Pondering Tidbits of Truth - July 31, 2014

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Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.

Cardinal Charles Journet

“The Church continues to live in her children who are not in the state of grace. The Church seeks to work against the evil that corrupts their souls. She struggles to keep them in her fold, to bring them back to life with her love. She con­serves them as one conserves a treasure not easily parted from. And it is not because she wants to carry around dead weight. She only hopes that through the power of patience, gentleness and pardon the sinner will make his return to her. It is like the withered branch which for lack of sap is allowed time to regain health and flower once more.”

(From Theology of the Church)

St. Rose of Lima

[Jesus speaking;] "Let all men know that without the burden of afflictions, it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increases as the struggle increases."

(From Words of Hope, edited by Craig Turner)

St. John Chrysostom

“Christ has put us on earth to act as beacons that give light, as doctors who teach, so that we might fulfill our duty as leaven ... It would certainly not be necessary to preach doctrine if your lives were so radiant, nor would it be neces­sary to have recourse to words if your works gave testimony. There would not be a single pagan if we conducted ourselves like true Christians.”

St. Thomas de Villanueva

“All one's cares and efforts are of little value compared to the interests of a single soul. He who brings back a lost sheep to the fold has won for himself a powerful intercessor before God.”

(From Homily on Sunday)