"You have entered religion not to indulge the flesh but to die for Jesus Christ."
--St. Teresa of Avila

"Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell."
--St. Bernard [Great to remind us of the beauty and necessity of religious obedience!]

"The more someone rejoices in something outside God, the less intense will be his joy in God."
--St. John of the Cross

“All the sins of your life seem to be rising up against you. Don’t give up hope! On the contrary, call your holy mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul.” » Saint Josemaria Escriva

“Here I am, Lord, to do your will whatever comes.” St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin (1888–1922)

"Because I am always sinning, I am always in need of medicine"- St. Ambrose

"A single mass offered for a person while alive may be worth more than a thousand offered for that person after death." -St. Anslem, doctor of the Church.

"The struggle we have prior to a good work we intend to do is like the antiphon that precedes the solemn psalm to be sung." St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.” St. Augustine of Hippo 

“Sin is loving what God hates, and hating what God loves.” (St. Catherine of Siena)

“We must know how to wait with patience and to expect more from God than from men.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

BLESSED is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since He wishes to be loved alone above all things.

Affection for creatures is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true and enduring. He who clings to a creature will fall with its frailty, but he who gives himself to Jesus will ever be strengthened.

Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.

Your Beloved is such that He will not accept what belongs to another -- He wants your heart for Himself alone, to be enthroned therein as King in His own right. If you but knew how to free yourself entirely from all creatures, Jesus would gladly dwell within you.

You will find, apart from Him, that nearly all the trust you place in men is a total loss. Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for "all flesh is grass"[12] and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away.

You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of men, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them. If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him. Likewise, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself -- to your own ruin. For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself much greater harm than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do.

The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Seventh Chapter

ON DEATH: THE FALLING LEAF

“Have you seen the dead leaves fall in the sad autumn twilight? Thus souls fall each day into eternity. One day, the falling leaf will be you.”
(St. Josemaría, The Way, n. 736)

Death is an unquestionable and indiscriminate reality. Yes, one day, it will be our turn: that falling leaf will be you and me. “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.1021)

Immediately after death, each of us will be judged in accordance with our works and faith (Rev 20, 13). “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification [purgatory] or immediately,--or immediate and everlasting damnation [hell].” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.1022)

"At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love (St. John of the Cross)."

Dear friends, the month of November provides us a wonderful opportunity to ask ourselves: Where our life is heading to? If God calls us right now, which do we deserve in accordance to our works, the choices we made, our faith and love: heaven, purgatory or hell?

“’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them’.” (Rev 14:13) Let us then live our life - knowing that this is the time and space which God gave us- to gain eternal happiness: live our life for God, for those “who live in Christ, will die in Christ,” knowing that He, “having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him (Rm 6:8)."

“May God remain forever in your heart and give you the strength necessary for every trial.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

"We will lie down for such a long time after death that it is worth while to keep standing while we are alive. Let us work now; one day we will rest.“ St. Agostina Petrantoni (1864-1894)

"To give worthy praise to the Lord's mercy, we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because She is chosen from among men and angels. Through Her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through Her, man became pleasing to God; Through Her, streams of grace flowed down upon us." -Saint Faustina Diary(1746)

But understand that the strength by which you bear sufferings comes from frequent Communions. So approach this fountain of mercy often, to draw with the vessel of trust whatever you n

St. Faustina  Diary 1487

God, who in Your mercy have deigned to call man from nothingness into being, generously have You bestowed upon him nature and grace. But that seemed too little for Your infinite goodness. In Your mercy, O Lord, You have given us everlasting life. You admit us to Your everlasting happiness and grant us to share in Your interior life. And You do this solely out of Your mercy.

St. Faustina  Diary 1743

"If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend.“ St. Teresa of Avila (1515.-1582.)

“Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God’s heart.” » Saint Maximilian Kolbe

“The fondness of the twentieth century for scandal is due to a great extent to its guilty conscience. By finding others’ skirts stained with mud, some rejoice that their dusty and ragged ones are not so bad after all.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Worlds First Love)

"If we only knew how God regards this Sacrifice, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass." St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“Let us bind ourselves tightly to the Sorrowful Heart of our Heavenly Mother and reflect on its boundless grief and how precious is our soul.” -St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“God is more pleased by one work, however small, done secretly, without desire that it be known, than a thousand done with desire that men know of them.” St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

“Modernized, the Easter message means that God recycles human garbage. He can turn prostitutes like Magdalene into disciples, broken reeds like Simon Peter into rocks, and political-minded Simon Zealots into martyrs for the faith. God is the God of the Second Chance.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Those Mysterious Priests)

