It Is Not He Who

We Men Are Easily Prone To Sins Of Thought. Therefore, He Who Has Formed Each Heart Individually, Knowing That The Impulse Received From The Intention Constitutes The Major Element In Sin, Has Ordained That Purity In The Ruling Part Of Our Soul Be Our Primary Concern.

The Bread Which You Use Is The Bread Of The Hungry; The Garment Hanging In Your Wardrobe Is The Garment Of Him Who Is Naked; The Shoes You Do Not Wear Are The Shoes Of The One Who Is Barefoot; The Acts Of Charity That You Do Not Perform Are So Many Injustices That You Commit.

Do Not, As Is Usually The Case, Thrust The Care Of The Common Weal Upon Your Neighbor; Then, As Each One In His Own Thoughts Makes Light Of The Matter, All Find To Their Surprise That They Have Drawn Upon Themselves By Their Neglect A Personal Misfortune.

Now, If You Notice How The Swan, Putting Its Neck Down Into The Deep Water, Brings Up Food For Itself From Below, Then You Will Discover The Wisdom Of The Creator, In That He Gave It A Neck Longer Than Its Feet For This Reason, That It Might, As If Lowering A Sort Of Fishing Line, Procure The Food Hidden In The Deep Water.

Strive To Attain To The Greater Virtues, But Do Not Neglect The Lesser Ones. Do Not Make Light Of A Fall Even If It Be The Most Venial Of Faults; Rather, Be Quick To Repair It By Repentance, Although Many Others May Commit A Large Number Of Faults, Slight And Grievous, And Remain Unrepentant.