George Matulaitis Journal

62 January 16 It would be a good thing for us to become better educated and to make progress in some field of learning. However, in our Congregation learning is not to become our primary objective. We must make an effort to acquire it, but it is only one of many means that can be used for the greater glory of God, for the welfare of the Church, and for the salvation of souls. Our main task is to work and to fight for the salvation of souls and the good of the Church especially in those places where conditions are most difficult, where it seems that all is lost, where the Church is persecuted and repressed, where scandals have arisen and spread, where errors and immorality have become deeply rooted. Zeal for souls, for the Church and the glory of God must rule our lives and direct all our efforts toward that one goal. Every available means—both natural and supernatural must be used to increase God’s glory, to save more souls, to promote the welfare of the Church. “Omnia vestra, vos Christi, Christus autem Dei”—All is yours, you are Christ’s, and Christ God’s (cf., 1 Cor 3:22-23). We should endeavor to make use of everything for God’s glory: human talent and all sorts of gifts, the arts and sciences, trades and professions, all kinds of societies and associations, the press and so on. But in making use of all these things, we must not forget that they are the means and not an end in themselves. They are but opportunities in which we can more effectively draw people to Christ. Our primary goal shall always be to lead people to salvation along the way of true repentance, authentic faith, real love of God and man. In making use of these means, both supernatural and natural, as, for example, schools, various organizations, the press, and so on, we must not become so immersed in them that we forget our primary aim—we must not make them our goal. Through the body and its needs, through creatures and external things, we must try to reach the depths of the human spirit and there awaken the love of God and man, there to bring the Spirit of Christ.