Quotes

To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth – that is not living, but existing.

To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth – that is not living, but existing.

A civilization inspired by a consumerist, anti-birth mentality is not and cannot ever be a civilization of love.

A civilization inspired by a consumerist, anti-birth mentality is not and cannot ever be a civilization of love.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

Gratissimam Sane - Letter to Families from Pope John Paul II

Certainly, it is difficult to make the demands of the Gospel understandable to secularized people

Certainly, it is difficult to make the demands of the Gospel understandable to secularized people. But this pastoral difficulty must not lead to compromises with the truth.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

 Concerning some objections to the Church's teaching on the reception of Holy Communion by divorced and remarried members of the faithful

 

This was written before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.

Tags: 

The Magisterium's manner of expression does not seem very easy to understand at times. It needs to be translated by preachers and catechists

One can readily admit that the Magisterium's manner of expression does not seem very easy to understand at times. It needs to be translated by preachers and catechists into a language which relates to people and to their respective cultural environments. The essential content of the Church's teaching, however, must be upheld in this process. It must not be watered down on allegedly pastoral grounds, because it communicates the revealed truth.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

 Concerning some objections to the Church's teaching on the reception of Holy Communion by divorced and remarried members of the faithful

 

This was written before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.

Tags: 

Assuredly, the word of truth can be painful and uncomfortable. But it is the way to holiness, to peace, and to inner freedom.

Assuredly, the word of truth can be painful and uncomfortable. But it is the way to holiness, to peace, and to inner freedom. A pastoral approach which truly wants to help the people concerned must always be grounded in the truth. In the end, only the truth can be pastoral.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

 Concerning some objections to the Church's teaching on the reception of Holy Communion by divorced and remarried members of the faithful

 

This was written before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.

Tags: 

What is perfection in love?

“What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers … For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” (Luke 23:34)

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on I John, I.9

If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.

“If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”

Author/Reference: 

It is sad that there are what you might call professinal Catholics who make a living on their Catholicism

It is sad that there are what you might call professional Catholics who make a living on their Catholicism, but in whom the spring of faith flows only faintly, in a few scattered drops. We must really make an effort to change this.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

Light of the World - The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times, p. 141.

Celibacy is always, shall we say, an affront to what man normally thinks

Celibacy is always, shall we say, an affront to what man normally thinks. It is something that can be done, and is only credible, if there is a God and if celibacy is my doorway into the kingdom of God.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

Light of the World - The Pope, the Church and the Sings of the Times, p. 149.

Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation

Homosexuality is incompatible with the priestly vocation. Otherwise, celibacy itself would lose its meaning as a renunciation.

Author/Reference: 
Reference books: 

Light of the World - The Pope, the Church and the Sings of the Times, p. 152.

Pages

Subscribe to Quotes