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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

St. Therese of Lisieux: Suffering with Love

Suffering borne with love is happiness most pure.

~ St. Therese of Lisieux


St. Francis de Sales: You Would Be Courageous!

If you were able to stir your heart a little more deeply to the practice of meekness and true humility, you would be courageous. But you must frequently think of it. Prepare yourself to do so first thing each morning, and God will send you a thousand consolations.

~ St. Francis de Sales




Saturday, March 25, 2017

St. John Paul the Great: What Really Matters

What really matters in life is that we are loved by Christ, and that we love him in return. In comparison to the love of Jesus, everything else is secondary. And without the love of Jesus, everything else is useless.

~ St. John Paul the Great



Thursday, March 16, 2017

St. Teresa of Calcutta: Mothers, Heart of the Home

Mothers are the heart of the home; they build family life by wanting, loving and taking care of their children. . . . 

Recently, in L——, a young woman of twenty-one years, who had been scolded in the morning, attempted suicide later in the day by swallowing kerosene. Taken to the hospital, she said to the priest: “My mother chased me out of the house and I did not know where to go; so I thought the best thing would be to kill myself.” 

Much suffering of young people is attributable to the family and particularly to mothers. Mothers make the home a center of love. Their role is sometimes hard, but there is the example of the Blessed Virgin, who teaches us to be good with our children. We Missionaries of Charity also have to be mothers and make our communities happy homes (LC, 24).

~ St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta



St. Augustine: Set Us on Fire

Come, Lord, work upon us, set us on fire and clasp us close, be fragrant to us, draw us to your loveliness, let us love, let us run to you. 

~ St. Augustine of Hippo


St. Therese of Lisieux: Not Always Faithful

It is true I am not always faithful, but I never lose courage. I leave myself in the Arms of Our Lord. 

– St. Therese of Lisieux



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

St. Therese of Lisieux: Love, Not Fear!

Your soul is called to raise itself to God by the elevator of love and not to climb the rough stairway of fear. 

- St. Therese of Lisieux



Wednesday, December 28, 2016

St. Teresa of Calcutta: No Time to Enjoy

I think the world today is upside down, and is suffering so much, because there is so very little love in the homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. If we could only bring back into our lives the life that Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, if we could make our homes another Nazareth, I think that peace and joy would reign in the world.

~ St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta




Saturday, November 19, 2016

St. Thomas Aquinas on True Satisfaction

When your glory is seen, I shall be satisfied

It is fitting that the end of all our desires, namely eternal life coincides with the words at the end of the creed, “Life everlasting. Amen.”
 
  The first point about eternal life is that man is united with God. For God himself is the reward and end of all our labours: I am your protector and your supreme reward. This union consists in seeing perfectly: At present we see through a glass, darkly; but then we shall see face to face.
 
  Next it consists in perfect praise, according to the words of the prophet: Joy and happiness will be found in it, thanksgiving and words of praise.
 
  It also consists in the complete satisfaction of desire, for there the blessed will be given more than they wanted or hoped for. The reason is that in this life no one can fulfil his longing, nor can any creature satisfy man’s desire. Only God satisfies, he infinitely exceeds all other pleasures. That is why man can rest in nothing but God. As Augustine says: You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our heart can find no rest until it rests in you.
 
  Since in their heavenly home the saints will possess God completely, obviously their longing will be satisfied, and their glory will be even greater. That is why the Lord says: Enter into the joy of your Lord. Augustine adds: The fullness of joy will not enter into those who rejoice, but those who rejoice will enter into joy. I shall be satisfied when your glory is seen, and again: He who satisfies your desire with good things.
 
  Whatever is delightful is there in superabundance. If delights are sought, there is supreme and most perfect delight. It is said of God, the supreme good: Boundless delights are in your right hand.
 
  Again, eternal life consists of the joyous community of all the blessed, a community of supreme delight, since everyone will share all that is good with all the blessed. Everyone will love everyone else as himself, and therefore will rejoice in another’s good as in his own. So it follows that the happiness and joy of each grows in proportion to the joy of all.
 
- St. Thomas Aquinas
 
 
 

 
 
 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

St. Therese on the Key to Her Vocation

Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!

- St. Therese of Lisieux



Thursday, March 31, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi: Sweet Silence

If you do not practice sweet silence, it is impossible to taste the things of God.

- St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi




St. Therese of Lisieux: God's Timing

I realize better than ever before how tender and merciful Our Lord is;  He has sent me this cross when I am capable of bearing it,  whereas before I should have given way to discouragement. 

– St. Therese of Lisieux



Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Why faith is lacking

Faith is lacking because there is so much selfishness and so much gain only for self. But faith, to be true, has to be a giving love. Love and faith go together. They complete each other.

People don't know they have lost their faith. If they were convinced that the person lying in the dirt is their brother or sister, I believe they would do something for that person. People don't know what compassion is. They don't know people. If they understood, they would immediately realize the greatness of the people lying in the street and would simply love them. And the love would surely lead them to place themselves at their service.

- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta



Monday, August 10, 2015

St. Clare of Assisi: Melancholy Is Poison!

Melancholy is the poison of devotion. When one is in tribulation, it is necessary to be more happy and more joyful because one is nearer to God.

- St. Clare of Assisi




Thursday, June 25, 2015

St. Francis de Sales: Have Patience

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew. 

 

- St. Francis de Sales

 

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

St. Thomas Aquinas: God Alone!

Nothing created has ever been able to fill the heart of man. God alone can fill it infinitely.

- St. Thomas Aquinas


Monday, June 22, 2015

St. Vincent de Paul: A Powerful Remedy For All Evils

A most powerful and efficacious remedy for all evils, a means of correcting all imperfections, of triumphing over temptation, and preserving our hearts in an undisturbed peace, is conformity with the will of God


- St. Vincent de Paul


 
 

St. Augustine: Great Things?


You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.

- St. Augustine of Hippo



Tuesday, June 16, 2015

St. Francis of Assisi: Darkness and Light

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

 

 - St. Francis of Assisi

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

St. Therese: Do Everything for God!


I do everything for God, and in this way I lose nothing, and I'm always well repaid for the trouble I go to for other people.
 
- St. Therese of Lisieux
 
 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

St. Jerome: The Dignity of the Soul

How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it.

- St. Jerome



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

St. Francis of Assisi: We Must Be Simple, Humble, Pure

We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- St. Francis of Assisi 



Monday, November 17, 2014

St. Therese of Lisieux Quotation: Dying of Love

Our Lord died on the Cross in agony, and yet this is the most beautiful death of love. To die of love is not to die in transports.
 
- St. Therese of Lisieux
 
 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

St. Teresa of Avila: Paid in Troubles!

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.

- St. Teresa of Avila



Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque on Prayer

Are you making no progress in prayer? Then you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: "My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions." Continue to do this in every circumstance of life.

- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque



Sunday, November 9, 2014

St. Alcuin Quotation, November 10, 2014

I rejoice my dearest son, in your devoted good will regarding both your generous almsgiving and your gentle rule. All this surely pleases God and deserves the mercy of his perpetual blessing. Always work to the utmost for the honor of God Almighty. In goodness and piety, follow the example of your most excellent father so that by Christ’s divine clemency you may inherit his blessing. 

Listen faithfully to the poor and judge their cause with absolute justice. Do not permit the judges under you to judge for presents and gifts. For Holy Scripture says gifts blind the hearts of the wise and subvert the words of the just. Hold in honor those who are true servants of God, for some come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves. The Truth says that by their fruits shall you know them. Have as counselors wise men, who fear God. Not flatterers, for a flatterer is a bland enemy and often seduces those who consent to him. Be prudent in thought and cautious in speech. Always set your hope on God, for he never fails them whose hope is set on him. 

My greatest joy is hearing about a good manner of life on your part. For God prospers a kingdom where the rulers of a Christian people live most strict lives, and conduct their relationships among men in a way pleasing to him. Thus a blessing from heaven is certain to come on the nation and kingdom.

- St. Alcuin


Monday, November 3, 2014

St. Francis of Assisi: Avoid the Sin of Envy!

The Apostle affirms that “no man can say the Lord Jesus but by the Holy Ghost,” and “there is none that doth good, no not one.” Whosoever, therefore , envies his brother on account of the good which the Lord says or does in him , commits a sin akin to blasphemy, because he envies the Most High Himself who says and does all that is good.

- St. Francis of Assisi