examination of the heart 390 dissipated; otherwise, it is destined to be dissipated by joy. And thus, realize that joy is not always good, and sadness is not always evil, since the wise man himself said that “it is better to enter into the house of mourning than into the house of feasting and joy” (cf. Eccl 7:2). 3. “Blessed are you among women” (Lk 1:42). Behold, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit; and yet, on that account, she does not place herself above the most Holy Virgin but deems herself lower, and proclaims her blessed and most holy among women. This is truly the impact of the Holy Spirit: to bestow praises upon another and not slanders, to credit them with the goodness in which they abound instead of denying it out of envy. This is the sign of the heart possessed by the Lord: if it gives itself completely to praising the others, and forgets praising itself. You, learn to praise the virtues of others (excluding, however, any kind of flattery), and hide and excuse their vices. Doing this, you might believe that you are full of the Holy Spirit. FOR THE FEAST OF (ST.) MARGARET, VIRGIN AND MARTYR Before Holy Communion 1. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field” (Mt 13:44). Consider how the heavenly Master teaches you to hide the heavenly gifts when He compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. Truly, as the finder conceals the discovered treasure and does not show it to anyone for fear of being deprived of it, similarly, the gifts of the divine generosity, which are the virtues, talents, and graces, ought to be hidden lest the infernal thief, seeing us displaying them, despoil us of them; or God Himself, perceiving our boasting in them, take them away from us.
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