Course XLVI - Teaching 8: Necessary Manual Work

Ordained: never be idle; your hands must make certain work even during your conversation and recreation. In Torino, in the House of the Cottolengo, the continuous activity of the Vicentine Nuns calls especially the attention; even at the entrance, the nun in charge of the door assist not only the door and people, but at the same time she keeps on knitting socks. Someone asked the Cottolengo how to overcome temptations, and he replied, “As long as you are busy and at work, the devil cannot accede to you”.
Neither bad thoughts, nor doubts, nor boredom will disturb the Ordained Sons as long as they are busy. Leisure is enemy of virtue, and the Black Lady is ever present at the precise instant when a Son wastes his time or is idle, because she knows when it is time to disturb souls of this kind and to tempt them. And if there are certain people whom she wants to catch in particular, these fellows are consecrated souls. The Black Lady possesses many fish; she throws her net on the world and catches a lot. But she desires certain fine fish in her nets, and wants to devour certain privileged souls, namely, all those who are devoted to God. Therefore she is continuously marauding Houses of Ordained Sons that are in their Radius of Stability.
But the Sons will laugh at her if do not open any door; and no door will be open to the enemy if the Sons are ever busy from daybreak to sunset by working, prayer and fulfilling their duties. Even at night she cannot catch them because they will be exhausted and eager for sleeping.
This must be your custom, which is transmitted to any Son that comes to be Ordained: never be cross-armed and idle.