“What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism.” G.K. Chesterton
Self-criticism
Inspirational thoughts
Bad times
“Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Inner battles
“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” —Plutarch
These inner battles of the soul to not judge others, to be forgiving and magnanimous in our thoughts,… are huge spiritual victories which deeply affect those around us….none of which is possible without God’s grace!
Hanging in there
“The best way out is always through.” ~Robert Frost Sometimes, in life we need to just hang in there and keep going, trusting that God will not give us more than we can handle and will provide a way out.
Details of love
“People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that. No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.” Dorothy Day
Play anyway…
“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” — Oscar Wilde Difficulties are the golden opportunities that God gives us to show him our love and grow in maturity and self-giving.
Loving everyone
“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” Dorothy Day
I leave NY early tomorrow morning to begin my new assignment as the Lumen chaplain in Washington, DC. These past 6 and a half years in New York have been an incredible enriching experience, and I have grown close to many noble and faith filled New Yorkers along the way. I will miss the Big Apple, but I am really looking forward to my new chapter ahead in Washington, DC. Please keep me in your prayers! God bless, Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Hidden charity
“It’s much better to do good in a way that no one knows anything about it.” Leo Tolstoy
Mercy
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” Abraham Lincoln
General Grant’s terms of surrender were very merciful. General Lee’s men would not be imprisoned or prosecuted for treason. The Officers were allowed to keep their horses, sidearms, and personal baggage. General Grant also allowed the defeated Confederates to take home their horses and mules to carry out the spring planting and provided Lee with a supply of food rations for his starving army. General Lee said noted that all of this would have a very happy effect among the men and do much toward reconciling the country.
