Lest You Remain

the Church and gave himself up for her” (103): the truth that is at the basis of the whole economy of the Redemption. From Christ, the Redeemer of the world, may the inexhaustible source of your love for the Church pour forth! From Founder’s Writings ( Inspectio cordis , k. 38v–54v) “He will give you” (John 16:23). Contemplate the fact that not only the Apostles were given the promise that whatever they were going to ask from their Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, they would receive. In fact, it was given to all of the faithful, the religious in par- ticular, who, by the rule of inheritance, received the Evangelical Counsels from the Apostles. Most certainly, our most Generous Lord also included you in the prom- ise and assurance that nothing will be denied to you, when you ask in a proper way for the right thing. Since God so values people’s prayers, that even when they are uttered by the mouths of the unbelieving, they reach the Divine Majesty and never remain fruitless. We can learn about this from the story about the good centurion in the Book of Acts (see: Acts 10). So stay close to this holy and fruitful practice of prayer. Know also that if at any time, you neglect it, you will move a step closer to condemnation. Whoever abandons prayer, approaches hell: each step he makes towards it, is a result of the many times he neglected prayer. On the contrary, the more zealous and frequent the prayer, the more often, he will experience commun- ion with God. There is no better way to multiply vices and to breed imperfections than to neglect prayer. If you examine yourself, you will realize that you always committed many transgressions, when, due to laziness, you neglected some of the regular prayers. And, on the contrary, what can more effectively, quickly and beau- tifully cultivate, weed and set new plants of graces in the garden of your soul, than the undertaking and repeated exercise of prayer. Having considered and seriously meditated on these issues, try to pray and ask your Lord that, as He had already given you His favor during the Last Supper, may He never withdraw it from you, for the sake of His glory, and the benefit of you and your brother. Together with David, urge Him in this way: “My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me according to your words” (Ps. 118:28) and strengthen me in the practice of prayer, which is pleasing to You and beneficial to me. “If a man is true to my word” (John 8:51). Consider that the evangelical lesson of Christ, the Lord, not only guards and protects people from eternal death, but also, from the earthly one. When drunken- ness, gluttony, debauchery and other faults, ruin the health of mortal men, reduc- L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 58