Perhaps the thought might arise in our hearts: "I can't pursue that sort of perfection; I feel that I am frail and weak and imperfect. I am worn down by the devil's wiles, by the weakness of my flesh, by the world's allurements and deceit." True, it can't be denied that if you follow the world you will grow weak, so fearful, and slavishly timid that like a child you will be afraid of your own shadow. But if a child is sensible and runs to its mother, it feels secure and unafraid there... Boundless Goodness has give us remedy for all our weakness in his wondrous charity. Charity is that gentlest of mothers who has deep humility as her nurse, and she in turn nourishes all her children, the virtues. None of them can have life unless it is conceived and brought forth by this mother, charity...Follow, then, those true shepherds who followed Christ crucified... They kept close to his footsteps. For knowing their own weakness, they ran humbly to their mother, true charity, with their pride in honor and their self-centeredness struck down. There they lost their fear. They were not afraid to correct those in their care, because they kept in mind the words of Christ: "Do not fear those who can kill the body; fear me." This doesn't surprise me, because their eyes and their desire were fed not on earth but on God's honor and other people's salvation.
Saint Catherine of Siena
-Saint Catherine of Siena (1380), Doctor of the Church, was a Dominican, stigmatist, and papal counselor.
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