The Zeal for Perfection

Zeal for Perfection

from "My Daily Bread" by Fr. Anthony Paone

Christ:

My child, do not be afraid of the daily battle for perfection. If you had even a passing glimpse of the heavenly glory which I have prepared for you, you would joyfully embrace any trial and all sufferings for My sake. But I want you to do so without seeing the eternal reward. Strive for perfection with the best and purest motive. Do it because I deserve such effort and loyalty.

Look for opportunities to contradict yourself. This mortification will be your surest sign of spiritual progress. Beware of self-deception. Suspect your motives even in the good within you. Root out all foolish self-seeking by a constant self-contradiction.

This supernatural self-contradiction will purify your love for Me. However,even in this self-contradiction you must be ready at all times to obey your superiors. The higher you aim in the way of perfection, so much the more do you need the guidance and counsel of others. He who follows the will of superiors is more perfect than one who follows his own will in these matters. Obedience is the surest proof of generosity with Me.

Avoid false virtue. Never do anything which would prevent you from fulfilling your daily obligations. Any form of self-discipline which makes you uncharitable or inconsiderate of others is not from Me. Be eager to have your virtues tested by the experiences of daily life. Do not fear misunderstandings, failures, humiliations, or sufferings. Fear only to see your day go by without some sound spiritual progress.

Few reach this rare perfection because few give themselves to Me without some exception or reservation. They leave some small root of earthly self-love in their soul; and like a destructive weed, that root spreads out and chokes the still tender, developing virtues. Only by daily self-contradiction can you purify your love for Me. Only by daily self-contradiction can you crush the deadly weed of self-deception.