Lest You Remain

For you, to participate in this glory, you have to strive and reach the fullest contempt for the world and—I say—contempt for yourself. “The sufferings of the present—says the Apostle—are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us” (cf. Rom 8:18). ( Inspectio Cordis ) F IDELITY AND DEVOTION 1 Faith is the greatest gift and light of God. When we lack it, everything in our soul is shrouded in darkness and fog. Contemplate that faith brings us salvation but only when it shines in us through good deeds. Then, make a resolution that, with a strong will, with the help of God’s grace, you will devote yourself to performing good deeds. To make it easier for you, often recall this sentence: “Their good works accompany them” (Rv 14:13). Though by nature you are rather prone to evil, become aware that you are obliged to perform good deeds and that you have been called to acquire solid virtues, to take up heroic works, similar to these done by the Apostles and the great servants of God. To bring this to pass, you should fulfill your everyday duties with a much greater care and devotion. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 2 Shake yourself free from any numbness and negligence and get to work! Why do you give yourself over to idleness? Why do you surrender to weakness? Sons of the world, to obtain transient goods, travel countless seas, expose themselves to so many dangers, sweat nights and days, take up many tasks and suffer many hard- ships just to maintain this mortal life. And you, who are a son of light, would you neglect eternal goods? Won’t you try to obtain eternal life, making all necessary efforts? Do you grow lazy? You should know, that “the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Mt 11:12). The heroes do it, not fools, nor idlers, but the diligent! ( Inspectio Cordis ) Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 177