What a mistake those who do not hope make! Judas made a huge blunder the day in which he sold Christ for 30 denarii, but he made an even bigger one when he thought that his sin was too great to be forgiven. No sin is too big: any wretchedness, however great, can always be enclosed in infinite mercy.
Remember: Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the significance of individual contributions and the belief that one's efforts are valued by higher authorities.
In this quote, Pope John Paul I conveys a powerful message about individual worth and responsibility within the context of faith and community. He highlights that not only is Christ calling each person to contribute positively, but the Church and the Pope also recognize the potential within individuals, fostering a sense of purpose and expectation for greatness. This serves to inspire believers to act in alignment with their faith and to understand their unique role in making a difference.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about community service, a leader could use this quote to motivate participation.
More from Pope John Paul I
All quotes →The priestly vocation is essentially a call to sanctity, in the form that derives from the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Sanctity is intimacy with God; it is the imitation of Christ, poor, chaste and humble; it is unreserved love for souls and self-giving to their true good; it is love for the church which is holy and wants us to be holy, because such is the mission that Christ has entrusted to it. Each one of you must be holy also in order to help your brothers pursue their vocation to sanctity.
If someone had told me I would be Pope one day, I would have studied harder.
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You can wipe your feet on me, twist my motives around all you like, you can dump millstones on my head and drown me in the river, but you can’t get me out of the story. I’m the plot, babe, and don’t ever forget it.