QUOTATION: Saints Have Needs, Too

Do not think that you injure spiritual progress in that which you grant to the needs of nature.

--St. Ignatius Loyola

QUOTATION: Anything Can Be a Cross

Do not allow the tiniest piece of the true Cross to be lost, even though it be only an insect-sting or a pin- prick, a little eccentricity of your neighbour or some unintentional slight, the loss of some money, some little anxiety, a little bodily weariness, or a slight pain in your limbs. Turn everything to profit, as the grocer does in his shop, and you will soon become rich before God, just as the grocer becomes rich in money by adding penny to penny in his till. At the least annoyance say, "Thank you, Lord. Your will be done." Then store up in God's memory-bank, so to speak, the profitable cross you have just gained, and think no more about except to repeat your thanks.

--St. Louis de Montfort, Letter to the Friends of the Cross

QUOTATION: Man's Foolish Self-Reliance

But in practice, man is naturally a Pelagian. He believes himself all-sufficient. He first has recourse to his own resources, he makes use of his own means, he forms his own plans before asking God's help, so little is he impressed by his own absolute insufficiency and his necessary dependence on God! He will soon consent to be helped, and he will pray to be delivered from embarrassment, but he will not begin by turning to God before putting his hand to the task.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: In the Right Measure

By wishing to do too much, we often spoil everything, constraining our Lord to leave us to act alone and withdraw from us in sorrow.

--St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

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: Prayer

Indeed, prayer reaches its culmination and thus becomes a source of inner light when the spirit of the human being adheres to that of God, and their respective wills merge, as it were, to become a whole.

--Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus March 8, 2009

QUOTATION: The Fall of Communism

It would be simplistic to say that Divine Providence caused the fall of Communism. In a certain sense Communism as a system fell by itself. It fell as a consequence of its own mistakes and abuses. It proved to be a medicine more dangerous than the disease itself. It did not bring about true social reform, yet it did become a powerful threat and challenge to the entire world. But it fell by itself, because of its own inherent weakness.

--Pope St. John Paul II

QUOTATION: Jesus Thirsts

From the Cross, Jesus cries out, "I thirst."  His thirst was for souls-- even as He hung there-- dying, alone, despised.  Who will bring souls to Him to satiate that thirst of the inifinite God dying of love? Can you and I continue to stand by, a mere spectator? Or pass by and do nothing?

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

QUOTATION: Wisdom and Religion

Wisdom precedes, religion follows; for the knowledge of God comes first, His worship is the result of knowledge.

--Lactantius

QUOTATION: Jesus' Side Wound

Since the blood of Jesus has a power of cleansing it may in a sense be called water. The reason why water, as well as blood, came out of His side, was to show that this blood could wash away sin.

--St. Thomas Aquinas

QUOTATION: An Antidote to Pride

When you feel sentiments of vanity or pride rising in your heart, hasten to apply a remedy immediately. One that is most efficacious consists in recalling to mind all your sins, particularly the most shameful. Like a wise physician, you will thus counteract the effect of one poison by another.

--Louis de Granada, The Sinner's Guide

QUOTATION: Pius' Advice to Bishops on Modernist Seminarians

As you yourselves know, an air of independence which is fatal for souls is widely diffused in the world, and has found its way even within the sanctuary; it shows itself not only in relation to authority but also in regard to doctrine.

Because of it, some of our young clerics, animated by that spirit of unbridled criticism which holds sway at the present day, have come to lose all respect for the learning which comes from our great teachers, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the interpreters of revealed doctrine.

If ever you have in your seminary one of those new-style savants, get rid of him without delay; on no account impose hands upon him. You will always regret having ordained even one such person: never will you regret having excluded him.

--Pope St. Pius X, Allocution to the Bishops, December 12, 1904

QUOTATION: The Semi-Perfect Are Hard to Convert

It costs more to be converted from an imperfect state than to rise out of sin. The evil is less apparent, less avowed, and pride often takes it for good. How difficult it is to persuade the semi-perfect that they arc below what Our Lord wishes, and to make them acknowledge their defects!

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Calumny

Look at that clever calumniator! He begins by fetching a deep sigh, he affects to be humble, and puts on a modest look, and with a voice choking with sobs tries to gloss over the slander which is on the tip of his tongue. One would fancy that he expressly assumed a calm and easy demeanor; for when he speaks against his brother, it is in a tender and compassionate tone. I am really hurt, says he, to find that our brother has fallen into such a sin; you all know how much I love him, and how often I have tried to correct him. It is not today that I have noticed his failing; for I should always be on my guard to speak of others, but others have spoken of it too. It would be in vain to disguise the fact; it is only too true, and with tears in my eyes I tell it to you. This poor unfortunate brother has talent, but it must be confessed that he is very guilty, and however great may be our friendship for him, it is impossible to excuse him.

