Since the beginning of time, we have struggled with resentments and hate. When we refuse to hate, we refuse to be filled with this negative emotion. We turn it over to
God and let Him be the judge and jury.
The following 25 quotes help us to understand what the saints believed about hate.
1. You must oppose every form of hatred with the invincible power of Christ’s love.
2. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.
by Theophanes the Cretan
3. Anger is a tree; hate is a tree.
4. Put aside your hatred and animosity. Take pains to refrain from sharp words. If they escape your lips, do not be ashamed to let your lips produce the remedy, since they have caused the wounds. Parden one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurture our sin and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight.
5. Hate what the world seeks and seek what the world avoids.
6. Hatred is not a creative force. Only Love is.
7. There are only two ways: either we love – and love in action is service – or we put hatred into action and destroy.
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8. Darkness can only be scattered by light; hatred can only be conquered by Love.
9. Sin is loving what God hates and hating what God loves.
10. Hate no one. God never comes where there is no love for our neighbors.
11. People hate the truth for the sake of whatever it is that they love more than the truth. They love truth when it shines warmly on them, and hate it when it rebukes them.
12. Whosever loves Jesus Christ with true love, let him greatly rejoice when he sees himself treated by the world as Jesus Christ was treated. He was hated, scorned, and persecuted by the world. The world is altogether against Jesus Christ; and therefore, hating Jesus Christ, it hates all His servants.
13. The saints have no hatred, no bitterness, they forgive everything, and they think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.
14. Love forgives many mistakes, while hatred imagines mistakes even where they do not exist.
15. Truth is intolerant of error; Love is intolerant of hate.
Venerable Fulton Sheen
16. Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile – smile five times a day at someone you don’t really want to smile at – at all – do it for peace. So let us radiate peace…and extinguish in the World and in the hearts of all men all hatred and love for power.
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17. Thank God that I am deemed worthy to be hated by the world.
18. As God illumines all people equally with the light of the sun, so do those who desire to imitate God let shine an equal ray of love on all people. For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is Love, then hatred is the devil. Therefore, as one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the devil within himself.
19. Even as in heaven there will be most perfect charity, so in hell there will be the most perfect hate.
20. That your enemies have been created is God’s doing; that they hate you and wish to ruin you is their own doing. What should you say about them in your mind? “Lord, be merciful to them, forgive them their sins, put the fear of God in them, change them!” You are loving in them not what they are, but what you would have them to become.
21. What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?
22. No man hates God without first hating himself.
Venerable Fulton Sheen
23. Lord make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light.
24. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again-ask Christ to help yuou become happy. I obey Christ,. After Christ’s example, I forgive my persectors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.
25. Looking at His disciples, he (Jesus) said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Gospel of Luke 6:20 Jesus Christ- Sermon on the Plain
