; like soldiers, the same combats;
like children of a family, the same ancestors and heirlooms; and,
like friends, a communication of ideas and interchange of
sentiments.

If our Lord said to Christians in general, "This is My
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. By
this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another" (John xiii.), can He not say to the members
of the same religious Order: "This is My own and special
recommendation: Before all and above all preserve amongst you a
mutual charity. Have but one soul in several different bodies. You
will be recognized as religious and brethren, not by the same
habit, vows, and virtues, nor by the particular work entrusted to
you by the Church, but by the love you have one for the other. Ah!
who will love you if you do not love one another? Love one another
fraternally, because as human beings you have only one heavenly
Father. Love one another holily, because as Christians you have
only one Head. Love one another tenderly, because as religious you
have only one mother--your Order"?

It is impossible for religious to love their brethren with a true,
sincere, pure, and constant love if they do not look at them in
this light.

IV

THE FAMILY SPIRIT

BASED on the foregoing principles, fraternal charity begets the
family spirit--that spirit which forgets itself in thinking only
of the common good; which makes particular give way to general
interests; which forces oneself to live with all without
exception, to live as all without singularity, and to live for all
without self-seeking; that spirit which, binding like a Divine
cement all parts of the mysterious edifice of religion, uniting
all hearts in one and all wills in one, permits the community to
proceed firmly and securely, and its members to work out
efficaciously and peacefully their personal sanctification and
perfection; in fine, that spirit which gives to all religious not
only an inexpressible family happiness, but a delicious foretaste
of heaven, which renders them invincible to their enemies, and
causes to be said of them with admiration: "See how they love one
another!"

Writing on these words of the Psalmist, "Behold how good and
pleasant it is for brethren to live together in union," St.
Augustine cries out: "Behold the words which make monasteries
spring up! Sweet, delightful, and delicious words which fill the
soul and ear with jubilation."