491 part iv: meditations for weekly retreats hereditary right. He alone [f.162v] can say resolutely to Christ: I did what You commanded; grant what You promised. Oh you, the miserable one! For however many occasions as you disobeyed, so you will suffer the loss of as many eternal rewards. 3. Call to mind and ponder the Lord’s saying: “If any man would come after [M]e, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow [M]e” (cf. Mt 16:24). From this you can easily deduce whether you follow Christ, whether you have been carrying His cross at any time, and whether you have been denying yourself out of love of Him. For leaving behind in the world all your resources, wealth, honors, neighbors, and friends is of little importance in striving for the height of perfection and sanctity, unless you forsake in the Order yourself and your will, also. Christ did not save the world just because, leaving Heaven He descended to earth and assumed human form, but because He suffered while doing the will of the Father. And so, consider how, with what zeal and ardor, you shall exercise this virtue, shown to you and proved by the word and example of Christ. Let your colloquy include repentance for moments of disobedience and the resolution to be more faithfully obedient in the future. 1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. MEDITATION IV ON OBEDIENCE 1. In this meditation on the same virtue, ponder the six points by which true obedience is reached and perfected The first one is: obey totally. Examine particularly whether you always so perfectly discharge the works imposed upon you by obedience that a greater perfection would be impossible, namely: without a loss, in the best way, with extraordinary industry, diligence, and accuracy.
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