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You are still in the fair springtime of life. The bright blossoms of happiness fill the garden of your heart, and we will hope that the sweet lily of innocence is to be found among them. For garden and field, and indeed for the whole face of nature, bright, warm sun shine is the most important thing in the season of spring. What marvels it effects in a short space of time in trees and flowers and each tiny plant! Under the mighty influence of its salutary beams flowers blossom forth and fruits attain maturity.
The golden light of the sun is of the greatest importance for the lily. Were you to place the plant in a musty cellar, in a gloomy corner, it would pine and wither away. The same thing applies to the lily of chastity; to it also golden sunshine is absolutely indispensable if it is to flourish and thrive. In the case of the lily of chastity this sunshine is prayer.
Thus you most love prayer and be diligent in prayer. Need I exhort you to do this? In the days of early childhood no sooner did you give the first signs of awakening intelligence than you were taught to fold your hands in prayer. From the pulpit and in the confessional you are exhorted to pray; at home and in church it is your duty to pray; the sound of the church bell, the sight of the crucifix, admonishes you to raise your heart to God in prayer. My exhortations in regard to this point have been frequent and urgent, and prompted by weighty reasons. It is especially important for the young, and for young women most of all, since they are so often assailed by fierce storms of sensual desires, to heed the injunction of St. Paul to “pray without ceasing.” Where but in prayer can they, weak as they are, obtain grace and strength constantly to resist the attractions of the world and their own evil propensities!
Most assuredly must maidens pray; they must pray much and earnestly if they would preserve their precious lily; they must imitate the wise Solomon, who said: “Because I knew that I could not otherwise be continent except God gave it, I went to the Lord and besought Him.”
St. Paul indicates & special kind of prayer as calculated to aid in preserving chastity. He says: “In all things taking the shield of faith wherewith you may be able to extinguish the fiery darts of the most wicked one.” By this shield of faith is meant that the truths of our holy religion, more especially serious meditations upon the four last things, will enable us to conquer the fiercest temptations. If such temptations assail you, and dangers threaten you, have recourse to mental prayer. Place before you as vividly as you can death, judgment, heaven and hell. Thus will you be prevented from falling into sin, or at least from remaining in sin, and you will probably conquer and overcome. Holy Scripture reminds us of this in the following words: “In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.”
St. Paul exhorts us to vocal prayer when he says: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.” Obey this injunction; pray without ceasing, that you may be kept from temptation or at least from falling when you are tempted. Our Lord teaches us to pray thus: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” In another place he says again: “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Ask, dear child, and you shall receive strength in temptation, courage in the fight, deliverance from the bondage of sin, if you have been so unfortunate as to fall into it. As long as a young girl continues to pray all is not lost; there is certainly hope for her salvation. But if she grows careless in regard to prayer, or ceases altogether to pray, there is everything to fear, as I know by experience. To take one instance of the many which have come under my observation: A young girl who had formerly been pious and good lost her innocence, to the grief of all who knew her. Her confessor spoke to her upon the subject, and asked how her sad fall had come about. “Alas! reverend Father,” she exclaimed, bursting into sobs, “this is what one comes to if one neglects prayer and at last gives it up altogether!” Fain would I say to every girl on the face of the earth: Grow not weary of praying if you would not be lost!
I will give one more reason why prayer is indispensable for the protection of the lily of purity. The most precious fruit of prayer is that it unites us to God and renders us heavenly-minded. True prayer is an elevation of the heart to God in which you hold intercourse with Him. the loving Father, during every moment of this sweet communion infuses more light, fresh love and strength into the heart of the child who kneels before Him in prayer. In this way the heart is more and more raised up to God and becomes increasingly like unto Him.
When Moses had communed with God for forty days, his face shone with such dazzling brightness that he was obliged to cover it when he came near to the people. We read something of a similar nature in the lives of many of the saints, who, whilst engaged in prayer and contemplation, or after they had concluded these exercises, shone with heavenly radiance.
We poor, sinful mortals cannot expect to receive from God favors such as these. One thing is certain, however: he who loves prayer, and prays frequently and devoutly, will find his soul to be illumined from on high; he will become ever more like to God, ever holier, ever purer. He will grow in the love of God, he will strive more and more to please Him, he will more and more despise all that is base, unholy, and impure. And is not this in itself chastity, or at least the best means, the right disposition of the heart, for its preservation? He, on the contrary, who does not pray at regular times, who does not raise his heart to God and to heaven, becomes of necessity more and more worldly-minded, loses all relish for higher things, and seeks only the gratification of his lower nature.
Have recourse to prayer then if you desire to protect your lily of innocence. Prayer is the sunlight which causes it to flourish, the most powerful weapon wherewith to wage war against its enemies. Like a pillar of fire, prayer will lead you unharmed through the perils of this world. Prayer will open for you the gates of everlasting blessedness. Never murmur, never despair, whatever may be the dangers and temptations that surround you! You can always pray; if not with your lips, with your heart at least, which is far better. With St. Peter cry out in these words to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “Lord, save us, we perish!” But do not pray in a pusillanimous spirit; pray with firm confidence, and you will experience the truth of these simple lines:
In our midst the Saviour stands,
Blessing us with outstretched hands;
He our humble prayer will hear,
If we unto Him draw near.