[continued from previous message]   
      
   (Matt 13:45-46). Such a merchant was Blessed Luchesio, since, having   
   been enlightened by grace, he found the costly pearl of true   
   godliness. Then he desisted from his covetous chase after perishable   
   goods, gave them up in order to inherit imperishable treasures, which   
   now delight him in his beatitude with God, and will be his eternal   
   joy. May we, too, find this costly pearl!   
      
   2. Consider what folly, on the other hand, it is to strive after   
   temporal goods as is done by so many people. They place their body and   
   soul in danger; they have troubles here on earth and hereafter. The   
   body is exposed to fatigue, hardships, privations, and even danger to   
   life; through falsehood and deceit, through disregard of the   
   commandments of God and of the Church, the soul becomes laden with   
   much guilt. And in the end, what does man achieve with the temporal   
   goods he has acquired? "As he came forth naked from his mother's womb,   
   so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labor"   
   (Eccl 5:14). Must the same judgement perhaps be passed concerning your   
   endeavors?   
      
   3. Consider that not everybody in this world can act as did Blessed   
   Luchesio. Not everyone is free of obligations toward others, who are   
   perhaps entrusted to his temporal care, nor has everyone the grace and   
   the vocation for such extraordinary virtues. If anyone believes   
   himself called by God in that way, he should seek counsel with his   
   spiritual director. But everyone can and should strive, while   
   following his occupation and business, to gather at the same time   
   eternal and imperishable goods. He can do that if he conducts his   
   temporal business as the special vocation assigned to him by God to   
   acquire a livelihood for himself and his family; if through it he   
   endeavors to be of service to his fellowmen; if he tries to promote   
   Christian morality according to the best of his power, himself setting   
   the good example; if, finally, he does not endeavor greedily to hoard   
   what he acquires, but uses it well, gladly sharing it with those in   
   need. "Blessed is the rich man who is found without blemish; and who   
   has not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures"   
   (Eccl 31:8).   
      
   PRAYER OF THE CHURCH   
   O God, who in the plentitude of Thy mercy didst call Blessed Luchesio   
   to penance and didst permit him to shine by the merits of piety and   
   liberality, grant us at his intercession, that in imitation of his   
   example, we may produce worthy fruits of penance, and through works of   
   piety and charity merit forgiveness. Through Christ or Lord. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)