George Matulaitis Journal

61 prayer, work for God, and hardships with suffering for the Church be woven into the very fabric of my life. May Christ himself be my model. We must be an all-encompassing, all-conquering force that enters in everywhere, pushes through every obstacle to gain its object, not merely remaining on the defensive. We must learn to adapt ourselves to all kinds of conditions, even the most demanding, and to go, first of all, where it is most difficult. That is where we must get to work—to settle down and to begin to gather people around us. Although we intend to work in our own country, among people of our own nationality, we must not limit ourselves to our own nation. Wherever the Church needs us, that is where we must go. I trust that we shall never be short of dedicated people willing to serve God and to work in foreign lands if the greater glory of God and the welfare of the Church demands it. We should even make a special resolution to go wherever the Church is persecuted, religious are expelled, and the life and freedom of the Church are restricted, even if we must give up our native land to do so. Among other priorities, the need to foster religious life in those places where it is persecuted, repressed, or even forbidden, must be one of our concerns. Among other tasks, it would also be fitting for us to offer ourselves to the bishops to let us take on those parishes, if possible, where scandals have occurred and to work there for a time until all is restored. Before taking on such a parish, those assigned to it should make a fervent long retreat. They should also undertake special penances to atone for the scandal. Then, following the example of the apostles and taking great care to be faithful to all the commandments and counsels of Jesus Christ, in a spirit of self-denial, they may begin this spiritual task without look- ing for any reward. “Ego ero merces tua magna nimis”—I myself will be your great reward. 1 We should be prepared to go wherever all seems lost and try to retore and reclaim all for God and for the Church. 1 This seems to be a Scriptural quotation—cf., Gn 15:1. The Jerusalem Bible renders God’s words to Abraham thus: “Have no fear, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great” (Gn 15:1a).