examination of the heart 352 handmaid of the Lord;” “My heart is steadfast, O God” (Ps 108:1); “be it done to me according to what is pleasing to you.” [f.109v] After Holy Communion 1. “Do not be afraid” (Lk 1:30). Consider how the archangel encourages the Most Holy Virgin and exhorts her not to fear any deceit and fraud. On which account? “For [you have] found grace with God,” (Lk 1:30) [DBR] he says. Hence, know that those people who are in the state of grace, should fear nothing, not even hell itself. They can say with Paul: “If God be for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31). Truly “he rides quite safely, who is carried by the grace of God.”164 Therefore, having praised the Most Blessed Virgin for her great and singular graces, ask her to obtain for you a continuous state of grace, that you may not fear the world, hell, and death. 2. “behold, you will conceive” (Lk 1:31). Consider, that having conceived the Son of God, the Most Blessed Virgin was filled with greater gifts and favors and adorned with greater sanctity than before. As the trees are adorned primarily by their fruits, so she received an unheard of beauty, grace, and sanctity from the holiest Fruit of her womb. You also should hope for similar effects from the reception of the Most Holy Eucharist. Indeed, while the humble, obedient, steadfast, and patient Jesus is a guest in your inmost heart, you should not do anything to impede your becoming more humble, more obedient, more steadfast, and more patient than you have ever been before. 3. “of [H]is kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:33). How greatly you should rejoice at seeing yourself as a soldier, or rather as a son, of this Ruler who shall reign forever! All faithful Christians are His adopted children and coheirs of the heavenly Kingdom. [f.110r] However, a great such right belongs to the religious who, having embraced the evangelical counsels and 164 Cf. IC, Bk. II, Ch. 9, § 1.
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