18. Prayer and silence can transform everything, the quintessence of perfection is the practice of interior and exterior silence. You are like young trees that I have to cultivate. One does not demand much fruit from a newly planted tree, but one rejoices to see it stretch out good roots. One knows that it will soon have leaves and fruit.

19. The bark which protects the trunk and through which the sap reaches the branches is the image of silence and mortification of the senses, which converse for a religious the pure spirit of his vocation. But so that silence and mortification produce this effect, they must be practiced with a certain unction.

20. It is necessary for you to make retreats, you need them.

21. In the first place, because of your weakness, you are still steeped in egoism and pride. You are susceptible to the least inconsiderate word, to the least correction. In solitude you will find strength and stability.

22. In the second place, because of your blindness; you still understand the spiritual life so little. You don't realize yet how sanctifying it is to be humiliated and scorned, and to count for nothing; the spirit of the world still sullies your intention so often. It is only in retreat that you see clearly.

23. In the third place, because of your poverty. Without grace you are incapable of doing your work as educators; of serving the sick; incapable of understanding exactly the duties of your state. Without grace you can do nothing.

24. In the calm of prayer, all the graces of which you have need are accorded to you, under the form and in the measure that is most useful to you.

25. During retreat, you will receive the graces that are necessary for you, to know and fulfill the duties of your state - the grace to serve the sick, or to form young people. Without these graces you are powerless. It is in solitude that these graces are bestowed upon you.

26. At the sound of the bell, one interrupts and leaves one's work peacefully. One works with such calm and contemplation that one can pass without disturbance from work to prayer.

27. Above all, the Brothers should keep themselves from dissipation, a danger which menaces all apostolic work. They should do violence to themselves in order to remain in the presence of God, and often address short prayers to Him. If it is impossible to do this, let them offer their exterior occupations to God and accomplish them as being His will. Thus these works will be as pleasing to Him as prayers, because it is prayer to work for God and in the presence of God.