George Matulaitis Journal

81 Wherever we go, it would be best to begin our work among those people who are the most neglected—among the poor, the uneducated, the little children. Then gradually, when we have sunk down our roots, we can expand our efforts and spread out to encompass as wide a field as possible for the greater glory of God. Even if offered well-known and important institutions, let us not be too hasty to accept them, especially if we do not yet have qualified people to staff them. It is much better to start small and gradually progress to greater things than to take over eminent institutions and conduct them inefficiently or even bring them to ruin. In accepting responsibilities, we must be cautious and modest in the estimation of our own capabilities: “This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do” (Rm 12:3). 1 Both the Community and each individual must be careful not to overburden themselves with too much work so that they become exhausted and impair their health. Overwork will result in rapid burnout both for the individual and the Community. February 16 “Nothing, therefore, can come between us and the love of Christ” (Rm 8:35). Not everyone is aware that we must not only love, but learn how truly to love God and the Church. There are mothers who love their children very much, but imprudently and thoughtlessly. They not only harm their children by their misled love, but also, if they persist in it, push their children right out of this world. Just so do some Catholics love the Church and their faith very much, but that love is so imprudent and thoughtless that they do more harm than good. February 17 It is said: “Be the person that you would like others to think you are, and you will be a good person.” And—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 1 The original Latin quotation is “sapere ad sobrietatem,” which seems to be a rendering of Rom 12:3, but is given differently in modern translations.