¹ Dearest brothers, we have gathered in this place not for rest, nor for safety, but for battle, for struggle, for combat. We have come here to wage war against our vices. For our vices are our enemies, of whom Scripture declares: “Take care not to make a covenant with them.” We need, brothers, a vigilant care and tireless watchfulness, for this conflict is without end, and this enemy offers no peace. You can defeat this foe, but you can never make him your friend. Thus, the battle we have undertaken is both exceedingly hard and dangerous, for it is fought within the human heart and will not cease until the very end of life itself.

² For this reason, we have retreated to this tranquil and spiritual camp: so that we may daily engage in tireless conflict against our passions; so that we may daily submit our own wills to our elders as though they were mere servants; so that we may cut away the wickedness of our hearts and restrain the sword of our tongues; so that we may not only refrain from inflicting harm on one another but also be unmoved by the injuries we receive from others.

³ For it is especially fitting to our profession that we should seek no consolation in this life, no honour, and reject the comforts of present things. Instead, we must prepare our hearts for the promised reward of eternal recompense. We must learn to rejoice in both submission and humiliation, to actively pursue poverty, and to uproot not only our possessions but even our very wills from our hearts. For at times, necessity demands that we own nothing; but virtue requires that we desire nothing.

⁴ We should also be aware that those of us who have chosen to live among others either bring great benefit or incur great peril by being either diligent or negligent. Thus, blessed is the soul that, while living well in the community, becomes a source of joy for many and edifies or enlightens many others by its example. For good things, when shared with many, are multiplied. This principle is also reflected in the saying of the wise man: “My son, if you are wise, you will be so for yourself and for your neighbours”

⁵ Therefore, if someone living in the community demonstrates humility or patience to those around them, the good they offer to their neighbours is converted into spiritual gain for themselves. However, on the contrary, if through disobedience or pride—which, worse still, is more easily found—someone leads others into evil or iniquity by their bad example, they will bear the guilt of all those they have corrupted. They will incur the danger of damnation in proportion to the number of souls they have harmed. The damage they caused to others will return to them as their own loss, and the sin that once left them will return upon them many times over. For this reason, the one whose virtuous life brings spiritual growth to many is rightly admired and praised. Conversely, the one whose life causes the downfall of many is justly to be mourned.

⁶ Therefore, dearest brothers, let us strive to do everything that contributes to the edification of others while we live in community. Let us ensure that our way of life does not harm the virtues of others. May our lukewarmness never weaken the fervour of our brothers; may our anger never violate their patience; may our pride never corrupt their humility; may our impurity never stain their purity; and may we never extinguish the burning lamps of others, even if we cannot ignite our own.

⁷ Indeed, the foolish virgins, though they were unwise, still desired to light their own lamps rather than extinguish those of others. In the same way, if any of us lacks the rich grace of humility, the fire of faith, the flame of zeal, the oil of charity, or the light of discernment, let them turn to those who seem to have these gifts in abundance. Let them draw grace from their brothers, not by depriving them of it, but by imitating them. Thus, they will take possession of the virtues of others, not only without harming their neighbours, but even increasing the wealth of their own souls. For the fire that spreads broadly does not suffer the loss of its light. Likewise, the sun’s brightness is not diminished by the multitude of those who look upon it. No matter how many gaze upon it, the sun shares its radiance with all, yet remains undiminished.

⁸ Blessed by God is the soul whose humility puts to shame the pride of another, whose patience extinguishes a neighbour’s anger, whose obedience silently rebukes another’s laziness, and whose zeal stirs up the sluggishness of a neighbour’s indifference. Blessed is the one who, by the grace of consolation and edification, illuminates the troubled eye of their brother’s heart, clouded by wrath.

⁹ It is far better to be like this than to be like the one who, seeing their brother slightly distressed by some grievance, fails to offer a helping hand of comfort. Instead, they push the faltering one—like a leaning wall—toward ruin with the force of harmful words. Worse still, when a brother is rightly corrected for the sake of discipline, this person, through wicked counsel, encourages them to rebel rather than to be healed. They equip them not to recover, but to be destroyed.

¹⁰ So then, brothers and sisters, whoever is not burdened enough by their own sins acts in such a way as to bring upon themselves the judgment of another’s ruin. Let us be certain, beloved, that unless we take care, unless we daily cut away and circumcise our passions, we will become far worse than we were while we lived in this world, so that our last state becomes worse than our first.

¹¹ And indeed, dearest ones, while we were once soldiers engaged in the activities and affairs of this world—those same deeds we are now ashamed of—the adversary did not stand against us. On the contrary, he even approved of us, for he found nothing in our wretched and lost lives that stirred his envy. Our works pleased him, and our sins and crimes were sufficient for him. For who wages war against their own soldier? And who would choose to attack one already under their power? Yet, more miserable than all misery is the life of the one whom the enemy disdains to harm.

¹² But now, after we have renounced his pleasures, the adversary sees his former worshipers return to the service of their previous master. He sees, in a sense, his idols being transformed into temples of God within us. Gnashing his teeth and roaring like a lion, he prowls tirelessly, seeking every opportunity to harm us—the same lion of whom the Apostle testifies: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”.

¹³ Blessed are those whom this lion judges worthy to pursue—those whom he tracks by the footprints of their virtues and the fragrance of their merits. For he only seeks the good; the wicked offer themselves willingly. After the wicked he rushes violently, but against the good he advances carelessly. Blessed, therefore, are those whom this lion is compelled by envy to seek, yet whom his malice is prevented from finding. Indeed, it sounds terrifying in our ears when we hear the words: “like a roaring lion.” Yet it is also written: “His choice meat is sought”, meaning that what he seeks is of the elect, while his roar reveals his despair. As it is written elsewhere: “He gnashes his teeth and melts away”.

¹⁴ Thus, divine Scripture speaks in such a way that it combines terror with consolation: it is the voice of bloodthirstiness when he gnashes, but the voice of defeat when he melts away. And in the midst of all this, how great must be the treasures God has prepared for humanity, when they stir such envy in the enemy! Therefore, beloved, considering these things and labouring in this struggle, let us remember that we are the disciples and children of our glorious and renowned father. Let each of us seize what we can from the goods of this inheritance left by our spiritual father, who died without a written will. Let one claim the silken garment of faith, and another the precious variety of good works. Let one seize the talent of meekness and simplicity, while another claims the ornament of a benevolent and wise heart. Let one take hold of the pearl of compunction and plunder the treasure of chastity. For although this most wealthy friend of God took with him everything he possessed intact, he nonetheless left it all to us—if we are willing to receive it.

¹⁵ Let us therefore strive to follow his good example, so that he, who will be raised at the end of the ages to eternal glory, may already rise again now in the Church through the rebirth of his virtues in his children.