CWC Exam 2 - Quotes

The Rule of St. Benedict (Benedict)

Therefore, we intend to establish a school for the Lord’s service. In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love.

Gawain and the Green Knight

And the green knight laughed and said, “You are quite forgiven. You have confessed so openly, and have done your penance at the edge of my axe, that you are now as pure as if you had never sinned.

Bede’s Penitential

…not all are to be weighed in one and the same balance, although they be associated in one fault, but there shall be discrimination for each of these, that is: between rich and poor; freeman, slave; little child, boy youth, young man, old man; stupid, intelligent; layman, cleric, monk; bishop, presbyter, deacon, subdeacon, reader, canoness, or nuns; the weak, the sick, the well.

Hildegard of Bingen

Heaven was opened and a fiery light of exceeding brilliance came and permeated my whole brain, and inflamed my whole heart and my whole breast, not like a burning but like a warming flame, as the sun warms anything its rays touch. And immediately I knew the meaning of the exposition of the Scriptures, namely the Psalter, the Gospel and the other catholic volumes of both the Old and New Testaments

Hildegard of Bingen (Vision Three)

After this, I saw the image of a woman as large as a great city, with a wonderful crown on her head and arms from which a splendor hung like sleeves, shining from Heaven to earth. Her womb was pierced like a net with many openings, with a huge multitude of people running in and out.

Averroes (On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy)

Now since this religion is true and summons to the study which leads to knowledge of the Truth, we the Muslim community know definitely that demonstrate study does not lead to [conclusions] conflicting with what Scripture has given us; for truth does not oppose truth but accords with it and bears witness to it.

Francis of Assisi (The Rule of Franciscan Order)

Nor should they feel ashamed, for God made himself poor in this world for us. This is that peak of the highest poverty which has made you, my dearest brothers, heirs and kings of the kingdom of heaven, poor in things but rich in virtues. Let this be your portion.

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)

If man were ordered only to an end which did not exceed his natural facilities, it would not be necessary for him to have any rational direction beyond natural law and that human law derived from it. Since, however, man is ordered to the end of eternal beatitude, which exceeds natural human facilities, it was necessary that he be directed to this end by divinely-given law in addition to natural and human law.

Erasmus (A Weapon for the Christian Warrior/The Handbook of the Christian Knight)

You should not refuse good advice from anyone, not even a pagan. The pagan authors sharpen your mind, and will help you understand scripture, which takes preparation. The Bible is not very fruitful if you stick only to the simplest literal sense of it, you need to understand the allegorical sense as well, in which the pagan poets will help you.

Pico (Oration on the Dignity of Man)

We have made you neither heavenly nor earthly, neither mortal nor immortal, so that, more freely and more honorably the molder and maker of yourself, you may fashion yourself in whatever form you shall prefer.

Erasmus (On Free Will)

I prefer the doctrine of those who allow something to free will, and at the same time acknowledge the greater share of grace. For it does no good to avoid the Scylla of pride in order to fall into the Charybidis of despair or indifference.

Machiavelli (The Prince)

a prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being often forced, in order to maintain the state, to act contrary to faith, friendship, humanity, and religion. Therefore, it is necessary for him to have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as the winds ad variations of fortune force it, yet as I have said above, not to diverge from the good if he can avoid doing so, but, if compelled, then to know how to set about it.

Erasmus (The Education of a Christian Prince)

A beneficent prince, as Plutarch in his great learning said, is a living likeness of God, who is at once good and powerful. His goodness make him want to help all; his power makes him able to do so.

Martin Luther (“Preface to Paul’s Letter to the Romans”)

Therefore, faith alone makes us righteous and fulfills the law, for it brings the Spirit through the merits of Christ. But the Spirit makes he heart free and willing, as the law requires; and then good works naturally flow out of our faith.

Martin Luther (Secular Authority)

two kingdoms must be sharply distinguished, and both be permitted to remain; the one to produce piety, the other to bring about external peace and prevent evil deeds; neither is sufficient in the world without the other.

The Martyrdom of Michael Sattler

We must not defend ourselves against the Turks and others of our persecutors, but are to beseech God with earnest prayer to repel and resist them. But that I said, that if warring were right, I would rather take the field Christians, than against the Turks, was for this reason: The Turk is a true Turk, knows nothing of the Christian faith; and is a Turk after the flesh; but you, who would be Christians, and who make your boast of Christ, persecute the pious witnesses of Christ, and are Turks after the Spirit.

John Calvin (The Golden Booklet of the Christian Life)

Our present life, therefore, will be best regulated if we always keep our calling in mind. No one will then be tempted by his own boldness to dare to undertake what is not fitting with his calling, because he will know that it is wrong to go beyond his limits.

Thomas Cranmer [Cranmer’s Last Words (or, Exhortations)]

The second exhortation is that next unto God you obey your Kind and Queen willingly and gladly, without murmur and grudging, and not fear of them only, but much more for the fear of God knowing that they be God’s ministers; appointed by God to rule and govern you. And therefore whoso resisteth them, resisteth God’s ordinance.