The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.
Saint AugustineRead
It is not that we keep His commandments first and that then He loves but that He loves us and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace which is revealed to the humble but hidden from the proud.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that love and grace come before obedience to commandments, especially for those who are humble.
Saint Augustine highlights an important aspect of faith: the unconditional love and grace of God precede any attempt by individuals to follow His commandments. This love inspires obedience, particularly in those who approach their faith with humility. In contrast, those who are proud may struggle to grasp this divine grace, as their arrogance can blind them to the necessity of humility and the true nature of God's love.
Themes
GraceLoveHumilityObedienceFaith
In practice
Example use cases
During a church sermon discussing God's love and commandments.
More from Saint Augustine
All quotes →There is no health in those who are displeased by an element in Your creation, just as there was none in me when I was displeased by many things You had made. Because my soul didn't dare to say that my God displeased me, it refused to attribute to You whatever was displeasing.
Saint AugustineRead
Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.
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Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart.
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Whatever skills I have acquired, whatever gifts I have been given, I place them at Your service.
Saint AugustineRead
Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth. Everyone therefore who doubts whether truth exists has in himself a truth on which not to doubt.... Hence one who can doubt at all ought not to doubt the existence of truth.
Saint AugustineRead
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