“Let us therefore take great care that, once we have set out on the Lord’s path, we never turn away from Him through our own fault or ignorance.” (St. Clare of Assisi)
We can be certain of God’s love, which never leaves us. At the same time, however, we are called to walk the path of following Christ with great vigilance. This realistic assessment acknowledges our status as fallible human beings. It combines deep trust in our Heavenly Father with the sobriety that has learned to avoid any kind of recklessness and false security. Yet, as Saint Clare says, this vigilance is not restless or tense; it is the attentiveness of a “loving warrior” who, with the gift of the fear of God, avoids anything that could separate us from our beloved Father.
We are indeed moved by love because love responds to God’s invitation. Initially, this love embodies the receptive attitude of the Virgin Mary toward our Father. Then, it leads us into active combat to preserve the grace received. The spiritual battle is entrusted to her, and she must wage it with trust, but also with the vigilance of a warrior. The enemies are there—both within and without. In a certain sense, as long as we are journeying on earth, we can never completely lay aside the spiritual armor (cf. Eph 6:13–17), for “your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.” (1 Pet 5:8)
As “loving warriors,” we ask the Holy Spirit to watch over us, to help us recognize even the slightest deviation from our path, and to stand in our way. This is an effective step to ensure that our vigilance is maintained and that we never turn away from Him through our own fault or ignorance.