To Draw Profit from the Visible Things That Present Themselves to Us in This Life
When you are in your bed and in your room, think that there, one day, you must be judged by Jesus Christ.
When you see the dead being carried to burial, think that the same must happen to you.
When you look at the hourglass as the sand runs through, think that your life too thus runs on, and you draw nearer to death.
When you see the great ones of this earth glorying in their honors and riches, pity their folly, and say: For me, God alone suffices.
When you see some magnificent tomb erected to someone, say: If this person is damned, what good do these marbles do him?
When you see a withered tree, consider the misery of a soul without God, which serves for nothing else but to burn in the fire of hell.
If ever you see a criminal trembling before his judge, consider the terror that a sinner will feel when appearing before Jesus Christ.
When you hear frightening thunder and tremble, consider the trembling that the damned experience in hell upon hearing the thunder of divine justice.
When you see the sea calm or tempestuous, consider that such is a soul in grace or in disgrace with God.
When you look upon furnaces, think that for your sins you would deserve to burn forever in the furnace of hell.
When you gaze at the starry heavens, think that you are destined one day to be up there, enjoying God, if you love Him in this life.
When you look upon flowery gardens, pleasant countryside, or delightful seashores, think that God prepares yet greater delights for those who know how to love Him.
When you see brooks running down the mountains and going to unite with the sea, so seek you also to run to unite yourself with God.
When you hear birds singing, and thus in their manner praising God, praise Him also with acts of love.
When you look upon any place where you once offended God, renew your sorrow and your resolution to love Him.
When you see little dogs that are so faithful and grateful to you for a little bread that you give them, resolve to be grateful to Jesus Christ who has given you His whole Self.
When you see fire and flames, desire that your heart may likewise burn with love toward God.
When you look upon caves, mangers, or hay, consider the Infant Jesus who one day was born for love of you in a cave, and was placed in a manger upon the hay.
When you pass through a desert, consider the journeys of the Child Jesus through the deserts of Egypt.
When you look upon saws, axes, hammers, and planes, consider Jesus Christ in the time of His youth, when in the carpenter’s trade He labored in the workshop of Nazareth.
When you look upon ropes, thorns, and nails, lift up your mind to how much Jesus Christ suffered for you in His Passion.
When you see lambs being led to slaughter, think with St. Francis that thus also was innocent Jesus led to death.
When you look upon the image of Jesus on the cross, say: My God, You truly died for me!
When you look upon altars, chalices, and chasubles; or else see in the fields wheat and grapes, consider the love that Jesus Christ has shown us in the gift He has given us of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar.