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Chapter XXXII. The Love of God Is Never Idle, and Persuadeth Us to Do Penance as Long as Life and as Harsh; It Telleth Us to Do It as Often as Is Convenient, and Doth Perform Many Other Profitable Things
The love of God is never idle, for it constraineth us to follow in the way of the Cross. And the sign of the working of true love is that it suggesteth unto the soul the way of the Cross, and maketh it to do penance long and hard as life itself, the which it must bear as it conveniently can.
This true love hath no smile upon its lips; it behaveth not unseemly in eating and drinking, nor doth it exhibit any vain joyfulness or say, "I am under no law," but it is always subject unto the law; and where there is none, then doth it make one for itself.
When love shall have followed the way of the Cross and shall have done penance unto the utmost of its power, it will perceive itself to be unprofitable and not working according to the truth; and it will know God to be all love and itself all hatefulness. Having attained unto such knowledge, it is needful that it do bodily penance; and whether it be easy or difficult for man to do this, it is all ordained by the love uncreate for the good of the soul. Be ye not troubled, therefore, by the workings of penitence, for it is God who worketh within you. And in order to induce your will to consent to God working within you, your Master is come to do penance for you and to give you an example thereof, for all the days of His life did He live in most bitter penance.
And those who have been exalted unto the vision of the Uncreate and of the Being of God do rest in the Cross and in virtuous works, and with a new and burning love are they inspired, the which doth incite them unto good works. But those in whom is not this spirit of truth do make idols of good works, attributing unto themselves the glory.
The love of God is never idle, for it constraineth us to follow in the way of the Cross. And the sign of the working of true love is that it suggesteth unto the soul the way of the Cross, and maketh it to do penance long and hard as life itself, the which it must bear as it conveniently can.
This true love hath no smile upon its lips; it behaveth not unseemly in eating and drinking, nor doth it exhibit any vain joyfulness or say, "I am under no law," but it is always subject unto the law; and where there is none, then doth it make one for itself.
When love shall have followed the way of the Cross and shall have done penance unto the utmost of its power, it will perceive itself to be unprofitable and not working according to the truth; and it will know God to be all love and itself all hatefulness. Having attained unto such knowledge, it is needful that it do bodily penance; and whether it be easy or difficult for man to do this, it is all ordained by the love uncreate for the good of the soul. Be ye not troubled, therefore, by the workings of penitence, for it is God who worketh within you. And in order to induce your will to consent to God working within you, your Master is come to do penance for you and to give you an example thereof, for all the days of His life did He live in most bitter penance.
And those who have been exalted unto the vision of the Uncreate and of the Being of God do rest in the Cross and in virtuous works, and with a new and burning love are they inspired, the which doth incite them unto good works. But those in whom is not this spirit of truth do make idols of good works, attributing unto themselves the glory.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre