85 quotes
Humanity-Religion could only be true if at least half of man’s nature, aspirations and sorrows were ignored. Christianity, on the other hand, at least included and accounted for these, even if it did not explain them.
Lord of the World (1907)
In Christ’s Name, let us begin. For Christ has finished.
The Friendship of Christ (1912)
The Church, like her Master and His ordinances, must have an earthly as well as a divine nature, if she is to do His work.
Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson (1915)
Since God is approaching man, it is not a degradation, but a triumph of His love, that He should come so far down to meet him.
Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson (1915)
For where men have made the earth that is trodden underfoot, and have largely veiled the heavens themselves, it is but natural that they should think that they have made everything, and that it is they who rule it.
Come Rack! Come Rope! (1912)
Democracy doesn't give the Average Man any real power at all. It swamps him among, under his friends — that is to say, it kills his individuality; and his individuality is the one thing he has which is worth anything.
The Dawn of All (1911)
Growth means the unfolding of interior capacities through the assimilation of external substances.
Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson (1915)
"Praise the Lord, and love His creatures, birds and beasts as well as men."
Sweet Saint Francis of Assisi, would that he were here again!
An Alphabet of Saints (1906)
The real and only satisfactory motive for submission does not lie in superficial things, but in the deep, still current of faith that comes from God direct, and bears the soul along.
Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson (1915)
The State can only give for economic reasons, however conscientious and individually charitable statesmen may be; while the Church gives for the Love of God, and the Love of God never yet destroyed any man's self-respect.
The Dawn of All (1911)
His emotions had been stormed, his intellect silenced, his memory of grace obscured, a spiritual nausea had sickened his soul, yet the secret fortress of the will had, in an agony, held fast the doors and refused to cry out and call Felsenburgh king.
Lord of the World (1907)
Remember human nature, Monsignor. After all, it was only intense self-importance that used to make men say that they were independent of exterior beauty. It's far more natural and simple to like beauty. Every child does, after all.
The Dawn of All (1911)
"Until our Lord comes back," he thought to himself; and for an instant the old misery stabbed at his heart. How difficult it was to hold the eyes focussed on that far horizon when this world lay in the foreground so compelling in its splendour and its strength!
Lord of the World (1907)
The sense of home-coming was stronger than all else — that strange passion for a particular set of inanimate things — or, at the most, for an association of ideas — that has no parallel in human emotions.
By What Authority? (1905)
Ignorance may be bliss, but it certainly is not freedom, except in the minds of those who prefer darkness to light, and chains to liberty. The more true information we can acquire, the better for our enfranchisement.
Great One in Three, of Whom are named
All families in earth and heaven,
Hear us, who have Thy promise claimed,
And let a wealth of grace be given;
Grant them in life and death to be
Each knit to each, and both to Thee.
Poems (1915)
We offer no rewards except those which God Himself has promised to those that love Him, and lay down their life for Him; no promise of peace, save of that which passeth understanding; no home save that which befits pilgrims and sojourners who seek a City to come; no honour save the world’s contempt; no life, save that which is hid with Christ in God.
Lord of the World (1907)
There is no such thing, of course, really as Irreligion — except by a purely conventional use of the word: the 'irreligious' man is one who has made up his mind either that there is no future world, or that it is so remote, as regards effectivity, as to have no bearing upon this. And that is a religion — at least it is a dogmatic creed — as much as any other.
The Dawn of All (1911)
The development of a nation is strangely paralleled by the development of an individual. There comes in both a period of adolescence, ... and there is a curious mingling of refinement and brutality, stupidity and tenderness.
By What Authority? (1905)
Competition, founded upon the conflicting interests of individuals, is in reality far less productive of wealth and enterprise than co-operation, involving though it does the constant apparent sacrifice of the individual to the common interests.
Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson (1915)