59 love CHAPTER TWO Love 1. [St. Paul] the Teacher of the Gentiles has best compared a servant of God who is not glowing with true love to a tinkling bell and a clanging cymbal (cf. 1 Cor 13:1). For the attainment of eternal life — and the value of meritorious works — is rooted in love. Therefore, more than any other good, each of you should try to gain for himself [this love], this pearl of great price, this treasure hidden in the field (cf. Mt 13:44-46). Although love is a gift of God, it is obtained and preserved, however, by constancy to prayer and mortification. Therefore, let everything you do be done in love (cf. 1 Cor 16:14). 2. The commandments of God and the Gospel counsels, the laws of the Roman Catholic Church, its prescriptions, decrees, rites, usages, dogmas; as well as this present Rule, (and if at some time further prescriptions are given): let all of these be observed out of the love of God. This is what [Jesus Christ] the heavenly Lawgiver said: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word” (Jn 14:23). And this is to be understood not only of His teaching and of Scripture, but equally of His Church, which He Himself forms and governs by His Holy Spirit, and its orders and documents, and the dispositions of the Superiors which flow from her or are confirmed by her. 3. Out of the love of God, you will perform every good and flee every evil; you will exercise every virtue possible, and detest every vice and sin. Out of the love of God, you will bear, with willingness and fortitude, mortifications, afflictions, reproofs, injuries, calumnies, labors, pains, destitution, austerity, and other situations like these. Out of the love of God you will carry out in a most perfect way your exercises, duties, jobs entrusted to you, and whatever concerns your state and vocation. You will consecrate to divine Love all of your entire life, daily actions and sufferings, and each and every moment, particulars, circumstances, changes. Each and every action and suffering by due submission, confidence, and piety [will be consecrated] for all
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