Lest You Remain

ing about yourself, you understand that these very small imperfections, which you neglectfully allowed, gave way to the serious ones, this is when the weeds appeared. You should imitate farmers who take the weeds out of a field sown with wheat or any other grain, protecting it from attacks of other, even more destructive weeds. You should do the same: beware of little imperfections to prevent the access of greater sins, or if they have already run rampant, get rid of them, to keep your heart pure and your soul very clean, and to secure your own salvation, by not allow- ing any greater trespasses in future. This is how the evil spirit deals with spiritual people, not by trapping them in a net of mortal sins, because they abhor them. But rather through little deficiencies, which he knows they would ignore, and which will lead them to the heaviest falls. Ask Divine Wisdom, when you receive It, to give you wisdom which will let you avoid the traps of the evil spirit. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 5 How careful have you been in avoiding talkativeness, which destroys the virtues and distracts your spirit? How concerned have you been for keeping silence, the guardian of the same virtues and a concentration of your spirit? How have you practiced them in your life? How have you cultivated the virtues of kindness, benevolence and gentleness, the greatest adornments of a religious? How much effort have you put into obtain- ing patience, this hereditary virtue of Christians, and of religious in particular; and gaining courage and magnanimity which stands out with it, that it opposes all that resists perfection? How zealous have you been in fighting such vices as cowardli- ness, vain fear, uncontrollable sadness, impatience and anger? How many times have you neglected and how many times have you practiced giving yourself over to the will of God, the main source of internal peace and perseverance? ( Inspectio Cordis ) 6 It is not enough to pull oneself together once we recognize the sickness caused by the vices which have burdened us and made us groan. It is not enough to rinse committed sins with sincere penance and the proper elimination of bad habits. We should add avoidance of the new ones. We should add a persevering watchfulness L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 132