Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/6036

6036 It is not the deed alone that decides, but the will....

August 28, 1954: Book 65

It is not the deed itself that is decisive, but the will that underlies this deed. A good will can carry out a deed that has a different effect than that of blessing.... but there can also be a bad will underlying a deed that is seen as good by the eyes of fellow human beings. The will alone is evaluated by God. Nevertheless, the human being's intellect must consider every deed, and the person of good will will then recognize whether he acts wrongly or rightly.... but the person whose will is not good will also refrain from an action which he recognizes as contrary to his will. And so that a person's thinking is right he should pray, which only a person with a good will will do but then he will also never commit a deed which has a bad effect on his fellow human beings. You certainly have free will, therefore you will not be prevented from doing whatever you plan or carry out, yet you have to take responsibility for your actions, and you should bear this in mind, and then you will not act recklessly, you will proceed conscientiously and always take God's commandments as a guideline and then not sin either. For these commandments dictate your earthly way of life, and if all your thoughts and actions are determined or guided by love for God and your neighbour your earthly change can only be a blessing for your fellow human beings, for love eliminates all error, because right love also enlightens the spirit and guarantees right thinking. Therefore you have to check yourselves whether a deed you want to do is based on love and then only do it when this check is in your favour, when love for God and your fellow human beings prompts you to do it. Then it will be good and you need not fear responsibility.... Without love, however, there is always the danger that you will sin, for without love the will is not good either, and what you then carry out will also have its effect accordingly. For you can certainly deceive your fellow human beings but never God, Who sees into your hearts. But the praise of your fellow human beings should not tempt you to do deeds which cannot stand up before God.... Love alone makes a deed worthwhile, and love will also always act right.... love will want to help, and every helpful deed is pleasing to God and will be blessed by Him....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers