On the Twelve Abuses of the World

and binds inseparable fellowships to the perfected. Therefore, the awakening of true pudicicia modesty/chastity consists of two modes: one, the bodily habit in appearance, and the other, the internal affection of the spirit. Through the external mode, we set examples before men according to the Apostle; through the internal mode, we perform good works before God.

¶ The pudicicia modesty of the body consists of not coveting the things of others, avoiding all filthiness, not wishing to taste things before the proper hour, not inciting laughter, not speaking vain or false words, and having a demeanor throughout orderly and appropriate in composition, both in hair and in dress, as is becoming. It means not entering into fellowships with the unworthy, not looking at anyone with an arrogant gaze, not allowing the eyes to wander, not walking with a pompous and alluring gait, not appearing inferior to anyone in starting good works, not inflicting insult or shame upon anyone, not blaspheming anyone, not envying the good, not mocking the old, and not arguing with one's superior. Do not discourse on those things which you do not know, and do not put forward all the things that you do know. These things make a person lovable to others and acceptable to God.

¶ The pudicicia modesty of the soul, however, is to do good more for the eyes of God than for the eyes of men. It is to restrain the appetites of shameful thoughts, to consider everyone else as better, to envy no one, to trust nothing in oneself, to commit all things always to God, to place oneself before the eyes of God, not to stain one’s mind with heretical perversity, to agree with Catholics in all things, to adhere to God alone, to offer the chastity of the internal mind to the Lord God, and to conclude all initiated good works only at the end of death. It is to think little of present tribulations through the fortitude of the soul, to love nothing on earth beyond the basics, to place all of one's love in the treasures of heaven, and to hope for a reward from God in the heavens for every good act.

¶ Pudicicia Modesty is the ornament of the noble. It is the exaltation of the humble. It is the mobility of the ignoble.

¶ It is the beauty of the weak.

¶ It is the relief of the laboring. It is the solace of the sorrowful. It is the increase of all beauty. It is the grace of religion. It is the defense against crimes. It is the multiplication of merits. It is to be a friend to the Creator of all and to God.

¶ The Sixth Degree of Abuse: A Lord without Virtue.

The sixth degree of abuse is a lord without virtue, because it is of no use to have the power to rule if the lord himself does not possess the rigor of virtue. But this rigor of virtue does not require so much external fortitude, which is indeed necessary for secular lords, but rather that the internal fortitude of the soul be exercised in good morals. For often, his negligence in ruling through the fortitude of the soul is proven to have been the case with the priest Eli, who, because he did not coerce his sinning sons with the severity of a judge, the Lord did not spare them, as if he were truly feeling their retribution.