George Matulaitis Journal

must do for His greater glory, how we must serve our holy Mother Church more effectively. “Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well” (Mt 6:33). By seeking God with all our hearts and serving the Church with all our strength, we will also be doing what will best promote the welfare of humanity, of society, and of all nations, since salvation is to be found in none other, but only in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Each of us must be inspired by this one great idea: truly to seek God in all things and, from among the means available to us, even the very best, to choose especially those that most effectively promote the glory of God; to look for opportunities to bring God into all kinds of organiza- tions, associations, and societies, particularly those that have forgotten Him and to do our utmost to restore and renew all in the Spirit of Christ. O holy Catholic Church, true kingdom of Christ on earth, my greatest love! If I forget you, may my right hand wither! May I never speak again, if I forget you; if I cease to count you, my dearest Mother, the greatest of all my joys! 2 May these words echo continually within my heart. Grant, O Lord, that we may be ruled by this one great thought: to work, to toil, and to suffer for the Church; that the Church’s sufferings, trials, and wounds may become the sufferings and wounds of our own hearts. May we burn with this one great desire: to devote our lives to God and to His Church, not seeking or expecting any earthly reward or anything this world has to offer; to be used up and to burn out in struggle, suffering, and combat for the sake of the Church. Oh, that we would have such great courage as to remain undaunted in the face of any obstacle created by the world or by the powers that be, never giving in to fear, but rather boldly moving forward to work and to do battle for the Church wherever the need is greatest, wherever the civil authorities are persecuting the Church and interfering with the life of its religious orders, organizations, and institutions. We should fear one thing only: to die without having suffered, struggled, and toiled for the Church, for the salvation of souls, for the glory of God. May all our thoughts, desires, and 45 1 “Non est data in alique alio salus, nisi in Jesu Christo.” Cf., Acts 4:12. 2 The author has paraphrased vv. 5-6 of Psalm 137 to express his thought. In translation, the wording of the Jerusalem Bible is used.