They who have been exercised in the service of God for a…
“They who have been exercised in the service of God for a long time, may in their prayers imagine all sorts of insults offered to them, such as blows, wounds, and the like, and so in order to imitate Christ by their charity, may accustom their hearts beforehand to forgive real injuries when they come.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Pre‑emptively forgiving imagined harms trains the heart to pardon real injuries when they occur.
In simple terms: Imagining insults helps us forgive actual hurts.
Key Takeaway
Practice mental forgiveness before real hurt.
Themes
forgiveness
spiritual discipline
empathy
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
spiritual
didactic
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- personal relationships
- pastoral counseling
Key Concepts
Christian mysticism
psychological preparation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can imagined forgiveness affect real‑world anger?
- What limits does imagination have in preparing for pain?
A Different Perspective
May be unrealistic to imagine all possible insults.