April 6, 2006

  • When I am alone, my gaiety disappears; many confused and sad thoughts assail me; it seems to me as if I had lost something, or as if luck had abandoned me. In my life, happiness was always followed by misfortune, and the more beautiful the one was the more terrible the other one appeared.


    I consider myself fortunate to be able to suffer a little for a cause that I believe sacred. I do not accuse myself of any act that humiliates me before my conscience. I admit that at first I was grieved by the change of my fortune, but afterward I consoled myself by thinking of others more just and more worthy who had suffered greater injustices and once cannot make everything run according to his desire. If this is fanaticism, may God forgive me, for however much I search myself I cannot see it thus.


    For my part, I shall work faithfully and quietly; I shall devote my strength to my cause. It does not matter what they may say about me; I have done my duty, I envy no one, I trust in God and the fate of my fraternity. I shall always be at the service of my brotherhood and what my fellow brethren think I can do I shall do. True piety is obedience to what is right, happen what may. God has made humans free and has promised victory to one who perserveres, to one who struggles, to one who acts justly.


    I am neither immortal nor invulnerable, and my greatest joy will be to see myself eclipsed by a pleiad of fellow brothers at the time that I can no longer serve. That will be the ultimate success.