They are not only His creatures, the work of His hands, but people whom He cares for especially, and for whom He has a very dear and tender regard — having planned their happiness before the foundations of the world.
The lowest and most despised person we see is the offspring of heaven, one of the children of the Most High; and however unworthily he may behave himself, so long as God has not cast him off by a final sentence, He would have us acknowledge him as His own, and embrace him with a sincere and heartfelt affection.
This passage spoke to me in a special way.
When we are under stress, this fact slips our minds. 🙏
Le names what Scougal assumes: under stress, we forget. Not because we don't know the truth. Because stress narrows the vision. The soul that can see God's image in every person on a quiet morning — may not see it when the difficult person is in front of her. Scougal says: so long as God has not cast them off by a final sentence — He would have us acknowledge them as His own. The final sentence belongs to God. Not to us. Not even under stress.
You know how deeply we care for those who belong to a person we love.
Surely our love toward God would spring forth in charity toward men, if we would consider the interest He takes in them, and remember that every soul is dearer to Him than all the material world, and that He did not consider the blood of His Son too great a price for their redemption.
The simplest argument for charity: we love the child because we love the parent. If we love God, we will love His children — all of them. Not because they deserve it. Because they belong to Him. And the price He paid — the blood of His Son — tells us how much they are worth. Every soul dearer to God than all the material world. That includes the soul of the person who wronged you.
In some this image is clear and beautiful; in others it may be terribly marred and defaced, yet it is not altogether erased — some features at least remain.
When we consider these evil qualities as the diseases of a soul which is capable of all the wisdom and goodness that the greatest saints have ever displayed — this will turn our aversion into pity, and make us look upon him as we would look upon a beautiful body mangled with wounds or disfigured by disease.
However much we hate the vices, we shall not cease to love the man.
The image of God, however marred, is not altogether erased. Some features remain. The harsh, the stubborn, the malicious — these are diseases of a soul capable of sainthood. The hatred is for the vice. The love is for the man. Not the easy love of the lovable. The hard love of the marred image — the love that sees through the disfigurement to the original design. The disease is not the final word.
"However much we hate the vices, we shall not cease to love the man."
Henry Scougal · The marred image is not erased — some features remainLet us frequently consider the excellence and dignity of our nature, and what a shameful thing it is for so noble a creature as the soul to be sunk in coarse desires.
That the animal in us should be fed and pampered, while the man and the Christian starve.
If we only remembered who we are, it would teach us a proper reverence for ourselves — not pride but the recognition that we were made for higher things.
✦ A Proper Reverence for Ourselves
Remember who you are. The soul was made for higher things. The animal fed while the Christian starves — the imbalance of the natural life. The cure is not self-hatred but self-respect rooted in truth. The dignity is not earned. It is given. And remembering it changes everything. 🙏
"When we are under stress, this fact slips our minds."
Le · Caldas da Rainha · July 1, 2026 · The offspring of heaven — remembered, even under pressureOffspring of Heaven
The lowest person is the offspring of heaven. Their happiness planned before the foundations of the world. God has not cast them off. We must not either.
Under Stress, We Forget
The truth is clear when calm. Under stress, it slips. The person who causes the pain is still God's child. The final sentence belongs to Him.
The Mangled Image
The image of God, however marred, is not erased. The harsh soul is a beautiful body disfigured by disease. Hate the vices. Love the man.
A Proper Reverence
Remember who you are. The soul was made for higher things. The dignity is given, not earned. Reverence yourself because God made you for something greater.