The psychology of the saints.

  • Joly, Henri, 1839-1925.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The psychology of the saints. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    acquired sacred science with all that is best in human learning.” Many other saints have done as he did. In their first fervour they discarded the written for the living book, learning the secrets of the spiritual life by means of detachment, humility, and action, and only returning to science when their will and their love had grown strong. For then they were able to recognise the truth of St Theresa s words : “ Piety without science may fill souls with illusions and inspire them with a taste for childish and silly devotions.” Therefore this saint loved “ men who were distinguished by learning,” and she warned souls against men who were only half- educated as likely to their harm. She adds, “ I have found that, provided they are men of good morals, they are better with no learning at all than with only a little, for in the former case, at least, they do not trust to their own lights but take counsel of really enlightened persons.” The saints also frequently experienced the need of a division of labour such as is required by dif- ference of condition, sex, vocation and aptitude. Everyone is not equal to carrying out the magni- ficent programme laid down by Bossuet for the ora- torians:—“To devote themselves to the reading of the Scriptures so that they may acquire the letter of it by study, the spirit of it by prayer, its inner meaning by solitude, its healing power by practice, its end by charity, which is the goal of all things.” But what one saint cannot do alone, many may ac- complish together for the good of all, and to the profit of each one individually. If it is true that