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"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
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June 17, 2014

Above: Window of St Augustine of Hippo in the former Dominican priory church of Hawkesyard in Armitage, Staffordshire, U.K. Photo by Father Lawrence Lew, O.P.

"Happy the man who loves his friend in You and his enemy because of You. Though left alone, none are lost to him; for all are dear to him in the One who cannot be lost." "Love your enemy that he might be your friend." These beautiful lines come from Saint Augustine, the Church's "Doctor of Charity" and the Grandfather of the Dominican Order.

Charity has ever been the mark of Christians, for there is not one of us who could persevere in loving without the grace of Jesus Christ. How does love behave? It forgives seventy times seven times; it thinks of others before it thinks of itself; it gives even when tired or angry; it acts selflessly. Love is full of compassion, even as Christ was, praying for those who crucified Him, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And we know from tradition that Christ's loving His enemies turned them into friends. Take, for instance, the example of Longinus, the soldier who pierced His side with a lance; he and his whole family converted to Christ and His Way. Our love takes time to affect our enemies, but this is not a problem; for we know that "love is patient."

St. Dominic, Rose of Patience, pray for us!
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