O my poor lowly brother, thou art a sublime and sacred being

Conferences of the Rev. Père Lacordaire, p. 238*

Catholic doctrine… does not disdain to persuade the poor man; it approaches the workman, and says to him: My poor brother, thou art condemned to eat thy bread by the sweat of thy brow; thou wearest for thy vestment, sackcloth, rather than a soft material woven by the hands of men, thy fellows; O dear humble brother, as said Saint Francis of Assisi, be content with thy lot. Hearken; behold truth comes to thee! it teaches thee that thou art the son and the brother of a God, that thou art the friend of God, that He is come from heaven for all, that he has given his blood for thee. O my poor lowly brother, thou art a sublime and sacred being; thou dost not know thyself; awake, see thyself, open the eyes of thy soul. Look not without, upon thy body, which is nothing, but look within, and learn at once within thyself what a soul is that is made in the image of Divinity.

The Church persuades that poor man; a radiation from on high is produced within him; his soul hears that which his reason does not hear; he becomes an admirable being, a holy glory of God; he believes, he loves; he is ready to give his blood for God and his brethren; he aspires to it, and whilst striking with his hammer upon his anvil, he fancies he feels the blows which the Saviour received; and exclaims: How refreshing is the air! How genial is the warmth of that fire! The faith which has transformed his soul transforms also his toil.