Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. My child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well. Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

 

(Year C). All things have been made and have been given you in order that you may reach God. This you must do by the way of separation and removal of yourselves from things accepting on the one hand the use and fruition of them and renouncing, on the other hand, any attachment to them. To do this you need a great fervor, so that you may withdraw from everything, and most of all from yourselves and from what is natural to you, namely, your bad habits. But, O wretchedness of your souls! Lukewarmness and negligence restrain you from doing that: hence, on your way to God, you also want to get rid of lukewarmness and negligence. Oh! -- you, my dear friends, will tell me -- any illness can be cured as long as its root cause is known, but we really don't know the source of this lukewarmness! Do you want to know its origin? It comes from one or the other of three causes, and indeed may come from all three together. For the present I will only talk about one. Some people say: "It's not really necessary to be so enthusiastic in doing much good or in doing many things. After all, some things are necessary, while others are supererogatory or pertaining to the counsels. So much praying, so much humbling oneself, so much disciplining oneself, so much giving one's good to the poor, and so much overdoing in the spiritual life: it is not necessary!" Alas, how niggardly and ungenerous we are! It is quite true that there are things to be done by precept and things to be done only by counsel. When, in fact, a man came up to Him and asked what he should do to enter eternal life, Christ answered: "Keep the commandments." And, as that man went on protesting that he had observed them since his childhood, Jesus added: "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell, etc." [Matt 19:16ff.] Christ also said: "There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven," and immediately added, "let him accept this teaching who can" [Matt 19:12]. And Paul, speaking about virginity, said: "I am just giving a counsel, etc." [1 Cor 7:25] From all these statements the distinction we are talking about is drawn. Do you wish then, to know the reason why such a distinction was made? It was made to combat lukewarmness. How? Listen. Some people, considering what great perfection Christian life demands, so great a control of thoughts and custody of the heart, such a moderation in speaking, such an austere way of living and such a conduct, were overwhelmed and despaired of being able to do any good deed and to aspire to such perfection. Taking into account this situation, spiritual writers made this distinction in order that people would begin doing good; and then, once they had gotten somewhat stronger, they would climb step by step the mountain of perfection. Paul told Festus that he wanted him to become a Christian as he himself was, except for those chains in which he was preaching so ardently [Acts 26:29]. O please, Paul! If your chains are so beneficial, why would you like Festus to be a Christian without them? "Let him be a beginner in the Christian life," Paul would answer, "later on he will not be afraid of the chains." Christ asked Zacchaeus to invite Him to his house, not to give away his property. And yet, because Zacchaeus received Christ as a guest, he gave back what he had stolen and gave of his own goods besides [Luke 19:8]. Christ forgave Mary Magdalene [Luke 7:50. Actually, this woman is nameless.], and she began to follow Him [Mark 15:40]. But He did not tell her to do penance, and sell her goods, and give them to the poor; nevertheless she did penance and gave her possessions to the poor. So, begin doing good, and you will necessarily go forward and become better persons. Conclude now by saying that everything has been given you in order to lead you to God, that it is imperative for you to go to God by the way of separation, and above of all, separation from lukewarmness, and that it is absolutely necessary for you to refrain from saying: "I do not want to do excessive good." For, by speaking like that, you run the risk of perturbing and reducing to a bare minimum your natural instinct which tends to do as much as it can. Now, tell me: do you wish to enjoy good health, entirely or only partially? To get all the goods possible or only some or none of them? To acquire only so much learning and no more? And so on with other desires you may have. Everyone wishes to reach his own end as fully as he can. Now, the end of your will is the good, that is why you desire it with all your heart and without any limit. (Sermons)

 

Saint Anthony Mary, O model of virtues
Our glorious Protector, our homage accept.
As we celebrate you, in heavenly glory,
Our oath of allegiance to you we renew.
Our oath of allegiance to you we renew.

As standard you lifted, the Cross of salvation,
The faithful inviting to fight and to win:
To banish lukewarmness, the worst foe of Christians,
The Church making perfect, rejoicing in Christ.
The Church making perfect, rejoicing in Christ.

The Eucharist preaching, you lover of Jesus,
The means of perfection to souls back you gave.
Will you be more faithful to Christian perfection?
You told them: come, share in the breaking of bread.
You told them: come, share in the breaking of bread.

You took as a pattern Saint Paul, the Apostle,
The Doctor of Nations you followed and loved.
We also your children, with love and in study
Do promise to follow exemplar so great.
Do promise to follow exemplar so great.

Remember O Father, Saint Anthony Mary,
Your family grateful here kneeling in prayer.
Present us your children, to God of all Mercy;
May ever you lead us to heaven above.
May ever you lead us to heaven above.