The Way (XI)

Many great things depend--don't forget it--on whether you and I live our lives as God wants.

The wholehearted acceptance of the will of God is the sure way of finding joy and peace: happiness in the cross. It's then that we realize that Christ's yoke is sweet and that his burden is not heavy.

Ask yourself many times during the day: Am I doing at this moment what I ought to be doing?

Steps: to be resigned to the will of God; to conform to the will of God; to want the will of God; to love the will of God.

It takes only a second. Before starting anything, ask yourself: What does God want of me in this? Then, with divine grace, do it!

If life didn't have as its aim to give glory to God, it would be detestable--even more, loathsome.

Do everything for love. In that way there will be no little things: everything will be big. Perseverance in the little things for love is heroism.

Do you really want to be a saint? Carry out the little duty of each moment: do what you ought and put yourself into what you are doing.

"Great" holiness consists in carrying out the "little" duties of each moment.

Among those around you, apostolic soul, you are the stone fallen into the lake. With your word and example produce a first ripple... and it will produce another... and then another, and another... each time wider. Now do you understand the greatness of your mission?

Have no enemies. Have only friends: friends on the right--if they have done or have wished to do you good; and friends on the left--if they have harmed or tried to harm you.

May your special dedication pass unnoticed, as for thirty years did that of Jesus.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus visit Jesus secretly in ordinary times and in the time of triumph. But they are courageous in the face of authority, declaring their love for Christ audacter--"boldly"--in the time of cowardice. Learn.

Agreed: you do better work with that friendly chat or that heart-to-heart conversation than making speeches--spectacle! display!--in public before thousands of people. Nevertheless, when speeches have to be made, make them.

You want to be a martyr. I'll place a martyrdom within your reach: to be an apostle and not call yourself an apostle, to be a missionary--with a mission--and not call yourself a missionary, to be a man of God and to seem a man of the world: to pass unnoticed!