The saint himself tells us that his book is suitable not only to nuns, but also to all members of the religious state, in that which refers to the observance of the vows, regular discipline, and the perfection of their state. As for the practice of Christian virtues, the work will be found highly useful even for seculars. We add that this volume should with greater reason be serviceable to ecclesiastics, especially to those that are charged with the difficult task of directing souls in the spiritual life; they may draw therefrom lights that may not perhaps be found as clear and as sure elsewhere. CONTENTSTHE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION 6NOTICE 7THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE 10CHAPTER I. - THE MERIT OF VIRGINS WHO HAVE CONSECRATED THEMSELVES TO GOD 111. They become like the Angels, and are the Spouses of Jesus Christ 112. How much more Happy are Virgins than Married Women even in this Life 133. Excellence of Virginity 16CHAPTER II. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE RELIGIOUS STATE 26CHAPTER III THE RELIGIOUS SHOULD BELONG ENTIRELY TO GOD 41CHAPTER IV. THE DESIRE OF PERFECTION 55CHAPTER V. THE DANGER TO WHICH AN IMPERFECT RELIGIOUS, WHO IS BUT LITTLE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER IMPERFECTIONS, EXPOSES HER SALVATION 68CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT 78CHAPTER VII. INTERIOR MORTIFICATION, OR ABNEGATION OF SELF-LOVE OBEDIENCE 89I. Necessity of combating Self-love. Practical Rules 89II. Detachment from Self-will 98III The Merit of Obedience 105IV The Obedience Due to the Superiors 110V. The Obedience due to the Rule 118FIRST EXCUSE 119SECOND EXCUSE 121THIRD EXCUSE 122FOURTH EXCUSE 124VI. The Four Degrees of Perfect Obedience 131THE FIRST DEGREE 131THE SECOND DEGREE 133THE THIRD DEGREE 134THE FOURTH DEGREE 136CHAPTER VIII. EXTERIOR MORTIFICATION 142I. Its Necessity and Advantages 142II. The Mortification of the Eyes, and Modesty in General 1501. MORTIFICATION OF THE EYES 1502. MODESTY IN GENERAL 155III. The Mortification of the Appetite 159IV. The Mortification of the Sense of Hearing, of Smell, and of Touch 169CHAPTER IX. RELIGIOUS POVERTY 173I The Vow of Poverty, the Perfection of Poverty, and Community Life 173II. The Degrees and the Practice of Perfect Poverty 182FIRST DEGREE 182SECOND DEGREE 183THIRD DEGREE 188FOURTH DEGREE 190CHAPTER X. DETACHMENT FROM RELATIVES AND OTHER PERSONS 193I. Detachment from Relatives 193II. Detachment from Seculars, and even from the Sisters. 200CHAPTER XI HOLY HUMILITY 208The Advantages of Humility 208II. The Humility of the Intellect or of the Judgment 214III. Humility of the Heart or of the Will 221IV. Continuation of the Same Subject, and especially Patience, in bearing Contempt 229CHAPTER XII FRATERNAL CHARITY 240The Necessity of this Virtue, and its Practice in our Thoughts and Sentiments 240PRACTICE OF CHARITY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND SENTIMENTS 243II. The Charity to be Practised in Words 246III. The Charity to be Practised in Works, and towards Whom it is to be Practised 254CHAPTER XIII. PATIENCE 263Patience in General 263II. Patience in Sickness, Poverty, Contempt, Persecutions, and Spiritual Desolation 273I. PATIENCE IN SICKNESS 2732. PATIENCE IN POVERTY 2763. PATIENCE IN CONTEMPT AND PERSECUTIONS 2784. PATIENCE IN SPIRITUAL DESOLATION 2795. A FEW PRACTICAL COUNSELS 281III. Patience in Temptations 283CHAPTER XIV. RESIGNATION TO THE WILL OF GOD 292I. The Merit of Resignation to the Divine Will 292II. In what Things we Ought, in a Special Manner, to Resign Ourselves 298CHAPTER XV. MENTAL PRAYER 306CHAPTER XVI. SILENCE, SOLITUDE, AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD 324