Maxioms by St. Augustine
Picture God as saying to you, "My son, why is it that day by day you rise, and pray, and read more
Picture God as saying to you, "My son, why is it that day by day you rise, and pray, and genuflect, and even strike the ground with your forehead, nay sometimes even shed tears, while you say to Me: 'My Father, give me wealth!' If I were to give it to you, you would think yourself of some importance, you would fancy that you had gained something very great. Because you asked for it, you have it. But take care to make good use of it. Before you had it, you were humble; now that you have begun to be rich you despise the poor. What kind of a good is that which only makes you worse? For worse you are, since you were bad already. And that it would make you worse you knew not; hence you asked it of Me. I gave it to you, and I proved you; you have found -- and you have found out! Ask of Me better things than these, greater things than these. Ask of Me spiritual things. Ask of Me Myself!".
Lord, Make me chaste, but not yet
Lord, Make me chaste, but not yet
When the will abandons what is above itself and turns to what is lower, it becomes evil -- not because read more
When the will abandons what is above itself and turns to what is lower, it becomes evil -- not because that is evil to which it turns, but because the turning itself is wicked. Therefore it is not an inferior thing which has made the will evil, but it is itself which has become so by wickedly and inordinately desiring an inferior thing.
The people who remained victorious were less like conquerors than conquered.
The people who remained victorious were less like conquerors than conquered.
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
Patience is the companion of wisdom.