The Friday of the First Week of Lent

There is no excuse from the good work of forgiveness, since it depends entirely upon will. One may say, my health is poor and I cannot fast. Or, I am afraid that if I give to the poor I will be in need....But who can say I did not pardon the one asking forgiveness because my state of health prevented it or because I had no hand to stretch forth in kindness?

Augustine of Hippo
Fifth Century

迻譯如下：
沒有任何可以推辭赦免善行的藉口，因為這全然出於意志。人或許會說，我的健康欠佳，無法禁食；抑或擔心如果施捨給窮人，我將有所匱乏。…但誰能說因為健康狀況不允許，或是因為沒有餘力向人表達憐憫，所以我就不原諒那祈求赦免的人呢？

奧古斯丁
第五世紀