull the soul uphill;
When bridled, pacified, and clear.

The will holds the reigns of these steeds
Directing them, with care and skill,
To charity in words and deeds;
To serve the Lord and seek His will.

She knows that vigilance is key:
Unbridled passions rear and bolt,
Dragging the soul relentlessly;
Jarring the Lord's peace with a jolt.

The harnessed power of passion
By grace can live "Your will be done".

60. 2 Peter 1:3-9


(c) Paul Buis, 2003