Ethos and Charism



These Gospel values are found in Scripture as well as in the words of Mother Teresa.


​​​​​​Value: LOVE​

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you’ (John 15:12)​​


Mother​ Teresa:

‘And we read that in the Gospel very clearly: "Love as I have loved you; as I love you; as the Father has loved me, I love you.” Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier’
 
‘If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out.  To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it’ 
 
‘Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start’
 
‘We have been created to love and to be loved’
 
‘In loving one another through our works, we bring an increase of grace and a growth in divine love.’

 

Value: SERVICE​

​‘Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me’ (Matthew 25:40)


Mother Te​​re​sa:

‘If you pray you will have faith, and if you have faith you will want to serve.  Faith in action is service.  The fruit of love is service.  And the fruit of service is peace.  All of us should work for peace’.
 
‘There are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things’
 
‘If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one’
 
‘each one of those I serve is Jesus in disguise’.
 
‘This is how we are to love each other, by giving ourselves to each other.’ 

'Jesus wants us to give of ourselves every moment’.
 
'I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.'
 
'I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.'

 

Value: ​PRAYER​

'​When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.’ (Matthew 6:6)

​‘Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’ (Mark 11:24)


Mother Tere​​sa:

‘Every moment of prayer is a sure, positive gain.  Time spent in our daily audience with God is the most precious part of the day’
 
‘If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you.’
 
‘Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.’
 
‘Jesus always waits for us in silence.  In silence He listens to us, in silence He speaks to our souls.  In silence, we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice.
 
‘If you want to pray better, you must pray more’
 
‘Be still and know that I am God. God requires us to be silent to discover Him.  In the silence of the heart, He speaks to us.’
 
‘souls of prayer are souls of great silence.  Listen in silence because if your heart is full of other things, you cannot hear the voice of God.  But when you listen to the voice of God in the stillness of your heart, then your heart is filled with God’.

 

Value: ​PEACE​

 ‘Peac​e I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid’ (John 14:27)


Mother Tere​​sa:

‘If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other’
 
‘We know that if we really want to love, we must first learn how to forgive’
 
‘What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.’
 
'The Simple Path:  Silence is Prayer, Prayer is Faith, Faith is Love,  Love is Service.  The Fruit of Service is Peace'.
 
'May today there be peace within.  May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.  May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content with yourself just the way you are.   Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.’

 

Value: ​COMPASSION​

 ‘Tre​​​at others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.’ (Matthew 7:12)


Mother ​Teresa:

‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.’
 
‘be kind to each other. It is better to commit faults with gentleness than to work miracles with unkindness.’
 
‘Never be afraid of giving.  There is a deep joy in giving since what we receive is much more than what we give’.
 
‘Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.’​

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