SUBSTANCE & FORM

D. – Dear Father, I would like to say to my brothers a few words about sincerity. One of the errors of contemporary society is to aim too much at appearances. Some people inflate their sales figures, others dangle the advantages of a risky business venture. In the world, everyone tries to please with kindly manners and hides the dryness of the heart under smiles; it seems that appearances are everything. I hasten to say that there are also honest and sincere people, whose faces are open and whose eyes are very frank; but this is the exception. It is a joy to see in this milieu that there is no such thing as the cult of appearances, that one loyally seeks to match actions with words. God bless me for having brought me to this doctrine, which gives me strength to fight against myself, for I was one of those who put on a good face and conceal the poverty of my background. No doubt I liked to be of service, but without it costing me too much. Here I see that everyone is working to become good, with a natural goodness. But I also discover that all these hearts already have a lot of certainty.
Father, I thank you for your kind instructions..

The Father. – I thank God who has entered the path we are following to reach the goal: his efforts encourage others. Our pleasure is not only in reforming ourselves, but also in the happiness of those who approach us, share our moral work and unite with us in the bonds of brotherly love. Thus, being desirous of advancing towards God, we are helped, sincere people are brought to us to work with us for their improvement; their example is a further testimony in favour of that love which we aspire to possess in order to achieve progress. We wish the same satisfaction to those who come to hear us. Good instruction expands knowledge and communicates the fragrance of love to all who need it. The weakest of the followers, encouraged by the others, will be able to fulfil his duties: none will be left behind; we will all march forward with the cry of: "Long live liberty," bringing forth true brotherhood.