Let us love God my brothers, let us love God. But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of actively expressing love for God through hard work and dedication.
St. Vincent's quote encourages a proactive approach to love and devotion. It suggests that genuine love for God is not merely about feelings or words but should be demonstrated through sincere effort and labor. This perspective highlights the value of putting one's faith into action and living out one's beliefs through tangible deeds.
In practice
In a sermon about the importance of service, this quote can inspire parishioners to actively contribute to their community.
It ought to be considered a great misfortune, not only for individuals, but also for Houses and Congregations, to have everything in conformity with their wishes; to go on quietly, and to suffer nothing for the love of God. Yes, consider it certain that a person or a Congregation that does not suffer and is applauded by all the world is near a fall.
It is from your hands that Our Lord, in the person of the sick, seeks relief.
Charity is the cement that unites communities to God and individuals to each other_x000D_ so that he who contributes to the union of hearts in a community_x000D_ binds it indissolubly to God.
We ought to deal kindly with all, and to manifest those qualities which spring naturally from a heart tender and full of Christian charity; such as affability, love and humility. These virtues serve wonderfully to gain the hearts of men, and to encourage them to embrace things that are more repugnant to nature.
However great the work that God may achieve by an individual, he must not indulge in self-satisfaction. He ought rather to be all the more humbled, seeing himself merely as a tool which God has made use of.
Fervor is a fire that makes things boil and grow hot, just as fire causes water to boil. It is, properly speaking, charity on fire, and that is what you should have because a Daughter without Charity is like a body without a soul.
Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship.
All the sweetness of religion is conveyed to the world by the hands of storytellers and image-makers. Without their fictions the truths of religion would for the multitude be neither intelligible nor even apprehensible; and the prophets would prophesy and the teachers teach in vain.
A prayerless church member is a hindrance. He is in the body like a rotting bone or a decayed tooth. Before long, since he does not contribute to the benefit of his brethren, he will become a danger and a sorrow to them. Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.
It has come to be a dreadfully common belief in the Christian Church that the only man who has a βcallβ is the man who devotes all his time to what is called βthe ministry,β whereas all Christian service is ministry, and every Christian has a call to some kind of ministry or another.
You and I, the people of God, have permission to come before the throne of Heaven at any time we will, and we are encouraged to come there with great boldness.
A Christian who does not pray for those who govern is not a good Christian.
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