693 the first word merciful God, who gazes upon you with greatest kindness, will grant you the forgiveness of all your sins and will fill you with an abundance of His grace. Saint Augustine, Doctor of the Doctors [of the Church], having this in mind, speaks to all of us: “I encourage you to love your enemies, because I know that nothing is more useful for healing the wounds of your sins. However great may be the labor of loving your enemies, your reward will be great in the future. He who loves enemies will be a friend of God: and not only a friend, but also a son.”12 O the happiest man, through love of enemies you obtain forgiveness of sins and you are adopted as a son of God, also! I urge you, therefore, together with the golden-mouthed Bishop [St. John Chrysostom],13 who with the greatest patience carried the most painful injuries imposed upon him by his worst enemies; I beg you all, however many, who have adopted the name of Christ, “that we might be obedient to the doctrine of Christ, and having eliminated all hate and rancor from our souls, sincerely love not only those who love us, but strive to love even those who persecute us with hostility. Indeed, there is no other way for us to be saved; on the contrary, let us strive to love even more our enemies as the authors of so much good for us. This way we will be able to obtain remission of our sins as well as to lift our prayers to God from a contrite spirit and humble heart.”14 12 The source of the quote could not be found in the writings of St. Augustine. 13 St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, († 407). Cf. Cataudella, Quintino, Giovanni Crisostomo, santo, in: Ecat VI, 534-535ss. 14 This quote appears to be taken from an unknown work and could not be found and verified in the available writings of St. John Chrysostom.
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