St Philip Neri on forgiveness (2)

St Philip Neri on anger

"He who continues in anger, strife, and a bitter spirit, has a taste of the air of hell."

St Philip Neri on adversity

"There is no surer or clearer proof of the love of God than adversity."

Forgiveness - St Philip Neri

"If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ has shed all His Blood for him, and not only forgave his enemies, but prayed the Eternal Father to forgive them also."

Pity for others' falls - St Philip Neri

"To be without pity for other men’s falls, is an evident sign that we shall fall ourselves shortly."

St Philip Neri on prayer and charity

"To leave our prayer when we are called to do some act of charity for our neighbour, is not really a quitting of prayer, but leaving Christ for Christ, that is, depriving ourselves of spiritual sweetnesses in order to gain souls."

Being perfect - St Philip Neri

"In order to be perfect, we must not only obey and honour our superiors; we must honour our equals and inferiors also."

St Philip Neri on love of neighbour

"We ought to hate no one, for God never comes where there is no love of our neighbours."

St Philip Neri on not asking for trouble

"A man should not ask tribulations of God, presuming on his being able to bear them: there should be the greatest possible caution in this matter, for he who bears what God sends him daily does not do a small thing."

St Philip Neri's maxim for 1st January

WELL! when shall we have a mind to begin to do good?

Others' defects - St Philip Neri

"If we wish to keep peace with our neighbours, we should never remind any one of his natural defects."

Our country, Heaven - St Philip Neri

"The true servant of God acknowledges no other country but heaven."

Judging ourselves - St Philip Neri

"Let every one stay at home, that is, within himself, and sit in judgment on his own actions, without going abroad to investigate and criticise those of others."

Singularity - St Philip Neri

"Avoid every kind of singularity, for it is generally the hot-bed of pride, especially spiritual pride."

Seeking counsel - St Philip Neri

"In seeking for counsel it is necessary sometimes to hear what our inferiors think, and to recommend ourselves to their prayers."

The devil and mortifications - St Philip Neri

"The devil has a crafty custom of sometimes urging spiritual persons to penances and mortifications, in order that by going indiscreet lengths in this way, they may so weaken themselves as to be unable to attend to good works of greater importance; or be so intimidated by the sickliness they have brought upon themselves as to abandon their customary devotions, and at last turn their backs on the service of God."

St Philip Neri on satisfaction with the world

"If we find nothing in the world to please us, we ought to be pleased by this very not finding anything to please us."

Staying chaste and compassion for others - St Philip Neri

"One of the most efficacious means of keeping ourselves chaste, is to have compassion for those who fall through their frailty, and never to boast in the least of being free, but with all humility to acknowledge that whatever we have is from the mercy of God."

Charity, cheerfulness, humility - St Philip Neri

"Charity and cheerfulness, or charity and humility, should be our motto."