December 11

“It is the one inspiring element of Christianity that it throws us in boundless hope upon the future, and forbids us to dwell in the poisonous shadows of the past. A new and better growth is before us, a fresher, a diviner, a more enthusiastic life awaits us. We are to wake up satisfied in the likeness of Christ, the ever-young Humanity. Therefore, ‘forgetting those things which are behind’, let us ‘press forward to the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus’.”

STOPFORD BROOKE

“Whosoever may
Discern true ends here – shall grow pure enough
To love them, brave enough to strive for them,
And strong enough to reach them, though the roads be rough.”

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

“The past is a story told,
The future may be writ in gold.”

December 8

“The most cowardly of all temptations is that of discouragement. When the enemy has made us lose courage for making progress in goodness, he has easy work with us, and soon pushes us towards the precipice of evil.

“Have patience with everybody, but especially with yourself. Do not trouble yourself about your imperfections, but always have the courage to rise out of them. It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to finish the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again, and never to think you have done enough.”

ST FRANCIS DE SALES

“Never let mistakes or wrong directions, of which every man, in his studies and elsewhere falls into many, discourage you. There is precious instruction to be got by finding we were wrong. Let a man try faithfully, manfully to be right; he will grow daily more and more right.”

CARLYLE