George Matulaitis Journal

79 friendship that we can render to one another. A person is not always aware of his shortcomings, or even if he is, he is often prone to make light of them or to overlook them altogether. Those around us see us much more clearly and more objectively. When someone points out some fault, we are much more likely to take note of it. This motivates us to correct it. It seems to me that it would be a good thing to adopt the following procedure: a brother is appointed to take note of everything that another does—both good and bad—and reports it to the superior. The superior would then be aware of all the facts and thus be better equipped to direct the Community and each individual in it. If we sincerely desire to become more perfect, to serve God, and to grow in holiness, then, I think, we should willingly accept this service, whether from our peers or from our superiors. Should we not be most grateful to another for opening our eyes, for showing us our shortcomings, protecting us from evil, and directing us toward a surer path to God? Give us this holy simplicity, Lord, this humility, this upright heart and good will. l We should make an effort to understand the times in which we live, to gain real insight into the desires goals and ideals of our contemporaries. Every good idea should meet with our approval, every good suggestion—gain our encouragement, every good deed or endeavor—our sincere support and praise, every trouble and hard- ship—our compassion and help. But every error, when it comes into contact with us, should be shattered—just as the fury of the waves breaking against the rocks is dissolved and dissipated, so should every evil deed and endeavor come to nothing. 2 According to the teachings of the great ascetics, if a person desires to construct a beautiful edifice of perfection, he must first give it a firm foundation of mortification and humility. St. Ignatius Loyola used to say to his brothers: “I would become really alarmed only when people stopped attacking and persecuting our Order. That would be a sign that we have so become lazy and are no longer serving the Lord as we should that the world and the evil spirit do 1 “Da nobis, Domine, hanc sanctam simplicitatem, humilitatem, cordis rectitudinem, hanc bonam volun- tatem.” 2 The end of the sentence is illegible and left incomplete in the typewritten copy. It has been completed here according to the context. Ed.