s must be mortified, the inconstancy of the mind
must be settled, and its inclination to roving and dissipation fixed by
recollection, and all depraved {351} affections curbed. Both in
cloisters and in the world, many Christians take pains to become
virtuous by multiplying religious practices, yet lose in a great measure
the fruit of their labors, because they never study with their whole
hearts to die to themselves. So long as self-love reigns in their souls,
almost without control, this will often blind and deceive them, and will
easily infect even their good works, and their devotion will be liable
to a thousand illusions, and always very imperfect. Hence religious
persons, after many years spent in the rigorous observance of their
rule, still fail upon the least trial or contradiction which thwarts
their favorite inclination, and are stopped in their spiritual progress
as it were by every grain of sand in their way: their whole life they
crawl like base insects in the mire of their imperfections, whereas if
they studied once in good earnest to curb sensuality and to renounce
their own lights, their own will, and the inordinate love of themselves,
difficulties would disappear before them, and they would in a short time
arrive at the perfection of true virtue, and enjoy the liberty of the
children of God, and his interior peace, the true road to which is only
humility, meekness, and perfect self-denial. Did we know the treasure
and happiness which this would procure us, we should, in imitation of
the ancient holy monks, desire to meet with superiors who would exercise
us by the severest trials, and think ourselves most obliged to those who
apply the strongest remedies to purge and cure our sick souls.

SS. PHILEAS, MM.

BISHOP OF THMUIS, AND PHILOROMUS.

PHILEAS was a rich nobleman of Thmuis[1] in Egypt, very eloquent and
learned. Being converted to the faith, he was chosen bishop of that
city; but was taken and carried prisoner to Alexandria by the
persecutors, under the successors of Dioclesian. Eusebius has preserved
part of a letter which he wrote in his dungeon, and sent to his flock to
comfort and encourage them.[2] Describing the sufferings of his fellow
confessors at Alexandria, he says that every one had full liberty
allowed to insult, strike, and beat them with rods, whips, or clubs.
Some of the confessors, with their hands behind their backs, were tied
to pillars, their bodies stretched out with engines,