“Charity unites us to God. There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect.”
- Pope St. Clement I

“Everything I own really belongs to the poor.”
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary

“No act is charitable if it is not just.”
- St. Bruno

“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”
- St. Gregory of Nazianzus

“The poor stretch out the hand, but God receives what is offered.”
- St. Peter Chrysologus

"Let us keep well in mind what the divine Master said: in our patience we will possess our souls."   St.  Pio of Pietrelcina

THE JOY OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE

THE glory of a good man is the testimony of a good conscience. Therefore, keep your conscience good and you will always enjoy happiness, for a good conscience can bear a great deal and can bring joy even in the midst of adversity. But an evil conscience is ever restive and fearful.

Sweet shall be your rest if your heart does not reproach you.

Do not rejoice unless you have done well. Sinners never experience true interior joy or peace, for "there is no peace to the wicked," says the Lord.[10] Even if they say: "We are at peace, no evil shall befall us and no one dares to hurt us," do not believe them; for the wrath of God will arise quickly, and their deeds will be brought to naught and their thoughts will perish.

To glory in adversity is not hard for the man who loves, for this is to glory in the cross of the Lord. But the glory given or received of men is short lived, and the glory of the world is ever companioned by sorrow. The glory of the good, however, is in their conscience and not in the lips of men, for the joy of the just is from God and in God, and their gladness is founded on truth.

The man who longs for the true, eternal glory does not care for that of time; and he who seeks passing fame or does not in his heart despise it, undoubtedly cares little for the glory of heaven.

He who minds neither praise nor blame possesses great peace of heart and, if his conscience is good, he will easily be contented and at peace.

Praise adds nothing to your holiness, nor does blame take anything from it. You are what you are, and you cannot be said to be better than you are in God's sight. If you consider well what you are within, you will not care what men say about you. They look to appearances but God looks to the heart. They consider the deed but God weighs the motive.

It is characteristic of a humble soul always to do good and to think little of itself. It is a mark of great purity and deep faith to look for no consolation in created things. The man who desires no justification from without has clearly entrusted himself to God: "For not he who commendeth himself is approved," says St. Paul, "but he whom God commendeth."[11]

To walk with God interiorly, to be free from any external affection -- this is the state of the inward man.

The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Sixth Chapter

“Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God. Tackle the day’s work that he charges you with, and he will give you the power to accomplish it.” St. Teresia Benedicta (Edith Stein) (1891.-1942.)

"What you shall ask through my Rosary you shall obtain." ~ Blessed Virgin Mary

"By your prayers, obtain for them trust in My mercy, because they have most need of trust, and have it least.

Be assured that the grace of eternal salvation for certain souls in their final moment depends on your prayer".

Diary of St. Faustina 1777

Love does not consist in words or feelings, but in deeds. It is an act of the will; it is a gift; that is to say, a giving.

Diary of St. Faustina 392

No greater joy is to be found than that of loving God. Already here on earth we can taste the happiness of those in heaven by an intimate union with God, a union that is extraordinary and often quite incomprehensible to us. One can attain this very grace through simple faithfulness of soul.

Diary of St. Faustina 507

O Uncreated Beauty, whoever comes to know You once cannot love anything else. I can feel the bottomless abyss of my soul, and nothing will fill it but God Himself. I feel that I am drowned in Him like a single grain of sand in a bottomless ocean.

Diaryof St. Faustina 343

“Seek union with God and buoy yourself up with hope — that sure virtue! — because Jesus will illuminate the way for you with the light of his mercy, even in the darkest night.” (St. Josemaría Escrivá; The Forge

“The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them.” -Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul's distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness. Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness."
~Diary of St. Faustina 300

"Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy."
~Diary of St Faustina 300

"All true children of God have God for their father and Mary for their mother; anyone who does not have Mary for his mother, does not have God for his father. This is why the reprobate, such as heretics and schismatics, who hate, despise or ignore the Blessed Virgin, do not have God for their father though they arrogantly claim they have, because they do not have Mary for their mother. Indeed if they had her for their mother they would love and honour her as good and true children naturally love and honour the mother who gave them life."
- Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

"My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as being already there, and unite myself wholly to Thee; never permit me to be separated from Thee."  St. Alphonsus Liguori

"I have great doubts about the salvation of those who do not have special devotion to Mary. " St. Francis Borgia (1510-1572)

"Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved" ~ Blessed Bartolo Longo

“The day of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a day of universal joy, because through the Mother of God, the entire human race was renewed, and the sorrow of the first mother, Eve, was transformed into joy.” » Saint John Damascene

