God’s Soul is the wind rustling plants and leaves, the dew dancing on the grass, the rainy breezes making everything to grow. Just like this, the kindness of a person flows, touching those dragging burdens of longing. We should be a breeze helping the homeless, dew comforting those who are depressed, the cool, misty air refreshing the exhausted, and with God’s teaching we have got to feed the hungry: This is how we share God’s soul.
–Saint Hildegarde of Bingen (1098-1179)
Nothing is more serious, nothing more difficult to deal with, as I say repeatedly, than judging and despising our neighbor. Why do we not rather judge ourselves and our own wickedness which we know so accurately and about which we have to render an account to God? Why do we usurp God’s right to judge?
–Saint Dorotheus of Gaza (Sixth Century)
Christ gave his life for you, and do you hold a grudge against your fellow servant? How then can you approach the table of peace? Your Master did not refuse to undergo every kind of suffering for you, and will you not even forgo your anger?… If you refuse to forgive your enemy you harm not him but yourself… There is no one God detests and repudiates more than the person who bears a grudge, whose heart is filled with anger, whose soul is seething with rage.
–Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
If we keep remembering the wrongs which men have done us, we destroy the power of the remembrance of God.
–Saint Macarius the Great (295-392)
Resist your impatience faithfully, fully, practicing, not only with reason, but even against reason, holy courtesy and sweetness to all, but especially to those who weary you most.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
