The Barns of Our Soul

Let no one put his confidence in the vanity of this world.  That vanity, as you see, is something standing with insecure footing.  Devotion to it is short-lived and empty, and its beauty is like smoke in a wind.  The comeliness of its countenance is like that which you see when you look on the beauty of that vine which had its early summer blossoms in well-constituted abundance, yet cannot bring forth the actual fruit of the promised grape harvest.  While it brings forth too much, it incurs the reproach of perpetual sterility.  

A far different beauty, dearly beloved, is that which the time of eternal life promises to us, if only one makes his way as a poor person with regard to sins.  He who gathers the fruits of mercy and struggles against the urge to foolish covetousness, he goes as a rich person to Christ.  He makes his way with great wealth to heaven who wards off from himself the pomp of short-lived vanity.  He who by his zealous practice of religion is lightening his heart once burdened with vices carries with him great resources to paradise,  Finally, he has escaped all the penury of begging who has daily planted in his heart the commandments of our Christ, and with watchful faith has filled the barns of his soul with seeds heavenly in their origin.  

Saint Valerian of Cimiez

-Saint Valerian (460) was the bishop of Comelium, the present day Comiez in Nice, France.