“He shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Zech. 9:10).
True peace has come to us in the Son of the Most High, who calls all nations to this peace. Our heavenly Father emphasizes that peace comes when people recognize, worship, and love Him. Inner and outer peace can arise only when we live according to God’s instructions.
“When a person is cautious in speech, he becomes gentle, mild, and modest. For when he controls his tongue and does not speak until he has examined, weighed, and considered his words, whether they should be said and to whom, he is indeed practicing modesty, gentleness, and patience.” (Saint Ambrose of Milan)
Avoiding missteps in speech and thus in one’s words is no easy task.
“God enters the house when the soul not only meditates on His love, but also works in it day and night.” (Saint Bridget of Sweden)
“My dear children, I have lavished these gifts upon you with special graces for twenty centuries, but with what miserable results!” Read More
“Only those who have experienced it know the benefits and divine bliss that solitude and silence in the wilderness bring to those who love them.” (Saint Bruno, the Carthusian)
While these words certainly apply first and foremost to those who follow the call to solitude in order to serve the Lord there and dwell in His presence, they are also words that can be adapted to other circumstances in life. Read More
“Your great trust in Me compels Me to grant you graces constantly. You have great and incomprehensible rights over My Heart, for you are a daughter of perfect trust.” (St. Faustina) Read More
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle” (St. Francis).
Jesus says to His disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). This is preceded by His testimony about Himself: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“It is a crime to disturb peace where truth reigns. It is a crime to remain at peace while destroying the truth. Therefore, truth is the guiding principle and the ultimate goal of all things.” (Blaise Pascal)
In His all-important words, which we should never forget or downplay, the Lord makes it clear: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
“If a little flower could speak, it seems to me that it would tell us quite simply all that God has done for it, without hiding any of its gifts. It would not, under the pretext of humility, say that it was not pretty, or that it had not a sweet scent, that the sun had withered its petals, or the storm bruised its stem, if it knew that such were not the case.” (Thérèse of the Child Jesus).
This loving word complements St. Jerome’s earlier statement very well. Just as it is true that we should recognize our imperfection and strive for God’s perfection, so too is it important to recognize and acknowledge the beauty of the gifts God has bestowed upon us.
“The only perfection of human beings lies in their becoming aware of their imperfection.” (St. Jerome)
What may at first sound like a pessimistic statement about human beings reveals itself, upon closer examination, to be a piece of wisdom that St. Jerome shares with us.
This insight helps us overcome false pride and self-assurance, enabling us to deeply understand our reality as human beings. The important thing now is how we deal with this. It would certainly be wrong to succumb to a kind of disordered sadness because of our imperfections, though we can, of course, mourn the loss of Paradise and all its consequences. Instead, this insight becomes an invitation to turn to the “Perfect One”: our beloved Father. By seeking Him and sharing in His perfection, we awaken to true life and to a proper understanding of our existence.
