Those who imagine they can attain to holiness by any wisdom or strength of their own will find themselves after many labors, and struggles, and weary efforts, only the farther from possessing it, and this in proportion to their certainty that they of themselves have gained it. 301
St. John of Avila
Men can heal the lustful. Angels can heal the malicious. Only God can heal the proud. 302
St. John Climacus
St. John Climacus
Mount Calvary is the academy of love. 303
St. Francis de Sales
It is our part to seek, His to grant what we ask; ours to make a beginning, His to bring it to completion; ours to offer what we can, His to finish what we cannot. 304
St. Jerome
Where there is schism and anger, there is no place for God. 305
Where there is schism and anger, there is no place for God. 305
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Every sin is more harmful to the sinner than to the one sinned against. 306
Every sin is more harmful to the sinner than to the one sinned against. 306
St. Augustine of Hippo
We take care of our possessions for our children, but the children themselves we take no care of at all. What an absurdity this is! Form the soul of the son aright, and all the rest will be added afterward. 307
We take care of our possessions for our children, but the children themselves we take no care of at all. What an absurdity this is! Form the soul of the son aright, and all the rest will be added afterward. 307
St. John Chrisostom
Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints. 308
Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints. 308
Pope Saint Clement I
Those from whom I receive the greatest consolations and encouragement are those whom I know to be dwelling in Paradise. 309
Those from whom I receive the greatest consolations and encouragement are those whom I know to be dwelling in Paradise. 309
St. Teresa of Avila
The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by tremendous yearning. 310
The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by tremendous yearning. 310
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope and perfect charity, so that I may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen. 311
Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope and perfect charity, so that I may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen. 311
St. Francis of Assisi (prayer before the San Damiano Crucifix)
An evil thought defiles the soul when it is deliberate and consented to. Our Lord placed evil thoughts at the head of all crimes, because they are their principle and source. 312
St. John Baptiste de la Salle
Jesus, crucified for me, with the nails of Your love, fasten my whole self to You. 313
An evil thought defiles the soul when it is deliberate and consented to. Our Lord placed evil thoughts at the head of all crimes, because they are their principle and source. 312
St. John Baptiste de la Salle
Jesus, crucified for me, with the nails of Your love, fasten my whole self to You. 313
St. Bernadine of Siena
Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, who does not change. 314
St. Teresa of Avila
The Sister catechist must be ready, at every moment, to instruct the little ones and the uneducated. She must not count the sacrifices such a ministry demands, indeed she should desire to die while doing it, if this be God's will. 315
Blessed Giulia Salzano
You say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each other, but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for another can be heard.... But if the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs? 316
St. Jerome (from Against Vigilantius, 406AD)
Can anyone receive Jesus into his heart and not die? 317
Blessed Imelda Lambertini
If your enemies see that you grow courageous, and that you will neither be seduced by flatteries nor disheartened by the pains and trials of your journey, but rather are contented with them, they will grow afraid of you. 318
Blessed Henry Suso
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. 319
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. 319
St. Frances de Sales
You will not see anyone who is really striving after his advancement who is not given to spiritual reading. And as to him who neglects it, the fact will soon be observed by his progress. 320
You will not see anyone who is really striving after his advancement who is not given to spiritual reading. And as to him who neglects it, the fact will soon be observed by his progress. 320
St. Athanasius
The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given you; what you love will be yours for ever. 321
The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given you; what you love will be yours for ever. 321
Pope St. Leo the Great
Do not grieve over the temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that you will be successful, if only you stand fast. 322
Do not grieve over the temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that you will be successful, if only you stand fast. 322
St. Philip Neri
He who wishes to love God does not truly love Him if he has not an ardent and constant desire to suffer for His sake. 323
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Do not let any occasion of gaining merit pass without taking care to draw some spiritual profit from it; as, for example, from a sharp word which someone may say to you; from an act of obedience imposed against your will; from an opportunity which may occur to humble yourself, or to practice charity, sweetness, and patience. All of these occasions are gain for you, and you should seek to procure them; and at the close of that day, when the greatest number of them have come to you, you should go to rest most cheerful and pleased ... 324
Do not let any occasion of gaining merit pass without taking care to draw some spiritual profit from it; as, for example, from a sharp word which someone may say to you; from an act of obedience imposed against your will; from an opportunity which may occur to humble yourself, or to practice charity, sweetness, and patience. All of these occasions are gain for you, and you should seek to procure them; and at the close of that day, when the greatest number of them have come to you, you should go to rest most cheerful and pleased ... 324
St. Ignatius Loyola
Beware of trying to accomplish anything by force, for God has given every single person free will and desires to constrain none; he merely shows them the way, invites them and counsels them. 325
St. Angela Merici
Can you expect to go to heaven for nothing? Did not our Savior track the whole way to it with His tears and blood? And yet you stop at every little pain. 326
Can you expect to go to heaven for nothing? Did not our Savior track the whole way to it with His tears and blood? And yet you stop at every little pain. 326
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread. 327
St. Francis of Assisi
True charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbor's faults, never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues. 328
St. Therese of Lisieux
If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. 329
St. Augustine of Hippo
Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence. 330
Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence. 330
St. Basil the Great
God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need. Then the rest of the day can take its course, under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace. And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone, and all the reasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed: just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with Him. Then you will be able to rest in Him -- really rest -- and start the next day as a new life. 331
St. Edith Stein
Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well. 332
Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well. 332
St. Vincent Pallotti
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. 333
St. John Vianney
I have heard that it is very difficult to convert Chinese, and so I had never, ever, wanted to go to China. A kind of resentment had slipped into my heart at the very word, China. But the Provincial enlightened me. I understood that it was the will of God that I should go to China. Joy and gratitude then filled my heart. 334
St. Remigius Isoré
God’s invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few. Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all. In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No. In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times. Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing this good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this. 335
Blessed Louis Tezza
I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him. 336
St. Teresa of Avila
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. 337
St. Augustine of Hippo
Poor human reason, when it trusts in itself, it substitutes the strangest absurdities for the highest divine concepts. 338
St. John Chrysostom
If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By miracles you would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other reward than being able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what I say. 339
St. John Chrysostom
Whoever bids other folks to do right, but gives an evil example by acting the opposite way, is like a foolish weaver who weaves quickly with one hand and unravels the cloth just as quickly with the other. 340
Whoever bids other folks to do right, but gives an evil example by acting the opposite way, is like a foolish weaver who weaves quickly with one hand and unravels the cloth just as quickly with the other. 340
St. Thomas More
No wickedness, no heresy, not even the Devil himself can deceive anyone without counterfeiting virtue. 341
St. Dorotheos of Gaza
The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God. Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics, and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death so that we may also share their crowns of glory. 342
St. John of Damascus
A strange and unhappy slavery is that of a man who seeks to please other men. I vow never to do anything nor to leave anything undone because of what people think. This will set up in me a great interior peace. 343
A strange and unhappy slavery is that of a man who seeks to please other men. I vow never to do anything nor to leave anything undone because of what people think. This will set up in me a great interior peace. 343
St. Claude de la Colombiere
I will not live an instant that I do not live in love. Whoever loves does all things without suffering, or, suffering, loves his suffering. 344
I will not live an instant that I do not live in love. Whoever loves does all things without suffering, or, suffering, loves his suffering. 344
St. Augustine
The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels. 345
The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels. 345
St. Bridget of Sweden
Remember the devil never sleeps, but seeks our ruin in a thousand ways. 346
Remember the devil never sleeps, but seeks our ruin in a thousand ways. 346
St. Angela Merici
Oh, my Lord! How true it is that whoever works for you is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love you if we understand its value. 347
Oh, my Lord! How true it is that whoever works for you is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love you if we understand its value. 347
St. Teresa of Avila
The most powerful weapon to conquer the Devil is humility. For as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it. 348
The most powerful weapon to conquer the Devil is humility. For as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it. 348
St Vincent de Paul
Receive Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask. 349
Receive Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask. 349
St. Ignatius Loyola
He who feeds the birds of the air and gives raiment and nourishment to the lilies of the field will not leave you in want of clothing or of food until He comes Himself to minister to you for eternity. 350
He who feeds the birds of the air and gives raiment and nourishment to the lilies of the field will not leave you in want of clothing or of food until He comes Himself to minister to you for eternity. 350
St. Clare of Assisi
When tempted, invoke your angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your guardian angel. 351
When tempted, invoke your angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your guardian angel. 351
St. John Bosco
Have love in your hearts but repress the tendency to appear devout. 352
Have love in your hearts but repress the tendency to appear devout. 352
St. Maria Mazzarello
The accidents of life separate us from our dearest friends, but let us not despair. God is like a looking glass in which souls see each other. The more we are united to Him by love, the nearer we are to those who belong to Him. 353
The accidents of life separate us from our dearest friends, but let us not despair. God is like a looking glass in which souls see each other. The more we are united to Him by love, the nearer we are to those who belong to Him. 353
St. Elizebeth Ann Seton
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved. 354
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved. 354
St. John of the Cross
God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering. 355
God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering. 355
St. Augustine of Hippo
Don't give in to discouragement....... If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about people's opinions. Be obedient to truth. For with humble obedience, you will never be disturbed. 356
Don't give in to discouragement....... If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about people's opinions. Be obedient to truth. For with humble obedience, you will never be disturbed. 356
