Father Anthony J. Paone, S.J.
"My child, human respect is the fear of
being criticized or corrected by people. Live your life in My presence, and do
not think too much of what people may think or say. As long as your conscience
is clear, the thoughts or words of men can neither add to nor subtract from
your true worth. You are not a better man when people praise you, nor are you
worse when they find fault with you. You are what you are, and I see you as you
really are. Your value in My eyes does not depend upon the judgments of people.
I look upon your heart. I see your intentions and your sincere efforts. Men
judge you mainly by your external actions. They cannot be sure of your merit or
guilt in the deed. Too often they judge you by their own likes and dislikes, or
by their own vanity and fixed ideas."
(From My Daily Bread)
St. John Marie Vianney
"We can very well say that the Passion which
the Jews made Christ suffer was almost nothing compared with what Christians make
him undergo with their insults of mortal sins…what horror there will be when
Jesus Christ shows us the things for which we have abandoned Him!"
(From Sermon on Sin)
Venerable
"Poor in spirit [referenced in the Sermon on
the Mount]…does not mean indigent. To be poor in spirit is to be conscious of
one’s spiritual poverty, to blush at one’s own defects, to have a deep sense of
nothingness before God, and to be resigned before the beneficent Hand of
Providence. The foundation of all spiritual happiness is to be conscious before
God of one’s emptiness or one’s need, like the publican smiting his breast.
Poverty of spirit is the very antithesis of the worldly doctrine of
self-sufficiency."
(From The Life of Christ)
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St. John Vianney's quote should bring all of us up short. What are we really doing when we commit mortal sin? Scary.
ReplyDeleteBishop Sheen's explanation about "poor in spirit" is one of the best I've read.
What Barb just said -- I agree.
ReplyDeleteSt. John Vianney's quote also hit me hard. It's easy to recognize others in those kind of things...but it's ourselves we are challenged to see.
ReplyDeleteThank you Barb, Rich and Kathleen for taking the time to comment.
ReplyDeleteSo many have never heard these truths. Those of us who have must not only share them with others but, if necessary as Kathleen reminded us, adjust our own behaviors so as not to live a life inconsistent with the truths we share - not an easy thing to do for us sinful humans.