Lest You Remain

11 Happy are the souls which willingly take up the sweet yoke of obedience. To be obedient is to fly using another’s wings, to rest on another’s shoulders, to let one- self be carried in another’s arms; to walk always in a very pleasant paradise and to delight in internal peace: to have a taste of Heaven during this earthly life; and to harness passions and to gain virtues. Someone once said, that obedience implants into the soul all the other virtues, guards what has been implanted, and crowns what is guarded. To be obedient, is to be an angel in a human body and a true follower of Christ. Moreover, the one who sets his steps, guided by someone else is the safest, and this is exactly what the obedient do. The one who places his conscience in the hands of the other, and follows his opinions, will never expose himself to the danger of losing his salvation. This is the happiness of the obedient. Regret any neglect in obedience with a sincere heart, and try eagerly to pos- sess it. Ask for it through the merits of the Virgin Mary. Resolve to practice imitat- ing the most obedient Son of God, your Lord and Redeemer. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 12 If you do not win any victories over yourself, you should know that no laurel wreath is awaiting you, nor any reward is prepared for you. Moreover, if you real- ize that you have not performed any act of obedience, you should know, that you do not deserve anything, and thus you are not yet destined for Heaven, and your eternal happiness. Obtaining Heaven, for which you have joined the Order, is not yet certain. Only the obedient man, by the law of inheritance, obtains Heaven. Only he may clearly say to Christ: “I have fulfilled what you ordered, therefore give what You have promised.” Poor soul, you have exposed yourself to the loss of eternal rewards, to the degree that you have neglected any occasion to be obedient. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 13 Contemplate this virtue, meditating upon the six points which refer to true obedience and to keeping it. Firstly, obedience performed to the fullest . Examine in particular, whether you have always performed the duties placed upon you by obedience in a perfect man- Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 159