Who said it

[Jack4]

Two quotes from Popes.

Guess the say-er. Don't cheat! 

1.

Quote

 

No one should deceive himself into thinking that the Church which has now become a vast, magnificent, and majestic temple built to the glory of God, should be reduced to the modest proportions which it had in its earliest days, as though this minimal form were the only one that is genuine and lawful... 

...This craving for [conformity with the world] is observable even in the realm of philosophy (it is extraordinary how much weight is attached to fashion in a province where the mind ought to be free and independent, anxious only to arrive at the truth, and bowing to the authority of none but proved masters). It is observable also in the realm of ethics, making it more and more perplexing and difficult to define moral rectitude and the right conduct of life.

In addition we are confronted with the doctrine of Naturalism, which attempts to undermine the fundamental conception of Christianity. Relativism, too, seeks to justify everything, and treats all things as of equal value. It assails the absolute character of Christian principles.

We are also confronted with the growing tendency to prune away from the Christian life everything that requires effort or causes inconvenience. It rejects as vain and futile the practice of Christian asceticism and the contemplation of the things of God.

 

 

2.

Quote

 

it is vain to hope to attract souls to God by a bitter zeal. On the contrary, harm is done more often than good by taunting men harshly with their faults, and reproving their vices with asperity.

...charity, "patient and kind" (I. Cor. xiii., 4.), will extend itself also to those who are hostile to us and persecute us. "We are reviled," thus did St. Paul protest, "and we bless; we are persecuted and we suffer it; we are blasphemed and we entreat" (I. Cor., iv., 12, s.).

... It may be that the fruit of our labors may be slow in coming, but charity wearies not with waiting, knowing that God prepares His rewards not for the results of toil but for the good will shown in it.

 

 

 

The answers, I guarantee, are ........ interesting, at least to some. 

[Jack4]

C'mon, say something!

[LittleDiana]

It's difficult for me to guess someone's style of writing in a language which is not my own, but I'll try.

The first one might be by Leo XIII or Pius XI, but a little voice in my head says "It's John XXIII" 

The second one... I can easily picture st. Pius X saying that. Also, maybe, Benedict XV.

[darcy15]

Paul VI

Pius X

 

[Jack4]

@darcy15 got them right. Thank you, @LittleDiana, for participating. 

My point is that caricatures of Popes are often not in line with who they really are. Especially when the dichotomy is between "staunch conservative tyrant" or "modern Messiah".