February 27, 1962
From a human and rational viewpoint there is every chance of a disastrous war in the next three to five years.
Although it is almost unbelieveable to imagine this country being laid to waste, yet that is very probably what is going to happen.
Without serious reason, without people "wanting it", and without them being able to prevent it, because of their incapacity to use the power they have acquired, they must be used by it.
Hence the absolute necessity of taking this fact soberly into account and living in the perspectives which it enables -- an almost impossible task.

1. Preeminence of meditation and prayer, of self-emptying, cleaning out, getting rid of the self that blocks the view of truth. The self that says it will be here and then that it will not be here.
2. Preeminence of compassion for every living thing, for life, for the defenseless and simple beings, for the human race in its blindness. For Christ, crucified in His image, Eucharistic sacrifice, in humility
3. Weariness of words, except in friendship, in the simplest and most direct kind of communication, by word of mouth or letter.
4. Preeminence of the silent and conclusive action--if any presents itself--of meaningful suffering, accepted in complete silence, without justification.

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