“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” (Pope St. John Paul II)

"Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother." St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968)

“Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true humility; the man who loses himself finds himself and finds his happiness.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Way to Happiness)

"Be not satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." - Pope St. John Paul II

"Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure." - Pope St. John Paul II

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.” (Pope St. John Paul II, World Youth Day 2002, Closing Homily)

"I feel I am drowned in the immense ocean of the love of my Beloved. I am being surfeited continually with it."    St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“Christianity is the meeting-point of earth and heaven. It lays claim to the whole man, body and soul, intellect and will, inducing him to raise his mind above the changing conditions of this earthly existence and reach upwards for the eternal life of heaven, where one day he will find his unfailing happiness and peace."

“Although I have lived through much darkness,...I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young...Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son."

Pope St. John Paul II, pray for us!

"Mary is close to us as no other human being is. She is both Mother to the Redeemer and Mother to the Church. She is totally and perpetually emptied of herself. She has given herself entirely to Christ and calls us to do the same. In the Immaculate we find the essence of the Church without distortion. We ourselves must learn from her to be "ecclesial souls" so that we may present ourselves as "blameless," in Paul's words, in the sight of the Lord."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

"With all my heart I bless the children, who are the specially chosen flowers of Jesus." St.  Pio of Pietrelcina

“Meditate often on the sorrows of the Holy Mother, sorrows inseparable from those of her beloved Son. If you seek the Cross, there you will find the Mother; and where the Mother is, there also is the Son.”

“When you feel the assaults of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His ignominies and sufferings.”

“I wish that all men could understand the great favor that God grants them when, in His goodness, He sends them suffering...for then the soul, like gold which is purified in the fiery crucible, is cleansed, made beautiful, detached from earthly things, and united to the Sovereign Good, without even being conscious of it.”

“Therefore, be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to His will.”

St. Paul of the Cross, pray for us!

“It is the mystery of the Trinity which gives the answer to the quest for our happiness and the meaning of Heaven. Heaven is not a place where there is the mere vocal repetition of alleluias or the monotonous fingering of harps. Heaven is a place where we find the fullness of all the fine things we enjoy on this earth. Heaven is a place where we find in its plenitude those things which slake the thirst of hearts, satisfy the hunger of starving minds, and give rest to unrequited love. Heaven is the communion with perfect Life, perfect Truth, and perfect Love.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Divine Romance)

“to be faithful is to persevere in the service of God right to the end, for without perseverance, all is lost.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

"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

“Let the storm rage and the sky darken - not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful ‘who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.’”  -Pope Saint Pius X

"Tell me your enemy, and I will tell you what you are. Tell me your hatred, and I will tell you your character. Do you hate religion? Then your conscience bothers you. Do you hate the wealthy? Then you are avaricious, and you want to be wealthy. Do you hate sin? Then you love God. Do you hate your hate, your selfishness, your quick temper, your wickedness? Then you are a good soul."

- Ven. Fulton Sheen

“The Rosary is the best therapy for these distraught, unhappy, fearful, and frustrated souls, precisely because it involves the simultaneous use of three powers: the physical, the vocal, and the spiritual" --Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

“Through Eve, the beautiful and of men was extinguished; but it has revived through Mary” St. Ephrem the Syrian (306 – 373)

"Always be happily at peace with your conscience, reflecting that you are in the service of an infinitely good Father, who comes down to His creatures out of sheer goodness, to raise and transform them in Him, their Creator." St. Pio of Pietrelcina

At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in my abandonment at the moment of agony: This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world….In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. Our Lord to St Faustina(Diary, 1320)

When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer: O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in you. Our Lord to St Faustina (Diary, 186, 187) 

"All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding his life we find that he is the best example." St. Teresa of Avila (1515.-1582.)

“Mary means enlightener, because she brought forth the Light of the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady.” –St. Isidore of Seville

"The love of noise and excitement in modern civilization is due in part to the fact that people are unhappy on the inside. Noise exteriorizes them, distracts them, and makes them forget their worries for the moment. There is an unmistakable connection between an empty life and a hectic pace. To make progress the world must have action, but it must also know why it is acting, and that requires thought, contemplation, and silence."  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

 "Lord, give me what you ask of me and ask me what you will." St. Augustine

“May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing.” --Saint  Pio  of Pietrelcina

"Always keep close to God. In Him I am with you more than you can know."  St.  Pio of Pietrelcina

“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.” (St. John Bosco, Priest, Confessor and Founder of the Salesian Society)

