Journal in France in 1845 and 1848 with Letters from Italy in 1847

"We have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God." 1 Cor. ii. 12.

5. That he should apply to the study of the ecclesiastical sciences.

"Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine." 1 Tim. iv. 16.

II. Vocation

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Heb. v. 4.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." John, xv. 16.

In order to know whether he is called by God to the ecclesiastical estate, the seminarist studies the marks of vocation, and gives an account to his director of his actual disposition, and of his conduct before his entry into the seminary.

The principal marks of vocation are —

1. To have no other intention but the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

"I seek not mine own glory." John, viii. 50.

"I have ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." John xv. 16.

2. To repent of one's sins, preserving in the heart contrition and the feeling of one's unworthiness for a state so holy and so sublime as that of the priesthood.

"My sin is ever before me." Ps. li.

"My heaviness is ever in my sight." Ps. xxxviii.

3. To love the rule of the seminary, observe it exactly, and be very faithful to direction.

"O my God, I am content to do it; yea, Thy law is within my heart." Ps. xl.

4. Not to seek to please the world.

"If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Gal. i. 10.

5. To practise the Christian virtues, and to aim at the perfection of the ecclesiastical state.

"Ye are the salt of the earth. Ye are the light of the world." Matt. v. 13.

6. The most necessary and the most certain mark is the decision of his director, when he has given him complete knowledge of himself, after having prayed with fervour and purity of heart.

"He that heareth you, heareth me." Luke, x. 16.

III. Spirit of the Seminary

"If any one has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Rom. viii. 9.

The seminarist who wishes to profit by his stay in the seminary, and by its exercises, strives to direct his conduct and actions according to the spirit of our Lord, which is entirely opposed to that of the world. The features of that spirit are —

1. To give oneself to God without reserve, and to do for Him all one's actions.

"My son, give me thy heart." Prov. xxiii. 26.

"Do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. x. 31.

2. Detachment from the world.

"Ye are not of the world." John, xv. 9.

"The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal. vi. 4.

3. Inward collectedness, and the presence of God.

"Walk before Me, and be thou perfect." Gen. xvii. 1.

"Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Luke, ii. 19.

4. Ready, entire, and perfect obedience.

"And he was subject unto them." Luke, ii. 51.

"Obey them that have the rule over you." Heb. xiii. 17.

5. Fraternal charity.

"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." John, xv. 12.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John, xiii. 35

6. Love of study, and the ecclesiastical sciences.

"Ye are the light of the world." Matt. v. 14.

"The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth." Mal. ii. 7.

IV. Maxims of the Seminary

"He who heareth my words and doeth them shall be likened unto a wise man who built his house upon the rock." Matt. vii. 24.

The seminarist proposes during his stay to confirm himself, by frequent meditation, in the maxims of the faith as to the fundamental truths of salvation, and of ecclesiastical perfection, and to conform his whole life to them.

1. Salvation.

"One thing is needful." Luke, x. 42.

"What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. xvi. 26.

2. The excellence of the Christian's calling.