The Rule of Life

14 lect, or Marian Hermits. This [I do] perpetually and irrevoca- bly. 5 And I vow Poverty, Chastity and Obedience to its Superior. May God and these holy Gospels help me. C HAPTER T WO L OVE 1. [St. Paul] the Teacher of the Gentiles has best com- pared 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 at- tainment of eternal life – and the value of meritorious works – is rooted in love. Therefore, more than any other good, any 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 of prayer and mortification. There- fore, let everything you do, be done in love (cf. 1 Cor 16:14). 2. The commandments of God and the Gospel coun- sels, the laws of the Roman Catholic Church, its prescrip- tions, decrees, rites, usages, dogmas; also 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: “Anyone who loves me, will be true to My word.” (cf. 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 dis- positions of the Superiors which flow from her or are con- firmed by her. 3. Out of the love of God, you will perform every good and escape 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, 5 At that time, in the legislation of Religious Institutes there was no prac- tice of temporary vows.