St. John of the Cross: Better Than Working Miracles

Suffering for God is better than working miracles.

- St. John of the Cross

St. John Chrysostom: Prayers of Saints

The prayers of the saints have mighty power to help our need... let us call upon them, for they can be bolder of speech in death than when they lived. 

 - St. John Chrysostom

St. John Paul II: May your suffering become redeeming love

At this moment I would like to express the deep sympathy that I feel for each of you, and all my understanding for the sickness you carry in your body and your spirit; I would like to speak with you one by one to instill in you comfort and encouragement.

Your life as handicapped persons constitutes a great trial; it is a trial for you above all, but also for your parents, for those who love you, and for those who wonder why this infirmity?
In fact, your ordeal is also a mystery.

The Lord does not ask us to close our eyes in the face of infirmity. It is very real, and we must have a clear knowledge of it. He asks us to look more deeply, to believe that in these suffering bodies beats not only human life with all its dignity and its rights but also, by virtue of baptism, the divine life, the marvelous life of the children of God. If to the external eyes of men you appear weak and infirm, before God you are great and luminous in your existence.

There is yet another important reality that Jesus reveals to us.

In human society, powerful, cultivated people occupy the positions of authority and are more visible; in the Kingdom of God, on the other hand, the opposite happens - the first and the greatest, Jesus tells us, are the children, the weak, the poor, the suffering. The ways of God are disturbing to mankind. St. Paul says: "God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."

This truth, which leaves us bewildered, becomes comprehensible if we look at the example of Jesus. Jesus was not content with revealing to us the mystery of suffering. He gave us the most convincing answer by taking our weaknesses upon himself, becoming the Man of sorrow who is acquainted with suffering.

When we ask God, then: Why must this innocent suffer? God in turn, asks us a question: Do you not see me in your brother who suffers? And what will you do for me and for him?

- St. John Paul II

John Paul II: Your Suffering Elevates the World

John Paul II: Your Suffering Elevates the World

I call on you to entrust your anguish to God the Father and to Christ, through Mary; to ask of Him - more than resignation, and even more than courage for your struggle - the grace of love and hope. Look at the Cross of Christ with faith: although it is the instrument of immense suffering, it is above all the sign of immense love, and the open door to Resurrection, which is the ultimate response of the God of love to His chosen Son.

May you offer this handicap of yours together with Christ, and enter into redemption: for your salvation, for the progress of the whole Church, for the graces of conversion that our world needs! Remain faithful to prayer. Try to remain open to others, without turning in on yourselves. Others have a lot to gain from your experience as sick people and as believers. Often, your ordeal has enabled you to acquire an outlook on existence and what is truly valuable, and gain a new degree of patience, of courage, of solidarity, of serenity at the prospect of death - in contrast with the anxiety of those around you - and a mysterious union with God. To all this you can bear witness, making manifest the promise of Jesus: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Even in the silence of prayer, and confined to your bed, you are in communion with the whole world, in order to take part in redemption: your prayer and your offering elevate the world.

~ Pope St. John Paul II

Belgium

May 21, 1985

St. Clare of Assisi Wisdom

We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.
If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing.
Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather
it means becoming the image of the beloved,
an image disclosed through transformation. This means
we are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.

St. Clare of Assisi

 

 

St. Bonaventure: Voice of the Heart

When we pray, the voice of the heart
must be heard more
than that proceeding from the mouth.

St. Bonaventure

 

St. Maximilian Kolbe: Queen Even Of God's Heart

Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata 
who is queen even of God's heart. 

St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

 

 

 

St. Bernadette Soubirous: Courage Through Prayer

Courage, my soul,
through prayer we can do all that is asked of us.
The Heart of Jesus is there:
let us knock.

St. Bernadette Soubirous

 

 

 

 

Eucharistic Adoration As Spiritual Weapon

Listen: There are two things the Devil is deathly afraid of: fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. 

Do you want Our Lord to grant you many graces? Visit him often. 

Do you want Him to grant you only a few? Visit Him only seldom. 

Do you want the Devil to attack you? Rarely visit the Blessed Sacrament. 

