The reading of works which develop the rules and spirit of the seminary, which treat of Christian and ecclesiastical virtues, of fitness to receive holy orders, as likewise that of the lives of saints, is indispensable to the seminarist. The following are those which he will chiefly read: Manual of Piety. 8th edition. The Good Seminarist. 2d edition. Practice of Direction, of the monthly Retreat, and of Monition. Manual of the Seminarist. By M. Tronson. 2d edition. Treaty on Obedience. By M. Tronson. Nepotian; or, The Pupil of the Sanctuary. The Spiritual Combat. The Presence of God, the Faithful Mirror, and the Golden Book. The Spirit of Christianity. By Father Nepveu. Christian Infancy. By M. Blanlo. Catechism of the Interior Life. By M. Olier. Practice of the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. By S. Liguori. Excellence of Devotion to the holy Virgin. By Father Galliffet. Treaty on Holy Orders. By M. Olier. Ecclesiastical Instructions. By M. de Lantages. Meditations of Chenart, specially for vacations. Life of Berchmans, S. Louis de Gonzaga, Calixtus Frèze, Antony Gohier, S. Vincent de Paul. X. DIRECTION. "Ask council of all that are wise." Job, iv. 18. One of the most important exercises for maintaining fidelity to one's duties, and for acquiring perfection, is communication with the director. It is the means of avoiding self-deception, fickleness, disturbance, and lukewarmness. The seminarist will find, in careful reading of the preceding articles, what ought to form the matter of his direction. He will make a special point of the following particulars, which he should never omit in intercourse with his director. 1. _General and Particular Rule._--How far do I keep my engagements? What are the points in which I feel most difficulty or repugnance? What have I done to establish myself in the virtues of obedience and self-denial? 2. _Prayer._--What preparation do I make for it? What method have I followed in this exercise? What are my resolutions? Have I put them in practice? What fruit have I hitherto derived from my prayers, and what is my desire to profit by them? What difficulties do I meet with? 3. _Virtues._--What progress have I made in thoughtfulness, humility, and purity of intention? and what conquests have I gained over heedlessness, vanity, self-love, and my ruling passion? 4. He will not fail to communicate to his director his pains, temptations, dryness and hardness of mind; as, likewise, the books he has, what he has read, those with whom he has intercourse, the visits which he makes and receives. 5. He never goes out from direction without taking a practical resolution in concert with his director. "A faithful friend is a strong defence, and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure." Eccles. vi. 14. XI. MONTHLY RETREAT. "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her." Hos. ii. 14.