Finally, it fills the soul with spiritual consolations, according to the words of Holy Scripture. "_Who is this that cometh up from the desert flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved?_" [Footnote 152]
While the heart is disturbed with irregular affections and filled with inordinate love for created things, divine love cannot enter it. The desert of which Solomon speaks in the passage just quoted, is produced in the soul by the renunciation and mortification of the irregular movements of the sensual appetites, and the soul then goes forth to meet the celestial spouse; and as all obstacles to his love are removed, she is filled with his divine consolation. And thus supported by her Beloved, the practice of every virtue becomes easy. "Whilst my heart was dilated with thy consolations, I ran in the way of thy commandments." [Footnote 153] Oh, blessed penance, which recovers for the soul its supreme good, and gives it here a foretaste of Paradise!
[Transcriber's note: This appears to be a paraphrase of Psalm cxix., 1.]
Let us, then, enter upon the duties of Lent with the conviction of their necessity and their high importance. Let us manfully conquer all our repugnances to the works of penance enjoined by Holy Church; for every act of self-denial and mortification of sensuality will open avenues of true spiritual joy to the soul. { 345} Let us pass through this holy season with sincerity and confidence, practising all its requirements, that it may be said of us also, "_Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning on her beloved?_" For only those who take part in the penances of Lent can share in the joys of Easter.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sermons Preached At The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York, During the Year 1861., by Anonymous