"If St. Francis had been sent to a Siberian labor camp, or a leper colony, or a Wall Street Brokerage firm, would he be any less St. Francis? But how many mortals there are in the world who are one kind of character in need, another kind of character in plenty, who grumble amidst the [...]
"Freedom has within itself the frightening power of turning an angel into a devil." Source: Sheen Fulton, Guide to Contentment, Alba House, 2010.
"The one who lives in this way, 'according to the flesh,' that is, who subjects himself – even if not altogether consciously, nevertheless effectively – to the threefold concupiscence, particularly to the concupiscence of the flesh, ceases to be capable of this freedom for which 'Christ has set us free'; he also ceases to be [...]
"In fact, Christ realized and showed the freedom that finds its fullness in love, the freedom thanks to which we 'serve one another'; in other words: the freedom that becomes the source of new 'works' and of 'life' according to the Spirit. The antithesis and in some way the negation of this freedom takes place [...]
"If you wish to make progress in virtue, live in the fear of the Lord, do not look for too much freedom, disciple your senses, and shun inane silliness. Sorrow opens the door to many a blessing which dissoluteness usually destroys." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Dover Thrift Editions, 1940. [...]
"We ought to serve God, for we are His creatures and His property. Although God gives us liberty, He does not mean to relinquish His rights over us. We belong to Him, we are His; and should we endeavor to free ourselves by disobedience, which is a true robbery of God's goods, a denial of [...]
"In fact, in order to remain in the relation of the 'sincere gift of self' and in order to become a gift, each for the other, through their whole humanity made of femininity and masculinity (also in reference to the perspective that Genesis 2:24 speaks about), they must be free in exactly this way. Here [...]
"What constitutes the greatness and the nobility of love, is the surrender of one's liberty, present and future, the binding of one's self forever, admitting not even the possibility of a rupture." Source: St. Peter Julian Eymard, The Divine Eucharist St. Peter Julian Eymard was a priest and the founder of the Congregation of [...]
"The will, therefore, is then truly free, when it is not the slave of vices and sins. Such was it given us by God; and this being lost by its own fault, can only be restored by Him who was able to at first to give it." Source: St. Augustine, City of God [...]