Do you want the Devil to flee from you? Visit Jesus often.

Do you want to overcome the Devil? Take refuge at Jesus’ feet. 

Do you want to be overcome by the Devil? Give up visiting Jesus. 

Visiting the Blessed Sacrament is essential, my dear boys, if you want to overcome the Devil. Therefore, make frequent visits to Jesus. If you do that, the Devil will never prevail against you. 

- St. John Bosco

 

 

St. Alphonsus Liguori: Today

Today God invites you to do good;
do it therefore today.
Tomorrow you may not have time, or
God may no longer call you to do it.

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

 

St. Therese of Lisieux: A Source of Merit!

Do not imagine that love can be found without suffering, for we carry with us our human nature; and yet, what a source of merit it is!

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux: Furnace of Love

I cherish the hope that one day Thou wilt swoop down upon me and carry me up until I am lost, a willing victim, in the fiery heart of the furnace of Love.

-St. Therese of Lisieux

 

 

 

St. Augustine: The Truth!

People hate the truth
for the sake of whatever it is they love more than the truth.
They love truth when it shines warmly upon them
and hate it
when it rebukes them.

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Gemma Galgani: If You Really Want to Love

If you really want to love Jesus, first
learn to suffer, because
suffering teaches you to love.

St. Gemma Galgani

 

 

 

St. Vincent de Paul: Why Trials and Afflictions?

God sends us trials and afflictions
to exercise us in patience and
teach us sympathy with the sorrows of others.

St. Vincent de Paul

 

 

 

Our Lady and the Three Dresses

Many centuries ago, three young nuns lived together in a convent. Day after day, they took their meals together, they went to chapel together, and they prayed and sang together.

One day, their priest-confessor advised them that, as a preparation for the feast of the purification of Mary, they should recite the whole Rosary every day for forty days. The three nuns obediently complied.

On the night before that holy feast day, the Heavenly Mother appeared to the three nuns as they gathered in the choir. To the first of these three sisters she handed a rich garment, embroidered with gold. Holy Mary thanked her and blessed her.

She then handed to the second nun a much simpler garment, and also thanked her. Noticing the difference in the two garments, the second sister asked, "Oh Lady, why have you brought my sister a richer garment?" Mary Most Holy lovingly replied, "Because she has clothed me more richly with her prayers than you have done."

Mary then approached the third nun with a canvas garment. Being an observant young lady, this sister at once asked pardon for the half-hearted way in which she had prayed her rosaries.

A full year had passed when all three fervently prepared for the same feast, each saying her Rosary with great devotion. On the evening preceding the festival, Mary appeared to them in glory, and said to them: "Be prepared, for tomorrow you shall come to paradise."

The following morning dawned, full of promise. Each nun wondered if this would be her last day in this vale of tears. When evening came, would they retire to their modest cells once more, or did Holy Mary have something else in store for them?

The sisters related to their confessor what had occurred, and received communion in the morning. At the hour of compline (evening prayers) they saw again the most holy Virgin, who came to take them with her. Amid the songs of angels, one after the other sweetly expired.

From the Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

 

 

 

St. Pio of Pietrelcina: We Must Not Stop!

We must not stop doing good
even if it scandalizes the Pharisees.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

St. Hilary of Poitiers: No Matter How Sinful

No matter how sinful one may have been,
if he has devotion to Mary,
it is impossible that he be lost.

St. Hilary of Poitiers

 

 

 

St. Ignatius of Loyola: Though in Desolation

Though in desolation
we must never change our former resolutions,
it will be very advantageous to intensify
our activity against the desolation.
We can insist more
upon prayer, upon meditation, and on much examination of ourselves.
We can make an effort in a suitable way to do some penance.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

 

 

St. Therese of Lisieux: I Will Sing!

I will sing even when I must pick my flowers amid thorns. The longer and sharper the thorns are, the sweeter my song will sound.

~St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Alphonsus Liguori Quotation

When the devil
wishes to make himself master of a soul, he
seeks to make it give up devotion to Mary.

