QUOTES

--Alan Wardman, Religion and Statecraft Among the Romans, London, Granada, 1982, p.112.

In God there lies the origin of all things, in him is found the fullness of the mystery, and in this his glory consists; to men and women there falls the task of exploring truth with their reason, and in this their nobility consists.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

Poverty I love, but not dirt.

--St. Bernard, 12 th cent.

These fundamental elements of knowledge spring from the wonder awakened in them by the contemplation of creation: human beings are astonished to discover themselves as part of the world, in a relationship with others like them, all sharing a common destiny. Here begins, then, the journey which will lead them to discover ever new frontiers of knowledge. Without wonder, men and women would lapse into deadening routine and little by little would become incapable of a life which is genuinely personal.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

To desire to be poor but not to be inconvenienced by poverty, is to desire the honor of povetry and the convenience of riches.

--St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, 3,16 17th. cent

He who gives up regularity in prayer has lost a principle means of reminding himself that spiritual life is obedience to a Lawgiver, not a mere feeling or taste.

--Cardinal Newman Parochial and Plain Sermons, I. 19th cent.

Theology needs therefore the contribution of a philosophy which does not disavow the possibility of a knowledge which is objectively true, even if not perfect.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

The world runs after pulpit orators. The please the ear and do not disturb the conscience. They move the motions, but do not change the will. The world suffers no loss for them, nor is it humbled, nor wounded.

--Cardinal Manning, The Eternal Priesthood, 19th cent.

Life in fact can never be grounded upon doubt, uncertainty or deceit; such an existence would be threatened constantly by fear and anxiety.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

In the old days, men had the rack. Now they have the press.

--Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism, 19th cent.

It is an illusion to think that faith, tied to weak reasoning, might be more penetrating; on the contrary, faith then runs the grave risk of withering into myth or superstition. By the same token, reason which is unrelated to an adult faith is not prompted to turn its gaze to the newness and radicality of being.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

I believe that the devil harms people who practice prayer and prevents them from advancing by causing them to misunderstand humility. He makes it appear to us that it's pride to have great desires and want to imitate the saints and long to be martyrs. Then he tells us or causes us to think that since we are sinners the deeds of the saints are for our admiration, not our imitation

--Saint Teresa of Avila, Autobiography

I think Catholics have to be a little crazy...keeps us sane ya know

--Jennifer.Cymanski in the Catholicity Chat Room, Aug. 19, 1998.

In some contemporary theologies, for instance, a certain rationalism is gaining ground, especially when opinions thought to be philosophically well founded are taken as normative for theological research. This happens particularly when theologians, through lack of philosophical competence, allow themselves to be swayed uncritically by assertions which have become part of current parlance and culture but which are poorly grounded in reason.(72)

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.

--Lord Brougham

The computer programmer is a creator of universes for which he alone is responsible. Universes of virtually unlimited complexity can be created in the form of computer programs.

--Joseph Weizenbaum

Another charge brought against me is simply intolerable! It is urged that in explaining the apostle's words concerning husbands and wives, "Such shall have trouble in the flesh," I have said:(1) "We in our ignorance had supposed that in the flesh at least wedlock would have rejoicing. But if married persons are to have trouble in the flesh, the only thing in which they seemed likely to have pleasure, what motive will be left to make women marry? for, besides having trouble in spirit and soul, they will also have it even in the flesh."(2) Do I condemn marriage if I enumerate its troubles, such as the crying of infants, the death of children the chance of abortion, domestic losses, and so forth? Whilst Damasus of holy memory was still living, I wrote a book against Helvidius "On the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Mary," in which, duly to extol the bliss of virginity, I was forced to say much of the troubles of marriage. Did that excellent man--versed in Scripture as he was, and a virgin doctor of the virgin Church--find anything to censure in my discourse? Moreover, in the treatise which I addressed to Eustochium(3) I used much harsher language regarding marriage, and yet no one was offended at it. Nay, every lover of chastity strained his ears to catch my eulogy of continence. Read Tertullian, read Cyprian, read Ambrose, and either accuse me with them or acquit me with them. My critics resemble the characters of Plautus. Their only wit lies in detraction; and they try to make themselves out men of learning by assailing all parties in turn. Thus they bestow their censure impartially upon myself and upon my opponent, and maintain that we are both beaten, although one or other of us must have succeeded.

--Jerome, Letter XLVIII, To Pammachius.

He was a very warm, compassionate man who never stopped feeling sorry for himself.

--Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Be convinced that justice alone is never enough to solve the great problems of mankind. When justice alone is done, do not be surprised if people are hurt: the dignity of man, who is a son of God, requires much more. Charity must penetrate and accompany justice because it sweetens and deifies everything.

--Jose Escriva, Friends of God

It was already some time since the chaplain had first begun wondering what everything was all about. Was there a God? How could he be sure? Being an Anabaptist minister in the American Army was difficult enough under the best of circumstances; without dogma it was almost intolerable.

--Joseph Heller, Catch-22

To those wishing to know the truth, if they can look beyond themselves and their own concerns, there is given the possibility of taking full and harmonious possession of their lives, precisely by following the path of truth. Here the words of the Book of Deuteronomy are pertinent: "This commandment which I command you is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven that you should say, 'Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it?' But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that you can do it" (30:11-14). This text finds an echo in the famous dictum of the holy philosopher and theologian Augustine: "Do not wander far and wide but return into yourself. Deep within man there dwells the truth" (Noli foras ire, in te ipsum redi. In interiore homine habitat veritas).(21

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

Having Trouble Finding Jesus? Look for His Mother!

--from a bumper sticker

He never once took the name of the Lord his God in vain, committed adultery or coveted his neighbour`s ass. In fact, he loved his neighbor and never even bore false witness against him, Major Major`s elders disliked him because he was such a flagrant non-conformist.

--Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Faith is said first to be an obedient response to God. This implies that God be acknowledged in his divinity, transcendence and supreme freedom. By the authority of his absolute transcendence, God who makes himself known is also the source of the credibility of what he reveals. By faith, men and women give their assent to this divine testimony. This means that they acknowledge fully and integrally the truth of what is revealed because it is God himself who is the guarantor of that truth.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

Yours is only a small love if you are not zealous for the salvation of souls. Yours is only a poor love if you are not eager to inflame other apostles with your madness.

--Jose Escriva, The Way

Beyond this universality, however, people seek an absolute which might give to all their searching a meaning and an answer;something ultimate, which might serve as the ground of all things. In other words, they seek a final explanation, a supreme value, which refers to nothing beyond itself and which puts an end to all questioning. Hypotheses may fascinate, but they do not satisfy. Whether we admit it or not, there comes for everyone the moment when personal existence must be anchored to a truth recognized as final, a truth which confers a certitude no longer open to doubt.

--Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

In trying to adapt their religious beliefs to socioeconomic change, to new moral challenges, to novel problems of knowledge, to the tightening standards of science, the defenders of God slowly strangled Him.

-James Turner, Without God, Without Creed: The Origins of Unbelief in America, p. xiii