My father, do not be surprised by what you see and hear at this time, and do not be angry about it; rather, forgive everyone. After all, what can it change? Let the whole world say it is white or black; we are only what we are before God. Why be troubled? Let creatures judge us, for the Lord will not want to judge afterward. Let us be like the adulteress: when everyone condemned her, the Lord did not reject her. … Well then, father, let us not judge others as others have judged us. Let us be the judged, but let us not be the judges.
(St. Mary of the Crucified, letter to Fr. Lazarus, former confessor, January 7, 1873)
