From the PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR.
Reflecting on the number of souls who hold the most pernicious error, that sanctity or Christian perfection is something excessively difficult to acquire, I felt, as it were, spurred on to write this little book, for the purpose of undeceiving them.
Yes, indeed, it is a most pernicious error; for these souls, as if terror-struck at the supposed difficulty of obtaining their own sanctification, neglect their own part in the matter, and, instead of becoming holy, remain in their state of imperfection and sin.
I wish this little book to suit all capacities, for God wills that all should be holy; and in every condition, every state of life, there are people to be found, I think, who are in need of some light - or, more correctly speaking, of some attention and reflection - on the facility of arriving at sanctification. I have therefore taken care that it should be very plain and simple, adapted to those who are least cultivated and dullest of apprehension, who cannot read voluminous treatises, and have no capacity for subtle conceptions. I have entitled it The Consolation of the Devout Soul, because my words are addressed to the devout; and I believe that there is no better way to encourage these in the way of perfection than by convincing them that it is not too difficult of attainment. And if anyone should be inclined to suspect from this that I have not considered those words of our Saviour (St. Matt. vii. 14), Quam angusta porta et arcta est via quae ducit ad vitam, - How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way, which leadeth to life, that is, to Paradise, - let him understand that I have considered them well, and have observed that it is the enemies of the Church who understand our Lords words in the sense of its being excessively difficult and sometimes impossible to enter by that gate and walk in the way which leads to Heaven. With St. John Chrysostom, I understand, in the Catholic sense, that this gate and this road are narrow, not for devout souls, but for worldly and sensual people, who will not keep their passions under restraint. It is necessary to understand them in this sense, or we should have to say that they contradict those other words of Christ, My yoke is sweet, and My burden is light, which would be blasphemy. (See Maldonato on this text.)