Letters34 Letter XXXIV. To Drogo, the monk (Circa A.D. 1120)

He congratulates Drogo on having embraced a more severe rule, and exhorts him to perseverance.

My VERY DEAR DROGO, 1. I find more than ever justified the great affection which I have long felt for you. You appeared to me before very lovable and accomplished in many things, but I had felt that there was something in you worthy of higher admiration than anything that I had seen or heard of you. Had you already heard the voice of the celestial Spouse, in whose arms your soul was closely clasped? Had you heard His voice saying to your soul, His modest turtle, Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee? (Cant. iv. 7). Who would believe that which you have done? The whole city is full of talk of your virtues and piety, so that it was not believed possible that anything could be added to all your good qualities, and then you, quitting your monastery as a secular might quit the world, were not ashamed to lay the burden of new observances and of a more severe Rule upon your neck, already worn with the yoke of Christ! In you now, brother, we verify that saying, When a man hath arrived at perfection then he beginneth (Ecclus. xviii. 7). The mark, then, of your perfectness is that you have now commenced, and in that you did not judge of that you had attained you prove that you have done so, for no one is perfect who does not desire to be more perfect, and a man shows himself more perfect, inasmuch as he aspires to greater perfection.

2. But behold, my dear friend, he by whose envy death entered into the world has bent his bow and prepared himself. Being driven from your heart, he has lost his power within, and therefore he will rage as much as is in his power without. And, to speak more plainly, do you not know that the Pharisees are scandalized at what you have done? But remember that there are scandals about which one ought not to be greatly troubled, according to the reply of the Lord, when He said, Let them alone, they are blind and leaders of the blind (S. Matt. xv. 14). For would it be better that a scandal should arise than that the truth should be abandoned? (Greg. Horn. 7 in Ezekiel). Remember who it was who was born for the fall and rising again of many (S. Luke ii. 34), and do not wonder if you, too, are to some as an odour of life unto life, and to others as an odour of death unto death. If they have directed maledictions against you, if they have launched at you darts of anathema, hear Isaac replying for you, He who shall curse thee shall be himself cursed, and he who shall bless thee shall be loaded with blessings (Gen. xxvii. 29). And you, fortified by the safe defence of your conscience, reply inwardly and say, Though a host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear, although war should rise against me in this should I hope (Ps. xxvii. 3). For you shall not be confounded when you speak thus with your enemies in the gate; but I trust in the Lord that if you stand firm against the first blows and do not yield either to their promises or threats, you will speedily bruise Satan under your feet. Then the righteous shall see and rejoice, and sinners shall be reduced to silence.