Patristic Quote of the Day

If God had threatened that David would be humbled this way by his son because of that sin, why did He fulfill that which He had threatened against him when the sin was forgiven? The reply is that this forgiveness was made so that man might not be hindered from receiving eternal life. The example of the threatening followed, in order that the piety of humanity might be exercised, and tested even in this humility.—Pope St. Gregory the Great (cited in Ap XIIB:64)