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
If God gives you an abundant harvest of trials, it is a sign of great holiness which He desires you to attain. Do you want to become a great saint? Ask God to send you many sufferings. The flame of Divine Love never rises higher than when fed with the wood of the Cross, which the infinite charity of the Savior used to finish His sacrifice. All the pleasures of the world are nothing compared with the sweetness found in the gall and vinegar offered to Jesus Christ. That is, hard and painful things endured for Jesus Christ and with Jesus Christ. 357
If God gives you an abundant harvest of trials, it is a sign of great holiness which He desires you to attain. Do you want to become a great saint? Ask God to send you many sufferings. The flame of Divine Love never rises higher than when fed with the wood of the Cross, which the infinite charity of the Savior used to finish His sacrifice. All the pleasures of the world are nothing compared with the sweetness found in the gall and vinegar offered to Jesus Christ. That is, hard and painful things endured for Jesus Christ and with Jesus Christ. 357
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness. 358
Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness. 358
St. John Chrysostom
Don't you see that Satan and his agents take possession of all inventions and all achievements of progress to convert them to evil? All the more reason to finally wake up and and get to work in order to reconquer the positions taken up by the enemy. 359
Don't you see that Satan and his agents take possession of all inventions and all achievements of progress to convert them to evil? All the more reason to finally wake up and and get to work in order to reconquer the positions taken up by the enemy. 359
St. Maximilian Kolbe
The mind is always at work. If it is kept busy in good things. It won't have time for bad things. 360
Venerable Fr. James Alberione
There is need of living well, but there is even more need of dying well. A good death is everything, especially today where people think only of things and enjoyment here on earth, rejecting eternity. 361
Blessed Louis Guanella
Our true worth does not consist in what human beings think of us. What we really are consists in what God knows us to be. 362
The mind is always at work. If it is kept busy in good things. It won't have time for bad things. 360
Venerable Fr. James Alberione
There is need of living well, but there is even more need of dying well. A good death is everything, especially today where people think only of things and enjoyment here on earth, rejecting eternity. 361
Blessed Louis Guanella
Our true worth does not consist in what human beings think of us. What we really are consists in what God knows us to be. 362
St. John Berchmans
Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters? The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbor. 363
Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters? The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbor. 363
St. John Chrysostom
When we are whom we are called to be, we will set the world ablaze. 364
When we are whom we are called to be, we will set the world ablaze. 364
St. Catherine of Siena
If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today… The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone… we must be compassionate! 365
St. Josephine Bakhita
If pride turned some of the angels into demons, then humility can doubtless make angels out of demons. So take heart, all you sinners. 366
If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today… The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone… we must be compassionate! 365
St. Josephine Bakhita
If pride turned some of the angels into demons, then humility can doubtless make angels out of demons. So take heart, all you sinners. 366
St. John Climacus
When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? 367
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? 368
St. Gerard Majella
My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate. 369
St. Margaret of Cortona
God refuses only the person who does not admit his own weakness; ...The life of a soul who seeks true happiness clearly and indisputably depends on this: that those who seek their joy in God are the ones who give joy to God. 370
When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? 367
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? 368
St. Gerard Majella
My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate. 369
St. Margaret of Cortona
God refuses only the person who does not admit his own weakness; ...The life of a soul who seeks true happiness clearly and indisputably depends on this: that those who seek their joy in God are the ones who give joy to God. 370
St. Raphael Kalinowski
But those who persist in inciting the anger of God, who revile our Faith, who hate His commandments, who associate with those who alienate our young men from their religion, who rob and drive out our monks and nuns, who condemn to death our innocent brothers and sisters, our fellow human beings, we shun absolutely so as to remain undefiled by their blasphemous way of life, which would lay us open to that just punishment which God must and will inflict upon all....O my God, grant to us all now on this very day, before it is too late, a true realization of the things that are for peace. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, oppressed even unto tears by the blindness and sins of men, help us by Thy grace to seek always what is pleasing to Thee and reject what is displeasing, so that we may dwell in Thy Love and find rest in our souls. Amen 371
But those who persist in inciting the anger of God, who revile our Faith, who hate His commandments, who associate with those who alienate our young men from their religion, who rob and drive out our monks and nuns, who condemn to death our innocent brothers and sisters, our fellow human beings, we shun absolutely so as to remain undefiled by their blasphemous way of life, which would lay us open to that just punishment which God must and will inflict upon all....O my God, grant to us all now on this very day, before it is too late, a true realization of the things that are for peace. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, oppressed even unto tears by the blindness and sins of men, help us by Thy grace to seek always what is pleasing to Thee and reject what is displeasing, so that we may dwell in Thy Love and find rest in our souls. Amen 371
Blessed Clemens August von Galen (A speech against Euthanasia in Nazi Germany)
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand. 372
St. Bernardine of Siena
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. 373
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand. 372
St. Bernardine of Siena
