the rule of life 60 eternity on the altar of love, by a pure heart joined to the merits of Christ the Lord, His Immaculate Mother, all of the saints, and the universal Church. “[Y]ou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (cf. Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37). This, which Divine Wisdom wanted to be most recommended in both [Old and New] Testaments (cf. Mk 12:30, Lk 10:27), should be your common rule and the safest way to Heaven. 4. Concerning mutual love: let it be known that the one who excels in mutual love is dearer to the Divine Majesty. Each of you should keep in mind that the soul of his Institute is love, and to the extent that he withdraws from love, he withdraws from life. Therefore, even as he will promote the good, reputation, integrity and holiness of the whole Congregation, so he will render to the individual members of this same Congregation all those things which he would wish for himself. And so, he will avoid these contagious diseases very opposed to love: envy, hatred, rancor, rivalry, suspicion, calumny, exclusive attachment, antipathy, jealousy, secret accusation, jeering, whispering, verbal abuse, annoyance, ambition, contempt for others, disturbances, agitations, quarrels, contentions. As he will watch over the tranquility of his own spirit, so the zealous guardian of love will also give great care to guard the tranquility of others and the whole house. He will suitably drive away any evil both from the whole Congregation and from each of its members. Call to mind the love of the early Church, about which the writer of the Acts of the Apostles says, “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (cf. Acts 4:32). 5. You should always be mindful of the works of mercy6 which, done to His members, are done to Christ the Head. On all (cf. Mt 25:31-46) occasions, you will not neglect to show outsiders every possible love. You will surround with devoted love not only those you find benevolent to you, but adversaries as well, and enemies (whom our Lord rightly commanded us to love). 6 Cf. Mystical Temple of God, Ch. 21.
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