The Way (VIII)

The cheerfulness you should have is not the kind we might call physiological--like that of a healthy animal. Rather, it is the supernatural happiness that comes from the abandonment of everything, including yourself, into the loving arms of our Father God.

Remain silent, and you will never regret it. Speak, and you often will.

If you were more discreet, you would not have to complain within yourself about the bad taste left by so many of your conversations.

Discretion, a virtue of the few. Who slandered women by saying that discretion is not a woman's virtue? How many men--yes, red-blooded men--have yet to learn!

Always remain silent when you feel indignation surge up within you--even when you have reason to be angry. For in spite of your discretion, you always say more than you want in such moments.

If things go well, let's rejoice, blessing God, who makes them prosper. And if they go wrong? Let's rejoice, blessing God, who allows us to share the sweetness of his cross.

Long faces, coarse manners, a ridiculous appearance, a repelling air. Is that how you hope to inspire others to follow Christ?

Acts of faith, hope and love are valves which provide an outlet for the fire of those souls who live the life of God.

You can be sure you're a man of God if you suffer injustice gladly and in silence.

Gluttony is an ugly vice. Don't you feel a bit amused and even a bit disgusted when you see a group of distinguished gentlemen seated solemnly around a table, stuffing fatty foods into their digestive tubes with an air of ritual, as if the whole thing were an end itself?

All right: that person has behaved badly toward you. But, haven't you behaved worse toward God?

Jesus: whenever you have passed not a heart has remained indifferent. You are either loved or hated. When an apostolic man follows you, carrying out his duty, is it surprising--if he is another Christ!--that he should provoke similar murmurs of aversion or of love?

Once again, they've been talking, they've written--in favor, against; with good, and with not so good will; insinuations and slanders, panegyrics and plaudits; hits and misses... Fool, big fool! As long as you keep going straight toward your target--head and heart intoxicated with God--why care about the clamor of the wind or the chirping of the cricket, or the bellowing, or the grunting, or the neighing? Besides, it's inevitable; don't try to install doors in open air.

I see you, Christian gentleman (that's what you say you are), kissing an image, muttering some vocal prayer, crying out against those who attack the Church of God, even frequenting the holy sacraments. But I don't see you making a sacrifice, nor avoiding certain conversations of a worldly nature (I could with justice have used another adjective!), nor being generous toward those in need (including that same Church of God!), nor putting up with a failing in one of your brothers, nor checking your pride for the sake of the common good, nor getting rid of that tight cloak of selfishness, nor... so many other things! Yes, I see you... But I don't see you... And yet, you say you are a Christian gentleman! What a poor idea you have of Christ!