If you judge people…
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Pray for our neighbor…
It is better to pray with good will for our neighbor, rather than to denounce him for every sin.
–Saint Mark the Ascetic (Fifth Century)
Perfect spiritual love…
To harbor no envy, no anger, no resentment against an offender is still not to have charity for him. It is possible, without any charity, to avoid rendering evil for evil. But to render, spontaneously, good for evil — such belongs to a perfect spiritual love.
–Saint Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
Live simply…
Live simply that others might simply live.
–Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)
Love for God and neighbor…
The Lord wants us to love one another. Here is freedom: in love for God and neighbor. In this freedom, there is equality. In earthly orders, there may not be equality, but this is not important for the soul. Not everyone can be a king, not everyone a patriarch or a boss. But in any position it is possible to love God and to please Him, and only this is important. And whoever loves God more on earth will be in greater glory in His Kingdom.
–Saint Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938)
What to do…
A Medieval Mystic’s To-Do List
- When you pray, be humble.
- When you confess, be honest.
- When you do penance, do it indefatigably.
- When you eat, be sensible.
- When you sleep, be disciplined.
- When you are alone, be faithful.
- When you are with others, be discreet.
- When someone teaches you good manners, be receptive.
- When someone reprimands you for your mistakes, be patient.
- When you do something bad, ask forgiveness immediately.
- When you are full of self-absorbed pride, fear for the health of your soul.
- When you are sad, trust in God completely.
- When you are doing manual work, work hard.
- because hard work drives off every evil thought.
-– Mechthild of Magdeburg (Thirteenth Century)
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