“Freud secularized the Sacrament of Penance by explaining guilt as a psychological state of a patient, who allowed the animal impulses of his ‘id’ to be contravened by the super ego of society. From that point on, what was once described as sin, is now not forgiven, but explained away.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Those Mysterious Priests)

"The good Lord gave me a father and a mother more worthy of Heaven than of earth. " ~ Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

"I do not know the future; yet I can confidently say that my Spouse is at the door." –St. Therese of Lisieux

"Nor should you become confused, trying to understand whether you consented or not. Do everything with an upright intention; this uprightness which must always be present in your actions, and whenever you are valiantly and generously fight the evil tricks of the evil spirit."  St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Letters III, p. 626)

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)

"As regards the spiritual trials to which the paternal goodness of the heavenly Father is subjecting you, I beg you to be resigned and if possible tranquil on the assurances of he who takes the place of God, and who speaks to you in his name; who loves you in Him and who desires every blessing for you. You are suffering, it is true, but with resignation, because God is with you and you don't offend Him, but you love Him. You are suffering but believe, also, that Jesus is suffering within you, with you, and for you."   St.  Pio of Pietrelcina

“Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner.”  Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church

“One must always distinguish between an abnormal manifestation of guilt and guilt itself. For example, a person given to excessive washing of hands is manifesting an abnormal sense of guilt, but this does not alter the fact that behind this particular complex there may be a very real reason for a sense of guilt. A denial of guilt is a denial of responsibility, and a denial of responsibility is a denial of freedom. Illustrating the attitude of those who insist on having rights but no duties, freedom but no responsibility, praise but no blame, is a cartoon in which a psychoanalyst is pictured telling a mother: Yes, your boy is stubborn, cruel, perverted, a kleptomaniac, has criminal tendencies – but bad, no.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Life is Worth Living)

"Two places you're guaranteed a miracle: the altar and the womb." - Peter Kreeft

“In the same way a powerful medicine cures an illness, so illness itself is a medicine to cure passion. And there is much profit of soul in bearing illness quietly and giving thanks to God.“ St. Amma Syncletice (c. 270 – c. 350)

GOODNESS AND PEACE IN MAN

FIRST keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others. A peaceful man does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns even good to evil and is quick to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good himself, turns all things to good.

The man who is at perfect ease is never suspicious, but the disturbed and discontented spirit is upset by many a suspicion. He neither rests himself nor permits others to do so. He often says what ought not to be said and leaves undone what ought to be done. He is concerned with the duties of others but neglects his own.

Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it upon those about you. You are well versed in coloring your own actions with excuses which you will not accept from others, though it would be more just to accuse yourself and excuse your brother. If you wish men to bear with you, you must bear with them. Behold, how far you are from true charity and humility which does not know how to be angry with anyone, or to be indignant save only against self!

It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able to live at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly thing.

Some people live at peace with themselves and with their fellow men, but others are never at peace with themselves nor do they bring it to anyone else. These latter are a burden to everyone, but they are more of a burden to themselves. A few, finally, live at peace with themselves and try to restore it to others.

Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.

The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
Book 2: Chapter 3

“No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sake is my one desire.”

“Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church.”

"Mary's virginity and giving birth, and even the Lord's death escaped the notice of the prince of this world: these three mysteries worthy of proclamation were accomplished in God's silence.”

St. Ignatius of Antioch

"It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name...Come fire, cross, battling with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs, crushing of my whole body, cruel tortures of the Devil--Only let me get to Jesus Christ!"  - St. Ignatius of Antioch

“The really great things of the world are not always the immense things; great men are always little men in the sense that they are humble, as Cardinal Mercier was. They are so big they can always be seeming little, because it is only ‘seems’. Greatness is not in size. Little things are much more impressive. Man never stumbles over a cosmos, though he does stumble over a rug.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Old Errors and New Labels)

"I am God's wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ." - St. Ignatius of Antioch

“For very just reasons, God sometimes conceals from his servants the fruits of their labors, even though he blesses them with very great results.”  – St. Vincent de Paul

"How happy I am to see myself imperfect and to be in need of God’s mercy."  –St. Therese of Lisieux

"Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it to lean upon that which cannot give support? " – Saint Gerard Majella

"The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible."  – Saint Gerard Majella

Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth..."
Our Lord to St Margaret Mary Alacoque

“Let us run to her, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”
-Saint Francis de Sales

"Gratitude is characteristic only of the humble. The egotistic are so impressed by their own importance that they take everything given them as if it were their due. They have no room in their hearts for recollection of the underserved favors they received.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (On Being Human)

