"Many and varied are the ways in which our saintly forefathers laid down how everyone, whatever his station or the kind of religious observance he has chosen, should live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ--how, pure in heart and stout in conscience, he must be unswerving in the service of his Master."
There are several very important and highly meaningful things in this chapter. "Many and varied" recognizes that there are many traditions and ways of living in Christ. This is not to suggest that many and varied are the religions of the world and that each of these religions are equally true and untrue, but "Many and varied" are the ways of living daily in Christ such that there is not one single tradition or standard way of living as a good Christian (to live in Christ remains essential); "everyone, whatever his station" is called to receive the Lord, just as he called tax collectors, dined with Pharisees, healed the families of Roman soldiers, touched the leprous, opened the ears of the dumb and welcomed his betrayer with a kiss.
Everyone receives the Love and Forgiveness of the Lord. It is not a life that is reserved for a few of the Holy or the elite in knowledge and stature. I can truly see Albert writing here to a varied group of pilgrims gathered at the Spring, pilgrims from France, from England, the son of a wealthy land noble paying the debt of his father's sins, a father whose children had died from fever with nothing left but a faithful march to the Holy Land, and even a local or two born in Palestine and seeking refuge from the fount. They are not pilgrims to the Holy Land, but to the Holy City of Jerusalem; pilgrims to Christ coming from a variety of ways, places and homes. I can easily imagine brothers who had been peasants or soldiers or religious scattered from Europe and the East. The way and allegiance to Christ is for everyone; "he must be unswerving" and "in service," that is, to be in allegiance to Christ means not position, power and wealth, but the bent knee of the one who washes feet, and the steward who owns nothing while caring for the treasures and belongings of the Master. And this means that we should do likewise without distraction, without any other care or concern placed above a life of complete and total service. There is nut one love for the hermit of Carmel, and that love is for his Master.
Yet among and above these things, there is one other that struck me most: "pure in heart and stout in conscience." Albert appears to be giving to us here the key ingredients, the most important aspects and ways of being that are necessary to living this life in allegiance and in service to the Master: "a pure heart and a stout conscience." A pure heart is one that is not defiled, nor tainted by any other love. There is a complete detachment from the love of the things of this world; no more desires or longings for that which diverts us from the Beloved. A pure heart has neither room nor place for the things of hatred, anger, lust, jealousy, or ill will toward any other. A pure heart is one that is filled with Love and God alone, the chamber at the center of the castle, or summit of the Mountain where one can rest fully in the bosom of the One who loves us.
The second aspect Albert mentions is the stout conscience, that is, a conscience that can remain strong and upright for the things that it already believes and knows. A stout conscience is not necessarily a good one, but it means that if we are Good (as good as any man can be in this life), if we first have a pure heart, we can then stand with that purity in the face of and for the sake of others. The stout conscience is the strength of our substance, the ability to withstand temptations, and maintain confidence in the lord. The one who has a stout conscience, through the Grace of God, is the one who transforms souls and is able to call forth and guide them to the Lord; and it is only with a pure heart that we can be assured of the One toward whom we are leading others to.
Yet among and above these things, there is one other that struck me most: "pure in heart and stout in conscience." Albert appears to be giving to us here the key ingredients, the most important aspects and ways of being that are necessary to living this life in allegiance and in service to the Master: "a pure heart and a stout conscience." A pure heart is one that is not defiled, nor tainted by any other love. There is a complete detachment from the love of the things of this world; no more desires or longings for that which diverts us from the Beloved. A pure heart has neither room nor place for the things of hatred, anger, lust, jealousy, or ill will toward any other. A pure heart is one that is filled with Love and God alone, the chamber at the center of the castle, or summit of the Mountain where one can rest fully in the bosom of the One who loves us.
The second aspect Albert mentions is the stout conscience, that is, a conscience that can remain strong and upright for the things that it already believes and knows. A stout conscience is not necessarily a good one, but it means that if we are Good (as good as any man can be in this life), if we first have a pure heart, we can then stand with that purity in the face of and for the sake of others. The stout conscience is the strength of our substance, the ability to withstand temptations, and maintain confidence in the lord. The one who has a stout conscience, through the Grace of God, is the one who transforms souls and is able to call forth and guide them to the Lord; and it is only with a pure heart that we can be assured of the One toward whom we are leading others to.
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