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 either go  forward  and  advance  in  virtue,  or  go  backward and rush  headlong  into  vice.

In seeking  eternal  salvation,  we  must,  according  to St.  Paul,  never  rest,  but  must  run  continually  in  the way of  perfection,  that  we  may  win  the  prize,  and  secure an incorruptible  crown. So run  that  you  may  obtain.  If we  fail,  the  fault  will  be  ours;  for  God  wills  that  all  be holy  and  perfect. This is  the  will  of  God — your  sanctification.  He  even  commands  us  to  be  perfect  and  holy. ''Be you  therefore  perfect,  as  also  your  Heavenly  Father  is  perfect. Be holy  because  I  am  holy.''  He  promises  and  gives, as the  holy  Council  of  Trent  teaches,  abundant  strength, for the  observance  of  all  his  commands,  to  those  who ask it  from  him. " God  does  not  command  impossibilities; but  by  his  precepts  he  admonishes  you  to  do what  you  can,  and  to  ask  what  you  cannot  do;  and he  assists  you,  that  you  may  be  able  to  do  it." God does  not  command  impossibilities;  but  by  his  precepts he  admonishes  us  to  do  what  we  can  by  the  aid  of his  ordinary  grace;  and  when  greater  helps  are  necessary, he  exhorts  us  to  seek  them  by  humble  prayer. He will infallibly  attend  to  our  petitions,  and  enable  us  to observe  all,  even  the  most  difficult,  of  his  commandments. Take courage,  then,  and  adopt  the  advice  of  the Venerable Father  Torres  to  a  religious,  who  was  one  of his  penitents:  "Let  us,  my  child,  put  on  the  wings  of strong  desires,  that,  quitting  the  earth,  we  may  fly  to our  Spouse  and  our  Beloved,  who  expects  us  in  the blessed  kingdom  of  eternity."