Do you love life? Do you love the people around you? Do you love yourself? 

John Roberts lived a life defined by love. Born in England as an Anglican, John later became a Catholic priest. Even though Catholicism was widely hated and distrusted in England at the time, John’s love for his neighbor gave Catholics everywhere a good name. During the plague, John did everything he could to care for the sick, especially those who were poor. They never forgot his love and sacrifice.

Eventually John was sentenced to be hung, drawn, and quartered for his faith. Most criminals were drawn and quartered before their death, to humiliate and torture them. But the crowds remembered John’s kindness and love during the plague and they demanded that he not be drawn and quartered until after death. When John was finally dead, the executioner held up his heart and said: "Behold the heart of the traitor!" But instead of cheering the usual response of “Long live the King!” the crowd stayed silent. They knew then that an amazing man had died. And they would always remember the lessons he taught them with his love. 

Love expresses itself in respect for and understanding of life. Love is life-giving. In these times in which we live, humanity has failed to grasp the most elementary spiritual principle and

Christian premise: However we treat other people, we treat ourselves. Now, this is not just some idea designed to make us feel guilty and to force us to treat each other with kindness and care. It is, in fact, a mystical reality.

Our inability to respect each other points to many flaws in our understanding of ourselves as human beings. It shows clearly that we do not fully understand that we as human beings are a composition of body and soul and that the soul is of eternal and infinite value. 

Our failure to treat each other with respect also shows how little we understand God as the living God and the life-giving God. All life comes from God.

John Roberts knew this and this wisdom transformed the way he saw his own life…and the lives of every single person around him. Take a little time each day to reflect on the mystery and wonder of life—in nature, in animals, in people, especially yourself. By doing so your behavior toward all living things will change. You will learn to love all of them more. And you will learn to love yourself much more deeply.



Feast Day: December 10 

Feast Day Shared By: Saint Maurus and Saint Gregory III