List of points

Some people make mistakes through weakness — on account of the fragile clay we are all made of — but retain the Church’s doctrine in its integrity.

They are the ones who, with the grace of God, display heroic courage and humility in acknowledging their mistakes and firmly defending the truth.

How mistaken parents, teachers, directors… can be, when they demand absolute sincerity and then, when they are told the whole truth, are frightened!

You were praying before a crucifix, and you made this resolution: it is better to suffer for the truth, than for truth to suffer because of me.

You say that you have a great respect for the truth… Is that why you always place yourself at such a “respectful” distance from it?

You will find people who, because of their dull stubbornness, will be very difficult to convince… But, apart from those cases, it is worthwhile clearing up discrepancies, and clearing them up with all the patience that might be needed.

Some people don’t hear — don’t want to hear — anything other than the words they have in their own heads.

The understanding that so many people demand of others is that everyone should join their party.

Why do you look about you and listen and read and talk with such a mean intention, and why do you try to gather up the “bad things” to be found, not in the intention of others, but only in your own soul?

You say that many people libel and slander that apostolic enterprise?… Well, as soon as you proclaim the truth, there will already be at least one person who isn’t criticising.

Matters can rarely be resolved by aggressive polemics which humiliate people. And things are certainly never cleared up when among those arguing the case there is a fanatic.

Do you object to my repeating in the same way the same essential things without taking into account the latest fashionable trends? —Look, a straight line has been defined in the same way for centuries, because it is the clearest and briefest definition. Other definitions would be more obscure and complicated.

There are many sides to lying: reticence, intrigue, slander… But it is always the coward’s weapon.

This is how you should answer a backbiter: “I shall tell the person concerned” or “I shall speak to him about it”.

This advice is for you, since you are still young and have just started along your way. As God deserves everything, try to be outstanding professionally, so that you will later be able to spread your ideas more effectively.

“Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

And at the end of his time upon earth, Christ commanded: Euntes docete — go out and teach. He wants his light to shine in the behaviour and words of his disciples, and in yours too.

Do not be afraid, or surprised, to see the resistance of some people’s minds. There will always be foolish people who, displaying their culture, brandish the weapon of their ignorance.

No one, even with a good intention, should be allowed to falsify historical or biographical facts. —But it is a great mistake to put on a pedestal enemies of the Church who have spent their days persecuting her. Be sure of this: historical truth does not suffer because a Christian does not wish to collaborate in the construction of a pedestal which should not exist. Since when is hatred to be set up as a model?

They argue that they act gently and with understanding, in the name of charity, towards the oppressors.

—I pray to God that this gentleness and understanding of theirs may not be a camouflage for human respect and for seeking their own comfort, while they allow evil to be committed. For if that were so, this gentleness and understanding would merely be complicity in the offence against God.