“O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, even our brothers, the animals, to whom Thou gavest the earth as their home in common with us. We must remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of pain. May we realize that they live, not for us alone, but for themselves and for Thee and that they love the sweetness of life.” MenShouldMayHas BeensHomeEarthPainPastRememberSongVoiceRealizingAnimalCommonGoneBrotherCreaturesShould HaveShameCrueltyTheeSweetnessFellowshipLiving ThingsRuthlessDominionSweetness Of Life Author:Saint Basil
“Ah, Aphrodite, if I sing no moreTo thee, God's daughter, powerful as God,It is that thou hast made my life too sweetTo hold the added sweetness of a song.There is a quiet at the heart of love,And I have pierced the pain and come to peace.” IfsHeartMadePainSongPowerfulQuietDaughterTheeSweetnessAphrodite Book:Helen of Troy, and Other Poems Source: Helen of Troy, and Other Poems
“You gave me health that I might serve you; and so often I failed to use my good health in your service. Now you send me sickness in order to correct me Grant that, having ignored the things of spirit when my body was vigorous, I may now enjoy spiritual sweetness while my body groans with pain.” MayUseBodyMightPainSpiritualSpiritOrderEnjoySicknessGrantsIgnoredSweetnessVigorousGood Health Author:Blaise Pascal
“From our sorrow we might seek out the sweetness and the good that is often associated with and peculiar to our challenge. We can seek out those memorable moments that are frequently hidden by the pain and agony. We can find peace in extending ourselves to others, using our own experiences to provide hope and comfort. And we can always remember with great solemnity and gratitude Him who suffered most to make it all right for us. And by so doing we can be strengthened to bear our burdens in peace. And then, the 'works of God' might be manifest.” MomentsMightPainRememberChallengesBearsSorrowGratitudeComfortBurdenMemorableManifestPeculiarAgonySweetnessFinding PeaceExtendingSolemnityMemorable Moments Author:Richard C. Edgley
“The pain caused by this wound which He inflicts on me and the sweetness which accompanies it are so intense that I cannot even begin to describe it. However. . . this pain and this sweetness are completely spiritual, although it is also true that they are shared by the body to a high degree.” BodyPainSpiritualDegreesWoundsIntenseSweetnessAccompany Author:Pio of Pietrelcina
“When we descend all the way down to the bottom of loss, and dwell patiently, with an open heart, in the darkness and pain, we can bring back up with us the sweetness of life and the exhilaration of inner growth. When there is nothing left to lose, we find the true self - the self that is whole, the self that is enough, the self that no longer looks to others for definition, or completion, or anything but companionship on the journey.” WayLooksHeartSelfEnoughWholePainLeftGrowthLosesLossDarknessJourneyBottomDefinitionsCompanionshipTrue SelfSweetnessCompletionOpen HeartExhilarationInner GrowthSweetness Of Life Book:Broken Open: How difficult times can help us grow Source: Broken Open: How difficult times can help us grow