|
By these practices, then, they hasten to impress and instruct those whom
they are training with the alphabet, as it were, and first syllables in the
direction of perfection, as they can clearly see by these whether they are
grounded in a false and imaginary or in a true humility. And, that they may
easily arrive at this, they are next taught not to conceal by a false
shame any itching thoughts in their hearts, but, as soon as ever such
arise, to lay them bare to the senior, and, in forming a judgment about
them, not to trust anything to their own discretion, but to take it on
trust that that is good or bad which is considered and pronounced so by
the examination of the senior. Thus it results that our cunning adversary
cannot in any way circumvent a young and inexperienced monk, or get the
better of his ignorance, or by any craft deceive one whom he sees to be
protected not by his own discretion but by that of his senior, and who
cannot be persuaded to hide from his senior those suggestions of his which
like fiery darts he has shot into his heart; since the devil, subtle as he
is, cannot ruin or destroy a junior unless he has enticed him either
through pride or through shame to conceal his thoughts. For they lay it
down as an universal and clear proof that a thought is from the devil if we
are ashamed to disclose it to the senior.
|
|