--St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon on The Canticles

QUOTATION: Truth

Truth never changes. It cannot be destroyed by any decision or legal act. Telling the Truth with courage is a way leading directly to freedom. A man who tells the Truth is a free man despite external slavery, imprisonment or custody.

--Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko

QUOTATION: The Salvation of Sinners

Out of one hundred thousand sinners who continue in sin until death, scarcely one will be saved.

--St. Jerome

QUOTATION: Aquinas on Islam

This wonderful conversion of the world to the Christian faith is the clearest witness of the signs given in the past; so that it is not necessary that they should be further repeated, since they appear most clearly in their effect. For it would be truly more wonderful than all signs if the world had been led by simple and humble men to believe such lofty truths, to accomplish such difficult actions, and to have such high hopes. Yet it is also a fact that, even in our own time, God does not cease to work miracles through His saints for the confirmation of the faith.

On the other hand, those who founded sects committed to erroneous doctrines proceeded in a way that is opposite to this, The point is clear in the case of Muhammad. He seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom. Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity. He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can be only divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth. On the contrary, Muhammad said that he was sent in the power of his arms—which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants. What is more, no wise men, men trained in things divine and human, believed in him from the beginning, Those who believed in him were brutal men and desert wanderers, utterly ignorant of all divine teaching, through whose numbers Muhammad forced others to become his followers by the violence of his arms. Nor do divine pronouncements on the part of preceding prophets offer him any witness. On the contrary, he perverts almost all the testimonies of the Old and New Testaments by making them into fabrications of his own, as can be. seen by anyone who examines his law. It was, therefore, a shrewd decision on his part to forbid his followers to read the Old and New Testaments, lest these books convict him of falsity. It is thus clear that those who place any faith in his words believe foolishly.

--St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Bk. I, Chap. 6.

QUOTATION: Bad Clergy is God's Punishment

The most evident mark of God's anger, and the most terrible castigation He can inflict upon the world, is manifest when He permits His people to fall into the hands of a clergy who are more in name than in deed, priests who practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather than the charity and affection of devoted shepherds. They abandon the things of God to devote themselves to the things of the world, and in their saintly calling of holiness, they spend their time in profane and worldly pursuits. When God permits such things, it is a very positive proof that He is thoroughly angry with His people and is visiting His most dreadful wrath upon them.

--St. John Eudes

QUOTATION: Tomorrow May Not come

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

--St. Augustine

QUOTATION: Becoming Catholic

From the time that I became a Catholic, of course I have no further history of my religious opinions to narrate. In saying this, I do not mean to say that my mind has been idle, or that I have given up thinking on theological subjects; but that I have had no variations to record, and have had no anxiety of heart whatever. I have been in perfect peace and contentment; I never have had one doubt. I was not conscious to myself, on my conversion, of any change, intellectual or moral, wrought in my mind. I was not conscious of firmer faith in the fundamental truths of Revelation, or of more self-command; I had not more fervour; but it was like coming into port after a rough sea; and my happiness on that score remains to this day without interruption.

--Blessed John Henry Newman

QUOTATION: Repentance

No one is as good and kind as the Lord is; but He does not forgive one who does not repent.

--St. Mark the Ascetic

QUOTATION: Aim High

We ought to desire to do great things for the service of God, and not content ourselves with a moderate goodness, but wish, if it were possible, to surpass in sanctity and love even St. Peter and St. Paul.

--St. Philip Neri

QUOTATION: In the End There Are Only Two Destinies

There are 10,000 times 10,000 roads down which you may travel during life. But at the end of all of these roads, you will see one or the other of two faces: the merciful face of Christ or the miserable face of Satan.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Treasured Love Story

QUOTATION: Studying Sacred Truth

The more you devote yourself to the study of the sacred utterances, the richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil is tilled, the richer the harvest.

--St. Isidore of Seville

QUOTATION: The Work of Religious

Religious are the nobility, the aristocracy of the Church. But as the nobility of a kingdom form its main strength, and is always in the first rank, to defend the person of the prince and the honor of their country; as we see them expose themselves to all perils with admirable courage, which proves that they count their own  life as nothing, so ought the religious to be in the first rank to defend the sacred Person of Jesus Christ and the Church, which is His kingdom.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Angels on Judgement Day

It is to be feared that the angels, who are at present our guardians, will become our accusers at the day of judgment.

--St. Aloysius Gonzaga

QUOTATION: God is Our Fuel

A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.

--C. S. Lewis

QUOTATION: Sacrifices

Normally the sacrifices that our Lord asks of us, even the most difficult ones, refer to tiny details, but they are as continuous and invaluable as the beating of our hearts.

--St. Josemaria Escriva

QUOTATION: Today's Greatest Poison

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference.

