6 Saints' Quotes on Kindness

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When Jesus walked among us, He taught us many things. He taught us how to live our lives with peace and gratitude in our souls. He taught us how to make this world a better place for everyone in it. He showed us that we can accomplish these great things by loving God with all of our hearts, all of our minds and all of our souls and by loving each other as we love ourselves.

Additionally, He told us to let our lights shine. Fortunately, there’s a way we can love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls, love each other as we love ourselves and let our lights shine. It’s by being kind. If we are kind to God, above all, to our neighbors in this world, to ourselves and to all of God’s creatures, we can fulfill those three important things that Jesus calls us to do.

But how do we practice kindness in a world where anger, rage, jealousy, violence and persecution are all too prevalent? How can we inspire ourselves and others to continue to be kind without growing weary? The primary way we can do so is by reminding ourselves that it is what Jesus calls us to do. But another thing we can try is pondering the inspiring words of saints who encourage us to be kind. Here are six uplifting quotes about kindness from saints who truly lived their faith, while being kind to God, others, themselves and God’s creatures.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

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Saint Teresa of Calcutta, who was known as Mother Teresa, founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order in Calcutta, and she lovingly brought God’s mercy to people in need all around the world. In India, especially, she and her Missionaries of Charity constantly poured out their kindness by serving the poorest of the country’s poor – including people who were homeless, those who were terminally ill and babies and children who had been orphaned or abandoned.

Although the hospitals and orphanages that were established and run by the Missionaries of Charity needed significant funds to continue operating, Saint Teresa of Calcutta did not believe that monetary fundraising was the answer to their financial needs. Instead, she said “Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given.”

Saint Therese of Lisieux

Saint Therese of Lisieux, who is also affectionately known as the Little Flower, is a Doctor of the Church. The saint’s “little way” of love and Christian spirituality encourages people to love and serve God with a childlike trust in His eternal goodness. In this way, the beloved young saint, who passed away when she was only 24 years old, spent her brief time in this world being genuinely kind to those around her and, above all, to Jesus.

She would even make it a point to be kind to the people who she was the least fond of, because she knew it required more of a sacrifice that she could offer up to Jesus out of her love and devotion to Him. “Kindness is my only guiding star,” she wrote in her diary entitled “The Story of a Soul,” which was published years after her passing and became a bestselling book. “In its light, I sail a straight route, I have my motto written on my sail: ‘To live in love.’”

Saint Francis de Sales

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Saint Francis de Sales, a highly educated nobleman, gave up his wealth and comfort and risked his life to do God’s Will as a dedicated holy priest. One of the many ways that he demonstrated his kindness toward others was by being determined to bring people to faith despite having to face difficult and dangerous conditions to do so. Even though it would have been so much easier for the saint to return to his position of nobility and wealth, he didn’t turn back and even sought out evangelical challenges. He bravely fulfilled his calling even after it seemed impossible.

Like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis de Sales imparted upon people practical, accessible words of wisdom that have the power to enhance the faith of many. “You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving,” he once wrote. “All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves."

Saint Catherine of Siena

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Saint Catherine of Siena, who was born in Siena, Italy in the 14^th Century, knew the importance of kindness and devotion to God since she was a child. She considered her dad a representation of Jesus, her mom a representation of Blessed Mother and her many brothers as representations of the apostles. Thinking of her family in this way helped her to be a more humble daughter and sister. However, because she also wanted to be kind to the poor, she frequently gave away her family’s food and clothing to those who were more in need. As a young adult, she felt called to serve the poor and the sick, so she immediately dedicated herself to doing so, while also becoming involved in politics, Church reform and saving souls.

One form of kindness – charity – was of the utmost importance to her. She said “Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God.”

Saint Basil the Great

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A Fourth Century saint, Saint Basil the Great is the son of Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia. He was even the sibling to other saints as well. He was a renowned scholar, orator, bishop and founder of several monasteries who was admired as much for his kindness as he was admired for his eloquence. The saint, who was named a Doctor of the Church years after his passing, was considered a vital part of the early Church. He was also immensely charitable to people in need. Some of the people who particularly benefited from the saint’s kindness were the victims of droughts and famine of that time.

One of Saint Basil the Great’s most well-known quotes is about kindness. The saint once said “A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”

Saint Francis of Assisi

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Saint Francis of Assisi was the founder of the Franciscan Order. He was born towards the end of the 12^th Century and deeply loved all of God’s creation. He believed that all of God’s creatures were his brothers and sisters. It is said that even the birds in the trees would listen intently as he practiced his sermons. He also gave up his worldly possessions and lived simply. He relied on God’s kindness to provide for his needs and the needs of his companions as they served the poor, sick and outcasts of society – including lepers.

While the popular and beloved saint believed that our kind deeds toward one another could help lead people – who might not attend church – to faith, he naturally believed that it was important for us to also be kind to all of God’s creatures. Saint Francis of Assisi once said “If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”