Contempt of the World

It's Lent. I think I mostly will concentrate on the spiritual during this time. 

Thanks to Thomas a Kempis, about 600 years ago, we have a gem of spiritual reading called  The Imitation of Christ. Open any page (or chapter) and find the fundamental principles of spiritual life. It is a small volume, pocket sized, divided into four "books" with "chapters" or pages on different subjects. Book I is called "Useful Admonitions for a Spiritual Life." The Foreword, by Msgr. Joseph Brey, in the 1954 edition says, "The Christian soul is invited to folow Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life." It's an easy thing to open up a page, any page, each day and find inspiration, admonition and comfort.

I've chosen Chapter 1, Book I, for today: The Imitation of Christ, and the Contempt of All the Vanities of the World

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1.   "He that followeth me, walketh not in darkness," saith our Lord - John 8.12. These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we must imitate His life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.
       Let it then be our chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.
2.   The doctrine of Christ surpasseth all the doctrines of the saints; and whosoever hath His Spirit will find therein a hidden manna. - Apoc. 2.17
       But it happeneth that many, by frequent hearing of the Gospel, are very little affected: because they have not the Spirit of Christ.
      But he who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ.
3.   What doth it avail thee to discourse profoundly of the Trinity if thou be void of humility, and consequently, displeasing to the Trinity?
      In truth, sublime words make not a man holy and just: but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God.
      I would rather feel compunction than know its definition.
      If thou didst know the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would it all profit thee without the love of God and His Grace?
     "Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity" - Eccles. 1.2. except to love God and serve Him alone.
     This is the highest wisdom, by despising the world to tend to heavenly kingdoms.
4.   It is vanity, therefore, to seek after riches which must perish and to trust in them.
      It is vanity also to be ambitious of honors, and to raise one's self to a high station.
      It is vanity to follow the lusts of the flesh and to desire that for which thou must afterwards be grievously punished.
      It is vanity to wish for a long life and to take little care of leading a good life.
      It is vanity also to mind this presnt life and not to look forward unto those things which are to come.
      It is vanity to love that which passeth with all speed and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy remaineth.
5.   Often remember that proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor  is the ear filled with hearing." - Eccle. 1.8
      Study, therefore, to withdraw thy heart from the love of visible things, and to turn thyself to things invisible. For they that follow their sensuality defile their conscience and lose the grace of God.

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If one is looking for a particular subject to deal with a sorrow, a temptation, any problem - there is a reading guide in the back  that will direct  to a particular book and chapter. None are any longer than the one I just offered. Each guide is a question, e.g., Are you in adversity? Are you troubled in conscience? Are you impatient? and so on.

Before reading, it is a good practice to invoke the aid of the Holy Ghost. You can just say, "Come, Holy Ghost," or recite the whole prayer dedicated to asking the aid of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

                 Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy Love.
                 Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
                                                                    Let us pray.
                 O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that,
                 by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation.
                                                  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.