Lest You Remain

Finally, they come as carriers of sanctity, but once they depart, they leave disap- pointment. Beware, beware not to allow in the wolves in sheep’s clothing. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 13 Since it is from the mouth of man that life and death comes, you will have to give an account to the Highest Judge, regarding who you have animated, instruct- ed, strengthened, or called to a better life with your speech, or conversely, you will be held accountable if you have destroyed, or deprived someone or if you have become the source of condemnation for someone. Therefore, you should rather be a severe censor of your mouth, be a judge of yourself, and keep in mind committed lies, talkativeness, defamations and murmur- ing, cleanse them with adequate penance and perform an act of expiation. From now on, harness your tongue with a strict curb and ask the Lord to set a watch over your mouth and a guard over your lips (cf. Ps 140:3), so that you would not say any- thing unbecoming of a religious. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 14 You should use your tongue with great care, speak gently and use only well- balanced words, because your listener judges you according to what he hears from your mouth. It is commonly accepted, that on the basis of words, one’s internal worth is judged. A tongue is the expression of the heart. It makes many people good, but it can also deprive many, even the best ones, just as the Apostle says: “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). So now, reflect seriously on the words which come out of your mouth. Ponder whether you have not torn down more than you have built up with your speech. Whether you have led others to idleness or even to immorality through the telling of useless or ridiculous things? ( Inspectio Cordis ) L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 136