Better to be a beggar in freedom than to be forced into compromises against my conscience.
Dietrich Von HildebrandRead
One saintly priest attracts more souls to Christ...than do those who lack the imprint of their sacred office
Interpretation
A true spiritual leader draws people to faith more effectively than those without genuine spiritual qualities.
This quote emphasizes the profound impact that a sincere and holy individual, particularly a priest or spiritual leader, can have on guiding others towards faith in Christ. It suggests that the authenticity and sanctity of one’s vocation can significantly influence the spiritual journey of others, highlighting the importance of character and spiritual integrity in leadership roles.
In practice
In a sermon discussing the importance of spiritual leaders in a community.
Better to be a beggar in freedom than to be forced into compromises against my conscience.
The way to attain the virtue of mercy lies in our constant awareness of being encompassed by mercy.
The great mystery of our metaphysical situation, that God is nearer to us than we are ourselves, is manifest in the fact that we cannot even be wholly ourselves—in the sense of individuality as a unique divine thought—until we are reborn in Christ.
There are really no serious arguments for communion in the hand. But there are the most gravely serious kinds of arguments against it.
I testify of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose teachings and example we seek to follow. He invites all of us who are heavy laden to come unto Him, to learn of Him, to follow Him, and thus to find rest to our souls.
We are afraid that if we stop and really look at God in his Word, we might discover that he evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give him.
Germany has an established and well-furnished Catholicism, often with employed Catholics who handle the church like a labor union. For them, the church is simply the employer.
The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world. . . . Let Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: he is God with us. Seek him without tiring, welcome him without reserve, love him without interruption: today, tomorrow, forever.
The likeness of Your Church, O Lord, is that woman who went behind and touched the hem of Your garment, saying within herself: 'If I do but touch His garment I shall be whole' (Mt. 9:21). So the Church confesses her wounds, but desires to be healed.
The gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere - any additional rules made to govern men's conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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