Difficulties raised by the good

The Lord frequently permits misunderstandings, and even defamation and persecutions, to follow the works of God, just as darkness follows light. These things are brought about by people who are good but blind, who don’t want to hear of anything except their own routine, comfort or selfishness, and who shy away from everything that could complicate their lives.

Obstacles in the ecclesiastical environment

And so, even in ecclesiastical spheres, among so many holy people, or at least, among those who do their duty, there are many others who have no zeal, who act as bureaucrats in God’s Church and give the impression that they do not care about souls. They do not understand spiritual terms; when they hear them, such terms seem empty to them; they have not tried to live by them.

I have sometimes thought that, no matter how little training they may have, they should realise that they have a serious duty to ask for information, to listen to the person being accused, to study his teaching – the teaching proposed by the accused, and the fruits that it bears.

Defending the spirit of the Work

I am silent, and will keep silent as long as I can. But I feel clearly that defending the spirit of the Work means defending our friendship with God, who says to us, ergo iam non estis hospites et advenae, sed estis cives sanctorum et domestici Dei (Eph 2:19); you are no longer strangers and aliens to me, but are fellow-citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.