Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.

Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.

Listen carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart. Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.

It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.

And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.