27 August 2021
On Our Own Sinfulness
Now
how can those who do not know their own sinfulness recognize and correct it in
others? They are neither able nor willing to go against themselves. And the
little sheep who have no shepherd who cares about them or knows how to guide
them easily go astray and are often snatched and devoured by wolves. Because
the shepherds are evil they are not careful to have a dog that will bark when
it sees the wolf coming. No, their dog is no better than themselves. So these
careless ministers and shepherds have neither the dog of conscience nor the rod
of justice nor a staff for correcting. Their conscience does not bark to
reproach them for their own sins, so they do not reprove the sheep either when
they see them going astray and not keeping to the way of truth, not observing
My Commandments. But if this dog would bark and make them aware of their sins
they would take up the rod of holy justice, rescue their sheep from the
infernal wolf that wants to devour them, and they would return to the
sheepfold.
Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
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