QUOTATION: Sins of Speech

A loose and glib tongue easily becomes the vehicle of blasphemy and murmuring. The tongue that wags will be guilty of perjury, lying and detraction. The sin of flattery is easy to it. So too, cursing, abusive language, quarrelsome words, and words which mockingly contemn virtue and entice to evil deeds. Scandalous gossip, vain boasting, the divulging of secrets, idle threats, rash promises, frequent and silly chattering and scurrilous conversation : all these sins come lightly, smoothly, and easily from an unguarded tongue.

--St. Bonaventure, Holiness of Life

QUOTATION: Silence

To speak seldom, and then but briefly, prevents sin. Where there is too much talk, God is in one way or another offended, and reputations suffer.

--St. Bonaventure, Holiness of Life

QUOTATION: Silence

Silence has another advantage. It shows that man belongs to a better world. If a man lives in Germany and yet does not speak German, we naturally conclude that he is not a German. So too, we rightly conclude that a man who does not give himself up to worldly conversation is not of the world, although he lives therein.

--St. Bonaventure, Holiness of Life

QUOTATION: Serving God

No one can serve God perfectly who does not try energetically to break the bonds of the world and rise above all earthly cares.

--St. Bonaventure

QUOTATION: Perfection in Little Things

The best perfection is to do ordinary things in a perfect manner. Constant fidelity in little things is a great and heroic virtue.

--St. Bonaventure

QUOTATION: Perfection

The best perfection is to do ordinary things in a perfect manner. Constant fidelity in little things is a great and heroic virtue.

--St. Bonaventure

QUOTATION: The Blessed Virgin Mary

Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.

--St. Bonaventure

QUOTATION: Freedom

The heart is free which is held by no love other than the love of God. 

--St. Bonaventure.