The Rule of Life

23 ence of the Master. Make an effort to contemplate God in all creatures, and not only in yourselves, since we live and move and exist in Him (cf. Acts 17:28). In this way He will never slip away from your mind. 2. Examine yourselves each hour to see how much you have made progress in the Love of the Lord or have failed. In this way, correct the failure and bring about your progress. Each hour think that you are about to die, or at least that these hours slipping by will not return. In this way you will work hard to merit continuously as much as possible, with the help of God, expecting the day’s wage which is infallibly given to faithful servants (*cf. Mt 20:2) 3. In church, or as often as you will find yourself in chapel, think that you are in heaven. As many times as you cross before the Sacrament of the Altar you will humbly kiss the ground, adoring the Lord of heaven and earth really present, and worthily giving thanks for so admirable a memorial. 4. May silence – the custodian of blessed recollection – be continuous among you, especially in the chapel, the sac- risty, the dining room and in other places designated for the community. After the evening blessing 18 and before morning blessing no one is allowed to say anything. If anyone should need to speak to another, let it be done with the Superior’s permission. He should precede his words with, “Blessed be God!” and the other replying, “Forever!“ You will speak in a more subdued voice to the bishops or any Superiors – venerating Christ in them – hav- ing first asked for their blessing. 5. Each day you will spend two hours in meditation. Each month, taking turns one after another, you will make a retreat – which we call Spiritual Exercises. We do not wish to have the Superiors exempt from this, unless they are prevented by duty. It will be the Superiors’ duty to be certain that someone is con- tinually on retreat, with all fervor praying the Divine Goodness 18 This is the blessing given by the Superior at the end of night prayer.