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. 373
St. Colette
Gaze upon the Lord, Gaze upon his face; Gaze upon the One who holds you in his embrace. Gaze upon his life; Gaze upon his love; Gaze upon his coming poor from heaven above. 374
Gaze upon the Lord, Gaze upon his face; Gaze upon the One who holds you in his embrace. Gaze upon his life; Gaze upon his love; Gaze upon his coming poor from heaven above. 374
St. Clare of Assisi
The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. He has blessed it with His holy name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God. 375
The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. He has blessed it with His holy name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God. 375
St. Francis de Sales
Taste the hidden sweetness that lies within your heart which God has kept for those whose lives are tender within. Place your mind in the softness of life's eternal flow. Place your soul in the brilliance of heaven's endless glow; and love him totally who gave himself for your love, and you will hold him who holds all things in truth. 376
Taste the hidden sweetness that lies within your heart which God has kept for those whose lives are tender within. Place your mind in the softness of life's eternal flow. Place your soul in the brilliance of heaven's endless glow; and love him totally who gave himself for your love, and you will hold him who holds all things in truth. 376
St. Clare of Assisi
Without Prayer nothing good is done. God's works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when we run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him. 377
Without Prayer nothing good is done. God's works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when we run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him. 377
Blessed Luigi Orione
At the times when you remember God, increase your prayers, so that when you forget Him, the Lord may remind you. 378
At the times when you remember God, increase your prayers, so that when you forget Him, the Lord may remind you. 378
St. Mark the Ascetic
The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ's sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. 379
The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ's sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. 379
St. Seraphim of Sarov
I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God's Holy Will, not my own! 380
I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God's Holy Will, not my own! 380
St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the soul. 381
Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the soul. 381
St. Francis de Sales
Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich. 382
St. Gregory Nazianzen
Tell us straight that you do not believe in the Gospel of Christ; for you believe what you want in the Gospel and disbelieve what you want. You believe in yourself rather than in the Gospel. 383
Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich. 382
St. Gregory Nazianzen
Tell us straight that you do not believe in the Gospel of Christ; for you believe what you want in the Gospel and disbelieve what you want. You believe in yourself rather than in the Gospel. 383
St. Augustine of Hippo
When we have to reply to anyone who has insulted us, we should be careful to do it always with gentleness. A soft answer extinguishes the fire of wrath. 384
St. Alphonsus Liguori
Everyone - past, present, and future - will be judged. Now, then, is the time for mercy, while the time to come will be the time for justice only. For that reason, the present time is ours, but the future time will be God's only! 385
Everyone - past, present, and future - will be judged. Now, then, is the time for mercy, while the time to come will be the time for justice only. For that reason, the present time is ours, but the future time will be God's only! 385
St. Thomas Aquinas
Man's value before God is estimated by the dispositions of his heart, its uprightness, its good will, its charity, and not by keenness of intellect or extent of knowledge. 386
Man's value before God is estimated by the dispositions of his heart, its uprightness, its good will, its charity, and not by keenness of intellect or extent of knowledge. 386
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
Look, look on Jesus, poor and crucified, look on this Holy One, who for your love has died, and remember as you contemplate the sacred mysteries, this Jesus whom you gaze upon, loves you most tenderly. 387
Look, look on Jesus, poor and crucified, look on this Holy One, who for your love has died, and remember as you contemplate the sacred mysteries, this Jesus whom you gaze upon, loves you most tenderly. 387
St. Clare of Assisi
The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are in need of mercy. 388
The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are in need of mercy. 388
St. Vincent de Paul
About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter. 389
About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter. 389
St. Joan of Arc
Let us love God who deserves it! 390
Let us love God who deserves it! 390
St. Crispin of Viterbo
It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction. 391
It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction. 391
St. Edmund
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. 392
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. 392
St. Colette
When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? 393
When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? 393
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects. 394
If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects. 394
St. Philip Neri
Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. 395
Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. 395
St. Therese of Lisieux
To love God is something greater than to know Him. 396
To love God is something greater than to know Him. 396
St. Thomas Aquinas
Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him. 397
Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him. 397
St. Dominic Savio
My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. 398
My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. 398
St. Isaac Jogues
You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy - the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud. 399
St. Vincent de Paul
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts toward a man's progress, nor the nature of the task, but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. 400
You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy - the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud. 399
St. Vincent de Paul
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts toward a man's progress, nor the nature of the task, but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. 400
St. Francis Xavier
