When You Need Direction

Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions,
and attend to them with the ear of your heart.
This is advice from a father who loves you;
welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

We intend to establish a school for the Lord's service.
In drawing up its regulations,
we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome.

Do not be daunted immediately by fear
and run away from the road that leads to salvation.
It is bound to be narrow at the outset.

But as we progress in this way of life and in faith,
we shall run on the path of God's commandments,
our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.

I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle
made of a single diamond...
The door of entry to this castle is prayer.

Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else
than an intimate sharing between friends;
it means taking time frequently
to be alone with Him who we know loves us.

When he thought of worldly things it gave him great pleasure,
but afterward he found himself dry and sad.

But when he thought of journeying to Jerusalem,
barefoot and eating nothing but herbs
and undergoing all the other rigors he saw the saints had endured,
he was consoled,
not only while thinking of them,
but also when he had ceased.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, and my entire will—
all that I have and possess.

You have given it all to me;
to You, Lord, I return it.

All is Yours;
dispose of it wholly according to Your will.

Give me Your love and Your grace,
for this is enough for me.

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ,
and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.