Lest You Remain

which He has protected you from sin, encouraged you to strive for the virtues and to do good deeds, supported you in your actions and in your execution. Pay attention also to your lack of gratitude, this insufficiency which you have returned for such a multitude of graces, or even neglected giving any thanksgiving whatsoever; unaware, and not comprehending, that it was God who led you, guarded you, enriched you with so many goods and protected you from numerous disasters. Arouse remorse in yourself for your negligence, and ask the Lord to compensate for it, by giving you a greater devotion and zeal to serve Him, for the rest of your days. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 17 “Who will separate me from the love of Christ?” (cf. Rom 8:35). Who will separate me from loving the true God-Man and the Savior of all people, received under the disguise of bread? Will it be poverty, nakedness, deprivation or sorrow, persecution, hardships, anguish, weakness? Will it be temptation, humiliations, the world, hell, any pleasure or mortification? Will it be the flattering persuasion of the evil spirit, or people’s anger, cruel words or anything else? Or finally, death alone, the cruelest thing? I am certain, that none of these things will ever separate me, draw me away, or tear me away from the love of Jesus Christ, because for this love, I will bear everything and suffer and fulfill [everything]. May I, my Jesus—I am going to repeat it over and over—May I, my Jesus, love you as much as You have loved me! May I die of love for You, who, although immortal, were willing to die out of love for me! ( Inspectio Cordis ) Selected and edited by Fr. Janusz Kumala, M.I.C. L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 184