CHAPTER IV

THE OPINION HELD BY VIGILANTIUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS DOES NOT APPLY TO RECENT CONVERTS TO THE FAITH

VERY few words will suffice to show the absurdity of refusing the religious habit to recent converts, on the ground that they are not exercised in the observance of the Commandments. The first followers of Christ, who formed His college, and who gave an example of perfection, far surpassing that of any religious order, were received by Our Lord immediately after their conversion. St. Paul, who was the last by conversion, but the foremost in preaching, embraced evangelical perfection as soon as he was converted to the faith. This we know by his own words to the Galatians: "But when it pleased Him, who separated me from my mother's womb, and exalted me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood" (Gal. i. 15). Christ teaches us the same lesson by His own example. We read, in St. Matt. iv. 1, that, after His baptism, He "was led by the Spirit into the desert." "Thus," says the Gloss, "did He teach those that have been baptised, to leave the world after their baptism, and to devote themselves to God in solitude."

             This teaching is confirmed by the praiseworthy practice of many, who, being once converted from unbelief, immediately assume the religious habit. Who would be so ill-advised as to counsel these men rather to stay in the world, than to withdraw into the Religious life, there to endeavour to preserve the Baptismal Grace which they have received? What right-minded man would dissuade them from putting on Christ by perfect imitation, when by baptism they have already been clothed with Him? The argument that no one ought to be admitted to the religious life who has not kept the Commandments, is, thus, an absurdity, in the case of recent converts to the Faith.