The Virtue of the Wise Virgins

Though the Christian ought to rejoice in the moral goods and works he performs temporally, insofar as they are the cause of temporal goods, he ought not do so as the Gentiles, who did not penetrate with the eyes of their soul beyond the things of this mortal life.  Since the Christian has the light of faith, in which he hopes for eternal life, and without which nothing from above or below will have any value, he ought to rejoice in the possession and exercise of these moral goods only and chiefly in the second manner: that insofar as he performs these works for the love of God, they produce eternal life for him.

Thus, through his good customs and virtues he should fix his eyes only upon the service and honor of God.  Without this aspect the virtues are worth nothing in God's sight.  This is evident in the Gospel in the case of the ten virgins; they had all preserved their virginity and done good works, yet because five of them had not rejoiced in this second way (by directing their joy in these works to God), but rather in the first, rejoicing vainly in the possession of these works, they were rejected from heaven and left without any gratitude or reward from their spouse (Mt. 25: 1-13).  Also many of the ancients possessed numerous virtues and engaged in good works, and many Christians have them today and accomplish wonderful deeds; but such works are of no profit for eternal life, because of failure to seek only the honor and glory of God.

The Christian, then, should not be joyful if he accomplishes good works and abides by good customs, but if he does them out of love for God alone, without any other motive.

Saint John of the Cross

-Saint John of the Cross (1591) is called the Mystical Doctor.