Monday, June 23 : Saint John Cassian

When then any one has acquired this love of goodness of which we have been speaking, and the imitation of God, then he will be endowed with the Lord’s heart of compassion, and will pray also for his persecutors, saying in like manner: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) But it is a clear sign of a soul that is not yet thoroughly purged from the dregs of sin, not to sorrow with a feeling of pity at the offenses of others, but to keep to the rigid censure of the judge: for how will he be able to obtain perfection of heart, who is without that by which, as the Apostle has pointed out, the full requirements of the law can be fulfilled, saying: Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ, (Galatians 6:2) and who has not that virtue of love, which is not grieved, is not puffed up, thinks no evil, which endures all things, bears all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) For a righteous man pities the life of his beasts: but the heart of the ungodly is without pity. A monk is quite certain to fall into the same sins which he condemns in another with merciless and inhuman severity, for a stern king will fall into misfortunes, and one who stops his ears so as not to hear the weak, shall himself cry, and there shall be none to hear him.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team