--St. Maximilian Kolbe

QUOTATION: To Be With God in Everything

When I eat or drink, move or stand still, speak or keep silent, sleep or wake, see, hear, or think; whether I am in church, at home, or in the street, in bad health or good, dying or not dying, at every hour and moment of my life I wish all to be in God. I wish to be unable to wish or do or think or speak anything that is not completely God's will; and the part of me which oppose this I would wish to be turned into dust and scattered in the wind.

--St. Catherine of Genoa

QUOTATION: The Treasure of the Church

The blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons - these are the treasure of the Church.

--St. Lawrence

QUOTATION: Faith

It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.

--St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

QUOTATION: Refusal to Forgive

By not forgiving, I chain myself to a desire to get even, thereby losing my freedom.

--Henri Nouwen

QUOTATION: The Cross

One cannot desire freedom from the Cross when one is especially chosen for the Cross.

--St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein)

QUOTATION: Saving Souls

To save souls we must be holy: God does not use dirty tools.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

QUOTATION: American Secularism

Perhaps America’s brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches, but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things 'out there' are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life: living 'as if God did not exist'. This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: far from a Catholic approach to 'thinking with the Church', each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose, maintaining external social bonds but without an integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Consequently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind, Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age. We have seen this emerge in an acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.

--Pope Benedict XVI, during his Apostolic Visit to the US, 2008

QUOTATION: Mortification

We should, moreover, practise the mortification of Jesus Christ, who chose suffering not through necessity, but through love, because He saw in it the means of more clearly proving His love for His Father and for us. We should consider this mortification as a virtue to be acquired, and say: "Even had I no sin to expiate, I wish to mortify myself, because Jesus Christ has given me the example. He was scourged and crucified, He suffered hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness joyfully for the love of God, His Father. I want to be like Him."

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: We're Our Own Worst Enemies

We are our own worst enemies because we make ourselves unhappy by not accepting what is; by preferring things to be other than what they are.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori, Uniformity to the Divine Will

QUOTATION: Humility

True humility of the heart is that felt and lived rather than shown. We must always humble before God, but not with that false humility which brings discouragement, generating dejection and despair. We must have a low opinion of ourselves. We must believe we are inferior to everyone else. We must not put out interests before those of others.

--St. Padre Pio

QUOTATION: Difficult People

If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them.

--C.S. Lewis

QUOTATION: Evil Thoughts

Just as you cannot stop air from coming into your chest, you cannot stop evil thoughts from coming into your mind. Your part is to resist them.

--St. Poemen

QUOTATION: Frugality

Frugality is a sin in this respect:  that it arises from the love of possessing. In contrast, we should both abstain from pleasures and by no means withhold money.  To use money sparingly, that is, moderately, is a type of weakness of the mind. It reveals someone fearing lest he will be in need.  Or it reveals someone despairing of being able to recover it, or someone incapable of the contempt of earthly things.

--Lactantius 

QUOTATION: Persuasion Requires Conviction

You lack drive. That's why you sway so few. You don't seem very convinced of what you gain by giving up those things of the earth for Christ.

Just compare: a hundredfold and life everlasting! Would you call that a poor bargain?

--St. Josemaria EscrivaThe Way, 79
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QUOTATION: Meekness

We must besides practise meekness towards ourselves. It is a delusion of the devil, to make us consider it a virtue to be angry with ourselves for committing some fault; far from it, it is a trick of the enemy to keep us in a state of trouble, that so we may be unfit for the performance of any good.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Holy Eucharist

QUOTATION: Why Does God Hide?

In times of desolation, God conceals Himself from us so that we can discover for ourselves what we are without Him.

--St. Margaret of Cortona

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: The Ten Commandments

God wrote on the tables of the Law what men did not read on their hearts.

--St. Augustine

QUOTATION: The Loss of a Child Through Abortion

We have treated the loss of our fetuses as a theoretical loss, a sad-but-necessary loss, as of civilians in wartime. We have not yet realized that the offspring lost are not the enemy’s, nor our neighbor’s, but our own. And it is not a loss of inert, amorphous tissue, but of a growing being unique in history.
 
--Frederica Mathewes-Green, The Bitter Price of Choice

QUOTATION: Atheists and Religion

The ungodly like religion in the same way that they like lions, either dead or behind bars; they fear religion when it breaks loose and begins to challenge their consciences.

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

QUOTATION: Jesus and the Church are Inseparable

Some think they can have a personal, direct, immediate relationship with Jesus Christ outside of the communion and the mediation of the Church. Such temptations are dangerous and harmful. They are, in the words of the great Pope Paul VI, absurd dichotomies.

--Pope Francis, General Audience, June 25, 2014

QUOTATION: The Self is Not the Source of Love

A man cannot find in self a love greater than self. It would be contrary to reason that an effect should be greater than its cause. Seek, then, a love that comes from on high, from Jesus Christ, for it alone can arm us to struggle against self.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard