From the beginning of a letter to the Philippians by Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr
From Polycarp and his fellow presbyters to the pilgrim church of God at Philippi: May you have mercy and peace in abundance from Almighty God and Jesus Christ our Savior. I…
From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope
You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called…
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
Christ is your shepherd and judge; he judges between his own sheep and other sheep. My sheep, he says, hear my voice and follow me. In this statement I…
From a writing by Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
Even though the poor are often rough and unrefined, we must not judge them from external appearances nor from the mental gifts they seem to have received. On the…
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
Hear and learn, you sheep of God. God calls for an accounting of his sheep from the wicked shepherds and inquires into the death of his sheep at their hands….
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
They were scattered on every mountain, and on every hill and over the entire face of the earth. What is the meaning of the phrase: They were scattered over the…
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. In one way or another, we go on living between the hands of robbers and the…
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
You have failed to strengthen the weak, says the Lord. He is speaking to wicked shepherds, false shepherds, shepherds who seek their own concerns and not those of Christ. They…
From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
Offer the bandage of consolation, bind up what has been broken. Say this: “Do not be afraid. God in whom you have believed does not abandon you in temptations….