Saturday, October 22 : Saint Caesarius of Arles

There are plenty of things that, because of our human frailty, we never manage to do physically speaking. But if we really want to, we can, with God’s inspiration, find love in our heart. There are plenty of things that sometimes we are not able to bring from our attics, basements or cellars, but we have no excuse when it comes to our heart. … No one says to us: “Go to the East and look for love; sail to the West and you will find love”. No, we are told to return within, to the interior of that heart from which anger so often makes us leave. As the prophet says: “Sinners, return to your heart” (cf. Is 46:8). Not in countries far away do we discover what the Lord is asking of us; he directs us within ourselves, within our hearts, for he has put what he asks of us inside us. Perfect charity is nothing other than the good will of the soul and it was regarding this that the angels announced to the shepherds: “Peace on earth to men of good will” (Lk 2:14 Vg) … So let us work as hard as we can, with God’s help, to give first place in our souls to goodness rather than evil, patience rather than anger, benevolence rather than envy, humility rather than pride. In short, may the sweetness of charity so take possession of our hearts that there is place no longer for the bitterness of hatred.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team