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One day a woman went to the saintly Father John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, in France, and said, "My husband has not been to the sacraments or to Mass for years. He has been unfaithful, wicked, and unjust. He has just fallen from a bridge and was drowned --a double death of body and soul." The Cure answered, "Madam, there is a short distance between the bridge and the water, and it is that distance which forbids you to judge."
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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We know nothing about the inside of our neighbor's heart, and hence, we refuse to forgive. Jesus knew the heart inside out, and because He did know, He forgave. Take any scene of action, let five people look upon it, and you will get five different stories of what happened. No one of them sees all sides. Our Lord does, and that is why He forgives. Why is it that we can find excuses for our anger against our neighbor, yet we refuse to admit ..
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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In fact, in order that we may never know ourselves, we hate silence and solitariness. Lest our conscience should carry on with us an unbearable repartee, we drown out its voice in amusements, distractions, and noise. If we met ourselves in others, we would hate them.
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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A few years ago, one who was generally believed to be a racketeer and murderer met death at the hands of his fellow criminals. A few minutes before his death, he asked to be received into the Church, was baptized, received First Communion, and was anointed and given the last blessing. Some who should have known better protested against the Church. Imagine! Envy at the salvation of a soul! Why not rather rejoice in God's mercy, for, after al..
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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the only real escape from the demands of the flesh is to find something more than the flesh to love; and that Mary is the refuge of sinners.
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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The only way love can be shown in this world is by sacrifice --namely, the surrender of one thing for another. Love is essentially bound up with choice, and choice is a negation, and negation is a sacrifice. When a young man sets his heart upon a young woman and asks her to marry him, he is not only saying "I choose you"; he is also saying "I do not choose, I reject, all others. I give them all up for you." Apply this to the problem of lust..
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |
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Ignorance of ourselves is another reason for forgiving others. Unfortunately it is ourselves we know least; our neighbor's sins, weaknesses, and failures we know a thousand times better than our own. Criticism of others may be bad, but it is want of self-criticism which is worse.
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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen |