Lest You Remain

Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 129 top, and become more prudent, following the example of David who sang: “Before I was afflicted, I went astray” (cf. Psalm 119:67). ( Inspectio Cordis ) 11 The daughters of pride are: vain glory, hideous and dishonest ambition, love for self-adoration, vain, useless and disordered longing for knowledge; the desire to surpass others with erudition; striving for more honors, respect, glory and impor- tance from others; the rejection of unfailing and most beneficial advice; resisting more probable opinions while with unconquerable obstinacy, rejecting, objecting to and fighting only probable ones: all this is a certain sign of considerable pride. You should add to this bragging about your erudition, showing off your clev- erness through jokes, mockery, brazen jests, poking fun at others and speaking highly of oneself. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 12 You must not think that I am taking no account of that which is best, and which alone forms a wise and holy man, namely, the moderation as we say, of our emo- tions: I allow you to grow angry, but without sin; to rejoice, but in the Lord; to grieve, but because sometimes you have offended God, who is the highest good, or your neighbor; to hope, but for the Kingdom of Heaven; to be consumed with sor- row, but in penitence for evils you have committed, or good deeds you have omit- ted; to fear, but only God, as a son fears his father; to love, but this same God alone, or, for His sake, your neighbor, and much more so, your enemy. ( Templum Dei Mysticum) 13 “Blest are you who are weeping” (Luke 6:21). You also try to cry if you want to be happy. Cry because you are in exile from the Heavenly homeland; cry because you remain in the valley of tears. Cry that you fall every minute; cry that you are so burdened with your deficiencies, that you are unable to follow Jesus to the peak