examination of the heart 418 it was only fitting for these two, who were to renew the whole world through their obedience, to be offspring and descendants of the most obedient parents and ancestors. Be born again with the Virgin being born and obtain from her at least obedience! It belongs among the great virtues; beseech it humbly from the little infant Virgin Mary, because she, still in her cradle, is generous toward men. [f.133v] If you have obtained obedience, believe that you have obtained all the virtues. Do you ask for the reason? Obedience is the mother of all the virtues. 3. “David ... begot Salomon, of her that had been [the wife] of Uriah” (Mt 1:6). May human magnificence blush with shame here; may honor lose value; may the tongue be silent about fame, great pedigree and illustrious birth when the Son of God enumerates His and His Mother’s ancestors, members of the same lineage and relatives, some of whom were stained with a certain sin. David was a king, yet an adulterer; Solomon was a king, yet born from an adulteress, and he was a worshiper of foreign gods; Manasseh was a king, yet he was also a great sinner. O the extraordinary clemency of God! In order to prepare for sinners a broad way leading to Him, He wanted sinners to be recounted in His genealogy. As for you, forget boasting of your ancestors or your pedigree and do not despise those who commit sins, but with gentleness and kindness, insofar as you are able, call them back to the way of salvation, as you are now about to receive Him, who wished to be the debtor of all, so that He might bring all to salvation. After Holy Communion 1. “At the time of the Babylonian exile” (Mt 1:11). Consider, that neither the long Jewish captivity nor its hard yoke were contrary to the promise of Messiah and to His Nativity. From this, you shall be able to learn that, in your case, all things shall happen to you which God arranged for the salvation of your soul even if you shall find yourself outside of your religious house and separated from other house members who serve God in community, provided that you do it not out of
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