The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.
Saint AugustineRead
Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on helping those who are closest to you, rather than trying to please everyone.
Saint Augustine's quote emphasizes the importance of directing our efforts towards helping those individuals who are immediately around us. Rather than attempting to do good for all people everywhere, which can be overwhelming and unrealistic, we should pay special attention and lend our support to those who are part of our immediate lives, influenced by the circumstances that brought us together.
Themes
HelpCommunityServiceRelationshipsSupport
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can serve as a reminder during a speech about community service initiatives.
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.
Saint AugustineRead
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.
Saint AugustineRead
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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...most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution.
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There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
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