Consider as an enemy…
Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God?
–Saint Basil the Great (330-379)
Those of our own household…
Among all those who are included under the title of neighbor, there are none who deserve it more, in one sense, than those of our own household. They are nearest of all to us, living under the same roof and eating the same bread. Therefore they ought to be one of the principal objects of our love, and we should practice in regard to them all the acts of a true charity, which ought to be founded not upon flesh and blood, or upon their good qualities, but altogether upon God.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
To receive God’s mercy…
If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy, we can never fail to do good so long as we have the strength. For if we share with the poor, out of love for God, whatever he has given to us, we shall receive according to his promise a hundredfold in eternal happiness. What a fine profit, what a blessed reward! With outstretched arms he begs us to turn toward him, to weep for our sins, and to become the servants of love, first for ourselves, then for our neighbors.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Love Jesus above everything….
Love our Lord, Jesus Christ, above everything in the world, because the more you love Him, the more He will love you. Have charity always, for where charity is not found God is not there, even though he is everywhere.
–Saint John of God (1495-1550)
Do good deeds well…
The most precious crown is reserved in heaven for those who do all that they do as zealously as possible: for to do good deeds in not enough by itself; we must do them well.
–Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
Look at a crucifix…
If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him, and not only forgave His enemies, but even prayed His Heavenly Father to forgive them also. Let him remember that when he says the ‘Our Father’, every day, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down vengeance on himself.
–Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)
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