Lest You Remain

to avoid a relapse into sickness, as doctors say; so that we would not return to vomit, following the nasty habit of dogs, and would not get entangled in the devil- ish trap, out of which we were freed, thanks to God’s grace. But who—I am ask- ing—can do it by himself? Who can [do it] with even his own greatest resourceful- ness, not supported by Christ, not strengthened by the One without whom, we can do nothing, nothing? We have to sigh often to Jesus, our Helper, with great zeal, and as the Church commands, always repeat: “Into your hands,” my Lord, “I com- mend my spirit: you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God” (Ps 30:6); so I com- mend my spirit into Your hands, at any time, at any place, at any moment, particu- larly when the spirit leaves the body. “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Ps 16:8). ( Inspectio Cordis ) 7 If people put so much effort and inventiveness to avoiding the places where they suffered the loss of their worldly possessions, with even greater zeal, you should avoid even the smallest opportunities to commit any, even the least imper- fections which may lead you to suffer the loss of the treasure of the heavenly glory and may deprive you of it. May the sons of darkness not turn out to be wiser than you, a son of the light. (cf. Luke 16:8) Avoid pride, not to lose humility; avoid the air of vain glory, not to crash into very dangerous rocks of numerous foul deeds; avoid gluttony, not to fall in debauchery; avoid quarrels, not to injure love; avoid idleness, not to become a pil- low of the devil; avoid any looseness, not to go to condemnation. If you had sinned with disobedience, now with obedience regain the lost lau- rel wreaths; if you had been lenient with your soul and let it be distracted with talk- ativeness, focus again on silence; if you had lost God’s grace through pride, take care to regain it through humility; if you had lost heaven through laziness, get it back with work, devotion and the practicing of the virtues. Clothe yourself in the new man and, thus transformed, experience the Savior of all people. The more angry our Lord was with you because of your sins, the more gracious, more devot- ed and more friendly He will become, thanks to your penance. ( Inspectio Cordis ) Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 133