the mystical temple of god 592 For it is both more fruitful and noble to consecrate oneself and all one has to God (as we have taught), not only in the morning and evening, but also more frequently in the course of the day, especially at the beginning of each action, adding every day at least some general protestation (as it was shown) with the resolve not to think, speak or act, I do not say [only] evil things, but those that are vain, prompted by mere curiosity, or are useless ,and also to avoid imperfections. For so it will be that our loving and merciful God, considering our sincere will, will sanctify all our works, thoughts and actions, will preserve us from sins, and if by chance we should fall because of weakness, He will at once lift us up and mercifully pardon the effects of our ignorance, and finally will grant that we love Him most perfectly with all our heart, spirit, mind, will and strength, everywhere, always, for all eternity, and that we are united with His Divinity in the closest bond of intimate Love. CHAPTER 6 The Victim of the Mystical Temple By victim, we wish here to be understood mortification, both interior and exterior, but in such a way that it is sacrificed by the Love, the Priest, and we wish everything else in the Mystical Temple to look entirely to him. For whatever is done without him in the Temple is entirely illegitimate and deceptive. Interior mortification then (if I may use the common and familiar term) consists in the restraint of our will, judgment, and imagination. The will is directed best and in the most holy manner when it is led to embrace those things that are conformed to the divine will, whether they are written down or inspired, and not at variance with the laws of God, nature and the Church, such as are proper to each one’s state of life. We say that the rule of the divine will is inspired, when it originates from a heavenly spirit, or an upright and learned man, such as are confessors, the Spiritual Fathers, and devout men, or from
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