We ascend to the heights of contemplation by the steps of action. Pope Gregory I More Quotes by Pope Gregory I More Quotes From Pope Gregory I The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist. Pope Gregory I christian faith love Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven, and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge. Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God. Pope Gregory I eye christian men If the work of God could be comprehended by reason, it would no longer be wonderful, and faith would have no merit if reason provided proof. Pope Gregory I merit reason wonderful Act in such a way that your humility may not be weakness, nor your authority be severity. Justice must be accompanied by humility, that humility may render justice lovable. Pope Gregory I weakness humility justice The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind's eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection. Pope Gregory I god bible beauty You don't climb a mountain in leaps and bounds, but by taking it slowly. Pope Gregory I leaps-and-bounds climbs mountain We make Idols of our concepts, but Wisdom is born of wonder Pope Gregory I idols wonder life The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of the Angels. Pope Gregory I angel real heaven To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail. Pope Gregory I saint done evil The universe is not rich enough to buy the vote of an honest man. Pope Gregory I voting honest men You cannot acquire the gift of peace if by your anger you destroy the peace of the Lord. Pope Gregory I anger lord christian Ignorance is a dangerous and spiritual poison, which all men ought warily to shun. Pope Gregory I ignorance spiritual men The greatness of contemplation can be given to none but those who love. Pope Gregory I contemplation greatness saint Affliction strengthens the vigor of our soul, whereas happiness weakens it. Pope Gregory I affliction soul religious If the intention is unclean, the deed that follows from it will also be evil, even if it seems good. Pope Gregory I religious christian inspirational The Bible is a stream of running water, where alike the elephant may swim, and the lamb walk without losing its feet. Pope Gregory I elephants feet running There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love for a soldier who returns after fleeing, and who valiantly pursues the enemy, than for one who never turned back, but who never acted valiantly either. A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully, after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest. Pope Gregory I land leader joy Obedience is the only virtue that plants the other virtues in the heart and preserves them after they have been planted. Pope Gregory I obedience virtue heart There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection. Pope Gregory I catholic temptation perfection The pastor should always be pure in thought ... no impurity ought to pollute him who has undertaken the office of wiping away the stains in the hearts of others ... for the hand that would cleanse from dirt must be clean, lest, being itself sordid with clinging mire, it soil whatever it touches all the more. Pope Gregory I heart hands past
