QUOTATION: Peace

If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

--Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

QUOTATION: Hatred of Our Enemy

It is strange that we should not realize that no enemy could be more dangerous to us than the hatred with which we hate him, and that by our efforts we do less damage to our enemy than is wrought in our own heart.

--St. Augustine, Confessions, Book One, XVIII

QUOTATION: The Real Test of a Christian

The real test of the Christian is not how much he loves his friends, but how much he loves his enemies.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

QUOTATION: The Real Enemy

Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies.

-- St. Ambrose

QUOTATION: Loving Our Enemies

Of course it is absolutely sinful to have any private enmities. Not the bitterest personal assaults upon us should induce us to retaliate. We must do good for evil, "love those who hate, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who despitefully use us." It is only when it is impossible at once to be kind to them, and give glory to God, that we may cease to act kindly towards them.

--Blessed John Henry Newman, "Jewish Zeal, a Pattern for Christians", Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. 3

QUOTATION: Why Love of Enemies?

But I say to you,” the Lord says, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.” Why did he command these things? So that he might free you from hatred, sadness, anger and grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one who loves all equally in imitation of God.

--St. Maximus the Confessor

QUOTATION: The Three Enemies of Man

Three enemies of man: Death, which overtakes him by surprise; Time, which keeps slipping by; the Devil, who seeks to ensnare him.

--St. John Bosco

QUOTATION: Hell

The first gate of Hell is hatred. As Paradise is the kingdom of love, so Hell is the kingdom of hatred. Father, says such a person, I am grateful to and love my friends, but I cannot endure him who does me an injury. Now, brother, you must know that the barbarians, the Turks and Indians say and do all this: Do not also the heathens this? says the Lord. To wish well to him who serves you is a natural thing; it is done not only by the infidel, but even by the brutes and wild beasts. But I say to you. Hear what I say to you says Jesus Christ; hear My law, which is a law of love: Love your enemies.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori. Six Discourses on Natural Calamities, Divine Threats, and the Four Gates of Hell

QUOTATION: Enemies

We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory.

--St Anthony Zaccaria

QUOTATION: Love of Enemies

Love all men, even your enemies; love them, not because they are your brothers, but that they may become your brothers. Thus you will ever burn with fraternal love, both for him who is already your brother and for your enemy, that he may by loving become your brother.

--St. Augustine of Hippo