Lest You Remain

Ecstasy, spiritual elation, sweetness and delight in devotion, do not greatly facil- itate the achievement of happiness. At times, they are bestowed upon the greatest sin- ners. However, anguish for our sins and exercising penance, strengthens souls with hope, obtains forgiveness and wins for us the Divine Majesty. Saul was among the prophets, but the penance of David turned out to be more valuable than the prophe- cy of Saul. We may find people who led very devout lives and were famous for the miracles they performed, but who were rejected by God. Yet, you will find no peni- tent who was not saved. Miracles, devotion, knowledge of the future breeds pride, while penance cleanse our sins, opens Heaven, wins God, strengthens humility, which undoubtedly belongs in Heaven. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 4 “I have come to call, not the self-righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13). Contemplate that, God is most saddened to see souls, for whose salvation He gave his life, perish by their own will. The Redeemer of the world openly assured that He did not come to call to grace the self-righteous but sinners, so as not to bring to despair for his sal- vation, one who is awash in a sea of vices and is fearful of God’s judgment, And while the self-righteous are certain of their salvation and sinners of their punishment, He openly acknowledges that He is busy saving sinners and desires that anyone who wants to, (that is all), would be saved. So the road to Heaven has not been closed to anyone, provided, one wants to enter it, and to discard once and for all, the path of evil greediness. Sinners may rejoice that the Son of God left the throne of glory, and choosing a humiliating prison, came to the world to call and to save them. You would await an unhappy future if you perished as a sheep, through your own fault, although the Heavenly Shepherd wanted to save you. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 5 In this meditation on the necessity of penance, linger for a moment, ponder and place in front of your eyes, Saint Mary Magdalene, a sinner. Although the Savior Himself forgave her sins, after His ascension, she went to the desert to lead a harsh life of penance. Despite the fact that she knew that her former sins were forgiven, and Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 171