On those who do penance

All who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, with all their virtue (cf. Mk 12:30) and love their neighbours as they do themselves (cf. Mt 22:39), and hold their bodies in hatred with its vices and sins, and receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and bring forth fruits worthy of penance: O how blessed and blest are those men and women, while they do such things and persevere in them, since upon them rests the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Jn 14:23), and they are sons of their Heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:45), whose works they do, and they are spouses, fathers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 12:50). We are spouses, when by the Holy Spirit the faithful soul is joined with Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are His brothers, when we do the will of the Father who is in Heaven (Mt. 12:50). Mothers, when we carry Him in our heart and body (cf. 1 Cor 6:20) by divine love and a pure and sincere conscience; we give birth to Him by holy work, which should shine upon others as an example (cf. Mt 5:16). O how glorious it is, holy and great, to have a Father in Heaven! O how holy, to have such a Paraclete, beautiful and admirable, as a Spouse! O how holy and how beloved, very pleasing, humble, peaceable, sweet, loveable and desirable above all things to have such a Brother and such a Son: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lay down His soul for His sheep (cf. Jn 10:15) and prayed to His Father saying: "Holy Father, guard them in Thy Name" (Jn 17:11) and "For them I sanctify Myself" (Jn 17:19). Not for them only do I pray, but for those who will believe in Me through their words" (Jn 17:20), "so that all may be sanctified in one" (cf. Jn 17:23) even as We are" (Jn 17:11). And "I wish, Father, that where I am they also may be with Me, so that they may see My Brightness" (Jn 17:24) "in Thy Kingdom" (Mt. 20:21). Amen.