QUOTATION: Charity and Poverty

We would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.

--Pope Francis Lenten message 2014, December 26, 2013.

QUOTATION: Charity for All

All of our religion is but a false religion and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God if we have not that universal charity for everyone, for the good and for the bad, for the poor people as well as for the rich, for all those who do us harm as much as for those who do us good.

--St. Jean Vianney, Sermons.

QUOTATION: Charity

In the world today there are those whose struggle is for justice and human rights. We have no time for this because we are in daily and continuous contact with people who are starving for a piece of bread and for some affection. Should I devote myself to the struggle for justice when the most needy people would die right in front of me for lack of a glass of milk?

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love.

QUOTATION: Charity

When a soul is filled with true charity, nothing appears difficult, because this charity becomes the principle of all its operations, and it acts only under this influence.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: The Light of Christ

If we do not radiate the light of Christ around us, the sense of the darkness that prevails in the world will increase.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, No Greater Love

QUOTATION: Sharing the Faith

A Hindu gentleman once asked me, very big high official: "Aren't you anxious to convert us all?" And I said, "Naturally, the treasure that I have, Jesus, naturally, I want to share it with you, but conversion has to come from Him. Mine is to help you do works of love, and then through these works of love naturally you come face to face with God, and it is between you that that treasure, His love, is exchanged. And then you are either converted, you accept God in your life, or you don't.

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Where There is Love, There is God, Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Ed.

QUOTATION: Charity

When a soul is filled with true charity, nothing appears difficult, because this charity becomes the principle of all its operations, and it acts only under this influence.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Charity is Not Enough

It is not enough to offer someone a sandwich unless it is accompanied by the possibility of learning how to stand on one’s own two feet.

--Pope Francis, Address at the Astalli Centre, September 10, 2013

QUOTATION: Alms

Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.

--St. Gregory Nazianzen

QUOTATION: What Believing in God Really Means

To believe in God — for Christians — does not mean simply to believe that God exists, nor merely to believe that He is true. It means to believe by loving, to believe by abandoning oneself to God, uniting and conforming oneself to Him.

--St. Anthony of Padua

QUOTATION: Truth in Love

Cook the Truth in Charity until it is sweet.

--St. Francis de Sales

QUOTATION: Salvation

Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity. Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire, hope feeds us with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us to the Promised Land.

--St. Francis de Sales

QUOTATION: Comparisons

Do not compare yourself with weaker men but rather apply yourself to fulfilling the commandment of love. For by comparing yourself with the weak you will fall into the pit of conceit, but by applying yourself to the commandment of love you will reach the height of humility.

--St. Maximus the Confessor

QUOTATION: True Religion is Charity

All our religion is but a false religion, and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God, if we have not that universal charity for everyone - for the good, and for the bad, for the poor and for the rich, and for all those who do us harm as much as those who do us good.

--St. Jean Vianney, the Curé of Ars

QUOTATION: Charity

It is an act of charity to cry out against the wolf when he is among the sheep.

--St. Francis de Sales

QUOTATION: Giving Alms

When giving alms, you should give so as not to injure yourself or another.

--St. Augustine

QUOTATION: Vainglory in Charity

Never omit a good action from fear of vainglory; if vainglory trouble you, it will not hinder you from becoming perfect, and the best part of your good action will always be yours.

--Blessed Giles of Assisi

QUOTATION: Love Thy Neighbour

The precept to love our neighbor requires us to be not only well-wishers, but well-doers.

--St. Thomas Aquinas

QUOTATION: Alms

Give alms from your just earnings; you cannot bribe Christ your judge.

--St. Augustine

QUOTATION: Love and Evangelization

Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill.

It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity— the fire of love of God and neighbor— it will work wonders.

--St. Anthony Mary Claret