It isn’t falling…
It isn’t falling in that causes you to drown, it’s staying in.
–Anthony de Mello (1931-1987)
Belong entirely to God…
So now, since you want to belong entirely to God, why should you be afraid of your weakness – on which, in any case, you shouldn’t be relying.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
To blame God…
So how unjust it would be for me to blame God for allowing my sin when he does not blame me for falling into it.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
One who has stumbled…
Do not fall into despair because of stumbling. I do not mean that you should not feel contrition for them, but that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to be bruised than dead. There is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Vices and sins…
We must be firmly convinced that we have nothing of our own, except our vices and sins. We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit loves to talk a lot but does nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people can see, with no desire for true piety and interior holiness of spirit.
–Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)
Controlled by anger…
It avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be controlled by anger.
–Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)
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