Words to live by

from John Cassian:

"Therefore God, the Creator of all things, knowing better than anyone else how to right his handiwork and that the roots and causes of our offenses lie not in others but in ourselves, commanded that the company of the brothers should not be forsaken and that those persons should not be avoided who have been hurt by us or by whom we think that we have been offended. Instead he orders that they be won over, for he knows that perfection of heart is attained not by separation from human beings but by the virtue of patience. When this is firmly possessed it can keep us at peace even with those who hate peace. By the same token, if it has not been acquired, we find ourselves constantly at odds even with those who are perfect and better than us."

Institute IX
Translated by Boniface Ramsey, O.P.

This is no more than an explication of the teachings of Our Lord, but particularly well-put.

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On a separate note, click here to read what one brother called, "the strangest All Saints homily preached last week."