Nosce Te Ipsum

Ungkapan di atas merupakan terjemahan Latin dari kalimat Yunani gnothi seauton (know thyself -- kenalilah dirimu sendiri) yang tertulis di pintu gerbang masuk kuil Apolo, di Delphi, Yunani.  Sebenarnya ada 2 kalimat lain yang terukir di sana, yaitu:  meden agan (nothing in excess) dan engua para d’ate (make a pldge and mischief is nigh).  Ungkapan Nosce Te Ipsum atau juga dikenal Temet Nosce ini dipopulerkan oleh Sokrates (470-399 SM).  Lewat ungkapan ini, ia menekankan bahwa titik tolak untuk mencari kebijaksanaan adalah pengenalan diri.

A Four Fold Benedictine Blessing

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppresion, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gifts of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator, 

Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour, 

and the Holy Spirit, our advocate and Guide, 

be with you and remain with you, this day and forevermore.  

Amen

by Sr. Ruth Fox, OSB (1985)