Christian perfection consists…
Christian perfection consists in three things: praying heroically, working heroically, and suffering heroically.
— Saint Anthony Claret (1807-1870)
Embittered and furious…
If we take St Paul literally, then we are not allowed to cling to our anger for even a day (cf. Eph 4.26). I would like to make a comment, however, that many people are so embittered and furious when they are in a state of anger, that they not only cling to their anger for a day, but drag it on for weeks. I am at a loss for words to explain those who do not even vent their anger in speech but erect a barrier of sullen silence around them and distill the bitter poison of their hearts until it finally destroys them.
— Saint John Cassian (c. 360-435)
Anger makes us…
This deadly cancer of anger from which so much harm grows: it makes us unlike ourselves, makes us like timberwolves or furies from Hell, drives us forth headlong upon the points of swords, makes us blindly run forth after other men’s destruction as we hasten toward our own ruin.
— Saint Thomas More (1478-1535)
To avoid dissensions…
To avoid dissensions we should be ever on our guard, more especially with those who drive us to argue with them, with those who vex and irritate us, and who say things likely to excite us to anger. When we find ourselves in company with quarrelsome, eccentric individuals, people who openly and unblushingly say the most shocking things, difficult to put up with, we should take refuge in silence, and the wisest plan is not to reply to people whose behavior is so preposterous.
— Saint Ambrose of Milan (339-397)
Fight all error…
Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
— Saint John Cantius (1390-1473)
The saints speak…
Each of us can discuss God inasmuch as he has known the grace of the Holy Spirit; for how can we think of or discuss what we haven’t seen, or haven’t head of, or don’t know? The saints say that they have seen God, but there are people who say that there is no God. Clearly, they say this because they haven’t known God, but this does not at all mean that He is not. The saints speak of that which they have truly seen and know.
— Saint Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938)
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