10 maxims for everyday life inspired by St. John XXIII

“Good Pope John,” as he is frequently called, was a holy man who daily strove to be the best version of himself. His life and writings are inspiring and challenge us to look at our own lives to see what we can do better.

In 2006, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone shared in a homily on the feast of John XXIII “the daily decalogue of Pope John XXIII.” It consists of 10 maxims for everyday life — some of which are similar to the “just for today” resolutions that advice columnist Dear Abby ran for many years on New Year’s Day — that put “Pope John’s hope for every Christian into practice: ‘Every believer in this world must be a spark of light, a core of love, life-giving leaven in the mass: and the more he is so, the more he will live, in his innermost depths, in communion with God.'”

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8 Inspiring quotes from “Good Pope John,” St. John XXIII