Of the three kinds of devotional places. How the will is to regulate itself in the matter.

There are three kinds or varieties of places by means of which God is wont to move the will to devotion. The first is a certain disposition of the ground—whether on account of the landscape, or of groves, or of its loneliness—which naturally tends to excite devotion. It is profitable to make use of this, provided the will ascends upwards to God, and the circumstances of the place be at once forgotten. For in order to secure the end we must not dwell on the means or the motives longer than necessary. If we set about to refresh our senses, and seek for sensible sweetness, what we shall find will be spiritual dryness and distractions; for true satisfaction and spiritual sweetness are to be found only in interior recollection, Therefore, when we are in such a place, we should forget it, and strive to converse inwardly with God, as if we were not

there. If we give way to the sweetness of the spot, searching for it in every way, that will be a seeking after sensible

refreshment, and instability of purpose rather than spiritual rest. This was the way of the ancient hermits who in the wildest deserts chose a small corner for themselves, sufficient for a most narrow cell, and there they buried themselves. In such an one remained S. Benedict for three years, and another

bound himself with a rope that he might not step beyond its

length. Many others also, too numerous to mention, have imposed similar restraints upon themselves. Those holy men well knew that if they did not mortify the appetite for spiritual sweetness they never would be able to attain to it, and become spiritual themselves.

The second kind is something special, for there are some places, no matter whether desert or not, where God is wont to bestow most sweet spiritual favours on some persons in particular. In general the hearts of those who have received | such favours are inclined to that place, and they feel at times a great and anxious desire to return; though when they do, they do not find what they found there before; for it is not in their power. God bestows these favours when, how, and where He wills; He is not tied to time or place, neither is He subject to any man’s will.

Nevertheless it is well to return to such a place, provided all attachment to it be wanting, and to pray there sometimes. There are three reasons in favour of this. First, it appears that God, though not bound to place, wills that He should be glorified there by the object of his favours. The second, by going there the soul is the more reminded of its duty of thanksgiving for the graces there received. The third is, that remembrance of past graces quickens devotion. It is for these reasons that men ought to revisit such places, and not because they think that God has obliged Himself to bestow His favours there in such a way as not to bestow them

elsewhere; for in the eyes of God the human soul is a more becoming place than any earthly spot.

This principle is found in the Holy Scriptures, for we read that Abraham built an altar in the place where God appeared to him, and there called upon His name, and that he visited the place again on his return from Egypt, and called upon God again at ‘ the altar which he had made before.’ * Jacob also consecrated the place where he saw ‘the Lord leaning upon the ladder’; for he ‘took the stone which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it. Agar, too, in reverence, gave a name to the place where the Angel appeared to her, saying, ‘ Verily here have I seen the hinder parts of Him that seeth me.’ }

The third kind are certain special localities which God has chosen that men may there call upon Him and serve Him. Such a place was Mount Sinai where He gave His law unto Moses.§ Such also was that place which He showed unto Abraham, where the Patriarch was to sacrifice his son.|| And such too was Mount Horeb, whither He commanded our father Elias to go, and where He was to show Himself unto him. Of this kind also is Mount Garganus which S. Michael, appearing there to the Bishop of Siponto, marked out for the service of God, saying: ‘ Iam the guardian of this place, let an oratory be built here in honour of the Angels.’** The most glorious

Virgin by a miraculous sign—snow in summer—chose a site

in Rome for a Church in her honour, which Joannes Patricius built.{¢ God knoweth why He chose these places for Himself. All that we need know is that all is for our good, and that He will hear our prayers there, and wherever else we pray in perfect faith. Though there is far greater reason why we

* Genes. xii. 8; xiii.4. $ Ib. xxviii. 18, 18, { Genes. xvi. 13. § Exod. xxiv. 12. || Genes. xxii. 2, 4] 3 Kings xix. 8. ** Brey. Rom. in Fest. App. 8. Mich. lect. 6.

++ Ib, in Fest. S. Mari ad Nives.

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should be heard in these places, dedicated to His service, because the Church has consecrated them for that special end.