QUOTATION: Temptation

In temptations trust not to yourself, nor to all the good resolutions and promises which you have made, but rely solely on the divine assistance; and for this reason have immediate recourse to God and the Blessed Virgin. Especially in temptations against purity, the greatest care must be taken not to remain to dispute with the temptation. In such moments some are accustomed to set their will to make acts of the contrary virtue; but they run considerable risk. The best plan to adopt on these occasions is to renew the firm purpose rather to die than to offend God, and forthwith to make the sign of the cross without remonstrance, and to call on God and the divine Mother, making frequent invocations of the most holy names of Jesus and Mary, which have a wonderful efficacy against filthy suggestions, and should therefore be invoked continually till the temptations are over. Of ourselves we have not strength to overcome the attacks of the flesh, our most cruel enemy; but God readily supplies the strength to all who ask him; but he that fails to do so, almost invariably falls a prey to the enemy.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Way of Salvation and Perfection

QUOTATION: Purity

‘Purity?’ they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls.

--St. Josemaria Escriva

QUOTATION: Purity

Are you sensitive on the subject of purity, avoiding even the appearance of sin, the least occasions, all that which, far or near, looks like sin? If so, you are on the straight road to Paradise; purgatory will have no work to do in you.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Purity

Purity is not merely the absence of sensuality; it is selflessness born of love and the highest love of all.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

QUOTATION: Temptation Against Purity

As soon as you become aware of temptation, busy yourself with something. Idleness and modesty can’t go together. In overcoming idleness, you will overcome temptations against purity.

--St. John Bosco

QUOTATION: Modesty

Decorum and modesty are younger brothers of purity.


--St. Josemaria Escriva

QUOTATION: Humility, Justice, Purity

Humility orders us in relation to God; Justice regulates us in regard to our neighbours; and Purity with regard to ourselves.

--St. Thomas Aquinas

QUOTATION: Prayer-- Safeguard of Purity

Vigilance and prayer are the safeguards of chastity. You should pray often and fervently to be preserved from temptations against purity, and for the grace to overcome them.

--St. John Baptist de la Salle

QUOTATION: Purity in Speech

Never talk of impure things or events, not even to deplore them. Look, it's a subject that sticks more than tar. Change the conversation, or if that's not possible, continue, but speaking of the need and beauty of holy purity - a virtue of the men who know what their souls are worth.

--St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way

QUOTATION: Purity

Never believe you have attained such purity as you should, whilst your will is not freely and gladly submissive to the holy will of God, as to all, and in all, even in things the most repugnant.

--St. Francis de Sales

QUOTATION: Purity

The impure then cannot love God; and those who are without love of God cannot really be pure. Purity prepares the soul for love, and love confirms the soul in purity.

--Cardinal Newman, Discourses on Mixed Congregations