No doubt you are faithful in many things; see whether you are faithful in all things. Imagine the Holy Spirit addresses you in the words spoken in the Apocalypse to the Bishop of Ephesus, saying: “I know thy works and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil.... And thou hast patience, and hast endured for my name, and hast not fainted. But I have somewhat against thee.” Then consider whether you find really in your conduct something that needs special looking after during these three days. _Colloquy_, according to the sentiments thus excited in your mind. MEDITATION II The Vow of Chastity _1st Prelude._ See Christ in Heaven surrounded by a bright crowd of intimate friends (Apoc. vii, 9). _2nd Prelude._ Ask for the most delicate purity of heart. _POINT I._ Chastity is a most precious treasure. It was bestowed on Adam and Eve in Paradise: “They were both naked, to wit Adam and Eve, and they were not ashamed” (Gen. ii, 25). On the other hand, when “All flesh had corrupted its way” (Gen. vi, 12) the Deluge showed the indignation of God; and, soon after, to punish impurity, “The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorha brimstone and fire ... and he destroyed these cities” (Gen. xix, 24, 25). When the Son of God was about to come down and become a child of this sin-stained race, He prepared for Himself a temple of purity in the Blessed Virgin Mary. His favorite friends were chaste virginal souls, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Apostle; and His other Apostles too left their wives and all things to follow Him. One of His first teachings was: “Blessed are the clean of heart” (St. Matth. v, 8). To teach the sanctity becoming the human body, it is anointed with sacred oil at Baptism and Confirmation, fed with the Divine Bread at Holy Communion, incensed at Solemn Mass and at burial, and laid in consecrated ground to rise again in glory. How we ought to respect this vessel of election! _POINT II._ We have been selected from among thousands to constitute the virgin band of Christ’s intimate friends. These are Divine nuptials of Jesus with the consecrated virgin soul, united together into closest union. To this holiness impurity is diametrically opposed. As adultery is the grossest sin against the sacred bond of matrimony, so is impurity the most degrading vice against the religious state; and as in St. Matthew’s Gospel (xix, 9) marital infidelity is a just cause for rejection of the guilty party, so Jesus rejects the impure. The Book of Wisdom also declares that “Wisdom will not dwell in a body subject to sins” (i, 4). _POINT III. Means to protect and perfect purity._