Lest You Remain

with the utmost effort, devotion and zeal, assist the souls of the deceased believers exposed to the punishments of purgatory, in particular the souls of soldiers and those deceased as a result of a plague. Yet, it will not be forbidden for those who would be granted such abilities, to humbly help pastors in pastoral work, if after a prior permission of the local bish- ops and the superiors, they would be called by them, since such a severe contem- plative life is not suitable for you, despite the fact that you were founded as hermits. (Norma vitae) 7 There are two adornments which give splendor to holy Institutions [Orders]: virtue and education. Virtue is revealed through the obedience to the rule of the Order, education is for the benefit of our brothers. We, by God’s Providence, brought to manage our tiny Order and serve it, try with great zeal, to make every effort, to rec- ognize and accept all our brothers in God, distinguishing ourselves with perfect dis- cipline of the religious life and the adornment of sufficient learning. ( Litterae ad Marianos in Eremo Corabieviensi ) 8 Assuming that your Order is that gate of Christ, contemplate that salvation is reserved for those who come in, but also for those who go out. That is, not only do those religious approach eternal life who, once accepted within the walls of the convent, never appear in public or set a foot outside, and continually devote them- selves to solitude, prayer, penance and practicing other virtues; but eternal life was also promised to those who go to the world, compelled either by obedience, or love, to bring help to the Congregation, or their brothers, although due to this, they are not able to properly fulfill the common duties of the Congregation. Staying among the lay people, they do not have such facilities for prayer, con- templation, spiritual readings, spiritual conversations and other similar exercises as those who remain in the convent. Yet, since they left through the gate of love or obe- dience, they will not be deprived of their merits, and will not suffer any harm in their salvation. ( Inspectio Cordis ) L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 104