The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-04

cupiscence of the eyes, and the pride
of life" Now, the three evangelical
counsels aim to counterfeit effectually
this threefold source of perverse
human inclinations. The Evangelical
Counsels are: voluntary poverty, per
petual chastity, and entire obedience.
Voluntary Poverty.-Voluntar pow
erty lis free remuneration of all tenn
poral things, in order to be less dis
tracted in striving for those that are
eternal Deharbe. In the first
beatitude our Lord called blessed the
poor in spirit. BY the poor in spirit
are meant those that are detached
from creatures, that use the creature
only in so far as it conduces to the
knowledge, love and service of God,
and hence, to attain salvation. In
Matthew, nineteen, we read that Jesus
gave the following advice to a young
man: IF thou will be perfect, go sell
what thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have a treasure in
heaven; and come, and follow me-"
How did the young man take to this
advice? when the young man had
heard this word, he went away sad;
for he had great possessions" This
young man was inordinately attached
to his possessions. 1t was on this
occasion that our Lord said, that a
rich man shall hardly enter into the
kingdom of heaven" Now, to be
willing to part with wealth, should it
be necessary for our salvation, is
duty. But the Evangelical Counsel of
poverty implies more than this. 1t
implies not only to be detached from
earthly possessions, but to forgo, to
give up all earthly goods. Why give
them up? "Out of love of God and a
desire for perfection" Men have at
times practiced voluntary poverty,
they have despised wealth; but from
worldly, selfish motives. This Evan
gelical Counsel implies the highest
motive, namely, the love of God and
desire for perfection.
Perpetual Chastity.-Perpetual chas-
tity lis free and perpetual renuncia-
ton, not only Of all impure pleasure,
but even of marriage, in order that we
may render undivided service to God"
Deharbe. Our Lord designates these
when He says: There are eunuchs
for the kingdom of heaven. He that
can take it, let him take it." Matth.
10, IL. st. Paul q. Cor. 7, y says:
Il would that all men were even as
myself (unmarried); but every one
has his own proper gift from God; one
after this manner, and another after
that" Again, he says: HE that is
without wife, is solicitous for the
things that belong to the Lord, how
he may please God" Following the
teaching of Holy Scripture, the Church
has always taught the state of vir-
ginity is higher than the married state.
eff anyone saith that the married
state is to be placed above the state
of Yirginity, or Of .celihacy,. and that
it is not better and more blessed to
remain in virginity, or in celibacy,
than to be united in matrimony; let
him be anathema" Council of Trent,
Sess. "a, Can. 10.
Entire Obedience.-Entire obedience
lis remuneration of ones own will,
! in order to do the Divine will more
surely under a superior who represents
God" Deharbe. 1t lies in the very
nature of things that we stand in need
of the guidance of others in many
things. In the way of salvation this
is especially so. God places the child
under the guidance of the parents. He
established the Church to be our in
fallible guide in matters pertaining to
salvation. Now, if anyone, to make
doubly sure of doing Gods will, and
to do it the more perfectly, places him.
self under the special guidance of
another, obliges himself to live under
obedience; he is surely at liberty to
do so, and practices thereby an act
of great humility for the love of God
and for personal perfection. Such a
one obeys athe injunction of Jesus:
"If any man will come after Me, let
him deny himself, and take up his
cross and follow Me-" Matth. 16, %.
From what has been said, we can
easily understand that the three
Evangelical Counsels are the best
possible cure of the three perverse
inclinations of the human heart; they
are the heroic remedy. BY voluntary
poverty one puts himself under obliga-
ton not to possess earthly goods in
the sense of ownership; he removes
the very object of the concupiscence
of the eyes. BY perpetual chastity he
curbs the carnal appetite, he denies all
indulgence for the higher motives al
ready stated; he curbs the concupis-
cence of the flesh. BY entire obedience
he brings the sacrifice of his judg-
ment and will, by submitting to
another in things not sinful.
Many have practiced and are prac-
ticing the Evangelical Counsels. They
are the very essence of the religious
vows. There may be additional VOWS,
but these three belong to the sub
stance of religious life. The world