Sunday, May 19, 2019

Quote of the Day (Fulton J. Sheen, on Christianity and Defeat)



“We all have to accept failure; we do not all have to lament it. It is interesting to contrast the Christian's proper attitude toward defeat with the pagan's; the unbeliever's setbacks end in pessimism, for, deluded by false optimism and its doctrine of inevitable progress, he had never visualized the disappointment he has met….But the Christian has never expected this earth to be his paradise; he has ever before him the words of the Saviour: ‘In the world, ye shall have tribulation.’ For this reason, Christianity alone can answer defeat, wherever it comes—for Christianity was born in defeat: in the world-shattering defeat of Good Friday. One lesson of the Cross is that although we cannot prevent some kinds of defeat, we can always prevent a wrong reaction to defeat.” —Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979), Lift Up Your Heart: A Guide to Spiritual Peace (1950)

No comments: