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

 

 

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

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 

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

 

 

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

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

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

St. Albert the Great: Withdraw From The Distractions of Earth

He who enters into the secret place of his own soul passes beyond himself and truly ascends to God. 

Therefore, banish from your heart the distractions of earth. Turn your eyes to spiritual joys so that you may learn at last to rest in the light of the contemplation of God. Indeed, the soul’s true life and repose are to abide in God, held fast by love and refreshed by divine consolations. In your spiritual ascent and your search for a closer union with God, you must allow yourself no rest, no slipping back. You must go forward till you have obtained the object of your desires. Follow the example of mountain climbers. If your desires turn aside after objects that pass below, you will lose yourself in byways and your mind will be drawn in all directions. Your progress will be uncertain. You will not reach your goal. And you will not find rest after your labors. 

But if your heart and mind, led by love and desire, withdraw from the distractions of the world, you will grow strong. Your recollection will deepen the higher you rise on the wings of knowledge and desire. Little by little as you abandon baser things to rest in the one true and unchangeable Good, you will dwell there, held fast by the bonds of love.

- St. Albert the Great

St. Philip Neri: Saints

Imagine yourselves to be spiritual beggars in the presence of God and his saints. You should go round from saint to saint, imploring an alms with the same real earnestness with which the poor beg.

- St. Philip Neri

St. John Paul II: God Is Never Far From Those Who Suffer

Be assured that you are not alone. God is never far from those who suffer. If you know how to find him, then you will experience him. The highest value in human life is nearness to God. Now, suffering, even if it seems intolerable, puts us in the best position to assess the poverty of earthly goods and discover the ineffable riches of God. And then suffering is transformed into an element of strength and a source of joy.

Thus, whoever learns to suffer in the love of God is not alienated from life but helps to enrich the world.

You see: I have come among you to remind you of this, and I would like to say it again to all the sick people of the world. I have come to ask for the contribution of your prayers and the precious offering of your daily cross, to help the world of men become more human and more Christian.

I have come to say also to those who take such loving care of you, in various capacities, that their work, too, though often ignored, is written indelibly in the book of  God. Nothing will go unrewarded.

- St. John Paul II

 

St. Pio of Pietrelcina: Be Cheerful!

Be cheerful! Jesus will take care of everything. Let us pay no attention to people who do not know what they are talking about. Let us trust in Jesus and our heavenly Mother, and everything will work out well.

 

- St. Pio of Pietrelcina