List of points

Don’t be ashamed to discover in your heart the fomes peccati — the inclination to evil, which will be with you as long as you live, for nobody is free from this burden.

Don’t be ashamed, because the all-powerful and merciful Lord has given us all the means we need for overcoming this inclination: the Sacraments, a life of piety and sanctified work.

—Persevere in using these means, ever ready to begin again and again without getting discouraged.

You should not be surprised to feel in your life that weight dragging you down which Saint Paul spoke of: “I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind.”

—Remember then that you belong to Christ, and have recourse to the Mother of God, who is your Mother. They will not abandon you.

When our vision is clouded, when our eyes have lost their clarity, we need to go to the light. And Jesus Christ has told us that he is the Light of the world and that he has come to heal the sick.

—That is why your weaknesses and your falls — when God allows them — should not separate you from Christ, but rather draw you closer to him!

As you very well know, you lose your peace when you consent in matters which entail unfaithfulness to your way.

—Make up your mind to be consistent and responsible in your behaviour!

We can say with Saint Augustine that our evil passions tug at our garments, dragging us down. At the same time we are aware of great, noble and pure ambitions within our hearts, and know that a struggle is going on.

—If, with the grace of God, you make use of the ascetical means: if you seek to have presence of God, if you look for mortification and — don’t be afraid — penance, then you will make progress, you will find peace and victory will be yours.