97 speech For nearly three entire days the heretics fasted, prayed, they yelled aloud, but everything in vain: all the empty words passed away upon a strong wind. Then, it came to the zealous prayers of the members of the true Church. The mighty word fiat fell (was pronounced) and immediately the hinges were broken and the bolts were released, broken not by hand but by a word, and in this way the faithful were admitted into the temple. O heavens, what strength of this word, what power, what might! It breaks hinges, releases bolts, and opens gates! The Truth teaches that the heavenly door must be struck with a certain hammer: “Hammer,” He says, “and it shall be opened to you”. Now with what hammer, dear listeners, shall we strike [the door]? None other than the word fiat, the word amen. This mighty hammer is indeed most fit for opening Heaven. Since that is so, we must deservedly praise the true Church for having taught us to conclude every prayer with this word, and must never omit this word at the end of prayers out of negligence or contempt. Rather, this word should always be joined to [our prayers], as the arrowmost sure to fly to the Divine Heart, and the hammer most fit to open the door of Heaven. He prays best and also most efficaciously, who joins to [his] prayer [the word] amen. SPEECH WHETHER ON ACCOUNT OF A RELIGIOUS VOCATION, ONE OUGHT TO FORSAKE THE CONTINUATION OF REMAINING STUDIES? When I ponder on this, dear students desirous of learning, how here, before the approaching vacations, what kind of theme [I ought to choose] for a speech, being about to say goodbye to you all, the thought came to my mind that was not worth rejecting, to convince you that on account of a vocation from God, you ought to forsake the continuation of [your] remaining studies. I understand that age is pushing many of you, and that the inspirations of the heavenly Spirit move you to this, that you
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