examination of the heart 436 As for you, if you do not have anyone to show mercy to, have mercy on your own soul, so that you do not lose that which Love redeemed. But you lose it unless you shall have lost it because the unchangeable statement of the Truth is: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for [M]y sake will find it.” (Mt 10:39). 3. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). This gradation used by Christ the Lord, the heavenly Teacher, is worthy of the greatest consideration. After poverty, meekness, mourning and mercy, He comes at last to purity of heart. To the poor He promised the Kingdom of Heaven; to the meek, the possession of land; to those who mourn, eternal consolation; to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, satiation; to the merciful, mercy. But what does He promise to the pure in heart? For them He destined the beatific vision. Since you see, therefore, that the greater rewards are set up for purity, be more diligently watchful over the custody of your heart, because to stain the heart [f.139v] means to be deprived of the vision of God; to preserve it pure means to be certain of the beatific vision. FOR THE FEAST OF ST. MARTIN, BISHOP OF TOURS Before Holy Communion 1. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar” (Lk 11:33). Consider, that you have no right to reproach those who place themselves in public sight as if out of boastfulness; instead, you should excuse them, for they do not want to hide and bury the talents received from the Lord, but want to share them with their neighbors, so that their talents bring profit to the Lord. Indeed, it is useful for certain persons to be hidden; yet God puts some persons before the eyes of all, so that their works may be seen by all and that the Heavenly Father be glorified, inWhom, byWhom, and for Whom all things work (cf. Prov 16:4; Heb 2:10).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==