When they asked Abbot Antonio if the path of
sacrifice led to heaven, he answered:
- There are two paths of sacrifice. The first is taken
by the man who mortifies the flesh and pays penance because he believes that we
are condemned. The man who follows this path feels guilty and judges himself
unworthy of living happily. He will never get anywhere
because God does not inhabit guilt.
- The second path is taken by the man who, even
though he knows that the world is not as perfect as we would like, prays, does
penance and offers up his time and toil to improve the world around him. So he
understands that the word sacrifice comes from sacro ofício, holy work. In this
case the Divine Presence helps him all the time and he obtains results in
heaven.”
Based on Paulo Coelho’s story in “Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren- Vol 2"
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