Letter 11 - Becoming Great Saints Guastalla, June 20, 1539To the honorable Mr. Bernardo Omodei184 and Madonna Laura [Rossi],185 both worthy of much respect in Christ.   HIGHLY ESTEEMED BROTHER, OR, AS YOU PREFER TO BE CALLED, DEAR SON, MY GREETINGS AND MY VERY SELF TO YOU IN CHRIST.I have received your letter, and here I am to answer it, or rather, to talk, as it were, with you and your most cordial Madonna Laura.You have decided to give yourselves to Christ, and I desire that you do not fall victims to lukewarmness, but rather that you grow more and more fervent.  For if you let lukewarmness ensnare you, your life in the spirit will be overcome by the flesh, and—to use the proper word—you will be Pharisees rather than Christians and spiritual persons.Now, here is how the lukewarm—the Pharisee—behaves.  Having left his old ways, he does not commit big sins any longer but takes pleasure in little ones; and does not feel remorse for them.  For instance, he stops blaspheming and insulting his neighbor, but he attaches no importance to getting somewhat upset and to insisting on his own opinion rather than to giving in to his opponent.  Speaking evil of others is no longer a bad habit of his, but indulging quite often in vain and useless chatting during the day is not much of a sin to him.  He got rid of eating too much and drinking excessively, as drunkards do, but he enjoys snacking here and there, between meals, without necessity.  The vicious habits of the flesh are a thing of the past for him, but he takes delight in conversations and entertainments that are not so clean.  He loves to spend hours in prayer, but during the rest of the day his spirit wanders aimlessly.  He no longer seeks honors, but if they are given him, he gloats over them.I have given some examples; you can multiply them.  Be sure to conclude that the Pharisee or lukewarm person works at getting rid of serious sins but allows himself to commit little ones.  He eliminates all illicit things but desires everything that is considered licit.  He refrains from sensual actions but takes pleasure in visual sensualities.  He wants to do good but only within certain limits.  He controls himself but not totally.  I am not saying that he should accomplish all this in the twinkling of an eye and in a short time, but neither should he by fits and starts and over a long time.On the contrary, anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series of surgical operations in his soul.  One day he removes this, another day he removes that, and relentlessly proceeds until he lays aside his old self.  Let me explain.  First of all, he eliminates offensive words, then useless ones, and finally speaks of nothing else but of edifying things.  He eradicates angry words and gestures and finally adopts meek and humble manners.  He shuns honors and, when they are given to him, not only is he not interiorly pleased, but he also welcomes insults and humiliations, and even rejoices in them.  He not only knows how to abstain from the marital act, but, aiming at increasing in himself the beauty and merits of chastity, he also renounces anything smacking of sensuality.  He is not content to spend one or two hours in prayer but loves to raise his mind to Christ frequently.  Now, share your thoughts with one another on other subjects, just as I have done so far.Amiable Madonna Laura and you, dear Mr. Bernardo, accept my words and reflect on them with the same affection as I have told them to you.  I do not say, of course, that you should accomplish everything in one day.  What I do say is: I would like you to be intent on doing more every day and on eliminating every day even licit sensual inclinations.  All this is, indeed, for the sake of willing to grow in perfection, of diminishing imperfections, and of avoiding the danger of falling prey to lukewarmness.Do not think that my love for you or the good qualities you are endowed with, may have me desire that you be just litt