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

St. Francis of Assisi: Your Deeds

The deeds you do may be
the only sermon some persons will hear today.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Teresa of Avila: Detachment

Detachment, if practiced perfectly, includes the other two necessary virtues, love of others and true humility.

~St. Teresa of Avila

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection: Little Things

We can do little things for God.

~Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

St. Teresa of the Andes: Infinite Horizons of Love

When a soul gives herself wholly to God, He manifests Himself by letting the soul discover infinite horizons of love that will unite her most closely to Him.

~St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes

St. John of the Cross: An Altar

The soul in which God alone dwells has no other function than that of an altar on which God is adored in praise and love.

~St. John of the Cross

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi: In Prayer

... in prayer God teaches the soul, and through prayer the soul detaches itself from created things and unites itself to God.

~St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

St. John of the Cross: God Ordains All

Think nothing else but that God ordains all, and where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.

~St. John of the Cross

St. Teresa Margaret Redi: Render Me A True Copy

...I try to keep up my effort in the practice of those virtues that can render me a true copy of my dear God.

~St. Teresa Margaret Redi

 

St. Teresa Margaret Redi: No Other Desire

I have no other desire than to unite myself to the Heart of Jesus.

~St. Teresa Margaret Redi

 

St. Francis of Assisi: Our Father

OUR FATHER,

Most Holy, our Creator and Redeemer, our Savior and our Comforter.

WHO ART IN HEAVEN:

Together with the angels and saints, giving them light so that they may have knowledge of you, because you, Lord, are Light; inflaming them so that they may love, because you, Lord, are Love: living continually in them and filling them so that they may be happy, because you, Lord, are the supreme good, the eternal good, and it is from you that all good comes, and without you there is no good.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

May our knowledge of you become ever clearer, so that we may realize the width and breadth of your blessings, the steadfastness of your promises, the sublimity of your majesty and the depth of your judgments.

THY KINGDOM COME,

So that you may reign in us by your grace and bring us to your Kingdom, where we will see you clearly, love you perfectly, be blessed in your presence, and enjoy you forever.

THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN:

So that we may love you with our whole heart by always thinking of you; directing our whole intention with our whole mind towards you and seeking your glory in everything; spending all our powers and affections of soul and body with all our strength in the service of your love alone. May we also love our neighbors as ourselves, encouraging them to love you as best we can, rejoicing at the good fortune of others, just as if it were our own, and sympathizing with their misfortunes, giving offense to no one.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,

Your own beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so to remind us of the love he showed for us and to help us to understand and appreciate it and everything he did or said or suffered.

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

In your infinite mercy, and by the power of the Passion of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the merits and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all your saints.

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US,

And if we do not forgive perfectly, Lord, make us do so, so that we may indeed love our enemies out of love for you, and pray fervently to you for them, never returning evil for evil, anxious only to serve everybody in you.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.

Neither hidden or obvious, sudden or unforeseen.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL --

Present, past or to come.

Amen. 

~St. Francis of Assisi

Pope St. John Paul Quotes: July 27, 2017

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.

*** 

There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.

***

Christ himself carried a burden, and his burden - the cross - was made heavier by the sins of us all. But Christ did not avoid the cross; he accepted it and carried it willingly. Moreover, he now stands beside those weighed down by trials and persecutions, remaining beside them to the end. It is for all people and with all people that he carries the cross to Calvary, and it is there that for all of us he is nailed to his cross. He dies the death of a criminal, the most humiliating death known to the world at that time. That is why to those in our own century who carry terrible burdens he is able to say: "Come tome! I am your Brother in suffering. There is no humiliation or bitterness which I do not know!"

***

Jesus Christ has taken the lead on the way of the cross. He has suffered first. He does not drive us toward suffering but shares it with us, wanting us to have life and to have it in abundance. 

~Pope St. John Paul the Great

St. Francis de Sales: Sign of the Cross

When making the Sign of the Cross, therefore, we confess three great mysteries: the Trinity, the Passion, and the remission of sins, by which we are moved from the left, the hand of the curse, to the right, the hand of blessing.

~ St. Francis de Sales

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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