Reflection
The first week of October marked remembrances of three people whose lives have made a difference: Therese of Lisieux, Mahatma Gandhi and Francis of Assisi. This certainly seems to be an unlikely grouping – the young Carmelite nun, the Indian political leader and the little poor man of Assisi. Ordinary people, they had their flaws and difficulties. There was little in their early lives to indicate their future influence. Yet there is one quality they had in common – integrity. As we would say, they “walked the talk”. Through her autobiography, Therese influenced the spirituality of others from within her monastery; Gandhi’s witness made him the world’s symbol of nonviolence; Francis’ desire to live the gospel literally gave birth to a religious order and made him especially relevant today as the patron of ecology. There was no public posturing or façade in their lives. An underlying basis for their appeal is their authenticity.
Prayer
May I live with integrity.
Action
Choose one of the above and reflect on the life witness you see. What does integrity mean for you?
Suggested Reading
It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.
Francis of Assisi
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
Francis of Assisi
If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
Francis of Assisi
It is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.
Francis of Assisi
Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.
Thérèse de Lisieux
If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.
Therese de Lisieux
I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors’ defects–not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.
Therese de Lisieux
God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.
Therese de Lisieux
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
Mahatma Gandhi
I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
Mahatma Gandhi
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
My religion is based on truth and nonviolence. Truth is my God. Nonviolence is the means of realizing him.
Mahatma Gandhi