"God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty." St. John of the Cross

"God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty." St. John of the Cross

"One of the most beautiful moments in history was that when pregnancy met pregnancy when child-bearers became the first heralds of the King of Kings. All pagan religions begin with the teachings of adults, but Christianity begins with the birth of a Child. From that day to this, Christians have ever been the defenders of the family and the love of generation. If we ever sat down to write out what we would expect the Infinite God to do, certainly the last thing we would expect would be to see Him imprisoned in a carnal ciborium for nine months; and the next to last thing we would expect is that the "greatest man ever born of woman" while yet in his mother's womb, would salute the yet imprisoned God-man. But this is precisely what took place in the Visitation."  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (World’s First Love)

"It is necessary to be strong in order to become great: that is our duty. Life is a struggle which we cannot avoid. We must triumph!" St Pio (1887-1968)

“We are living at a time when one must not incur useless expense. Public distress surrounds us on all sides. It is feared that it may overtake us; and, even should we be spared, compassion should urge us to do all we can for those who suffer.”  – St. Vincent de Paul

"Tell everyone that GOD gives GRACES through my Immaculate Heart " -Our Lady of Fatima 

"If we leave God when He seeks us, when we seek Him, we shall not find Him." -  St. Teresa of Avila

"Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."  —Our Lady of Fatima speaking to Lúcia Santos

"All the saints became saints because of mental prayer." St. Alphonsus (1696-1787)

“Instead of measuring your difficulties with your strength you must measure them with the powerful help you have a right to expect from God.”  – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

"Don't tire yourself with things that cause anxieties, perturbation and worries. Only one thing is necessary, to lift up your spirit and love God."   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

BE WATCHFUL and diligent in God's service and often think of why you left the world and came here. Was it not that you might live for God and become a spiritual man? Strive earnestly for perfection, then, because in a short time you will receive the reward of your labor, and neither fear nor sorrow shall come upon you at the hour of death.

Labor a little now, and soon you shall find great rest, in truth, eternal joy; for if you continue faithful and diligent in doing, God will undoubtedly be faithful and generous in rewarding. Continue to have reasonable hope of gaining salvation, but do not act as though you were certain of it lest you grow indolent and proud.

One day when a certain man who wavered often and anxiously between hope and fear was struck with sadness, he knelt in humble prayer before the altar of a church. While meditating on these things, he said: "Oh if I but knew whether I should persevere to the end!" Instantly he heard within the divine answer: "If you knew this, what would you do? Do now what you would do then and you will be quite secure." Immediately consoled and comforted, he resigned himself to the divine will and the anxious uncertainty ceased. His curiosity no longer sought to know what the future held for him, and he tried instead to find the perfect, the acceptable will of God in the beginning and end of every good work.

"Trust thou in the Lord and do good," says the Prophet; "dwell in the land and thou shalt feed on its riches."

There is one thing that keeps many from zealously improving their lives, that is, dread of the difficulty, the toil of battle. Certainly they who try bravely to overcome the most difficult and unpleasant obstacles far outstrip others in the pursuit of virtue. A man makes the most progress and merits the most grace precisely in those matters wherein he gains the greatest victories over self and most mortifies his will. True, each one has his own difficulties to meet and conquer, but a diligent and sincere man will make greater progress even though he have more passions than one who is more even-tempered but less concerned about virtue.

Two things particularly further improvement -- to withdraw oneself forcibly from those vices to which nature is viciously inclined, and to work fervently for those graces which are most needed.

Study also to guard against and to overcome the faults which in others very frequently displease you. Make the best of every opportunity, so that if you see or hear good example you may be moved to imitate it. On the other hand, take care lest you be guilty of those things which you consider reprehensible, or if you have ever been guilty of them, try to correct yourself as soon as possible. As you see others, so they see you.

How pleasant and sweet to behold brethren fervent and devout, well mannered and disciplined! How sad and painful to see them wandering in dissolution, not practicing the things to which they are called! How hurtful it is to neglect the purpose of their vocation and to attend to what is not their business!

Remember the purpose you have undertaken, and keep in mind the image of the Crucified. Even though you may have walked for many years on the pathway to God, you may well be ashamed if, with the image of Christ before you, you do not try to make yourself still more like Him.

The religious who concerns himself intently and devoutly with our Lord's most holy life and passion will find there an abundance of all things useful and necessary for him. He need not seek for anything better than Jesus.

If the Crucified should come to our hearts, how quickly and abundantly we would learn!

A fervent religious accepts all the things that are commanded him and does them well, but a negligent and lukewarm religious has trial upon trial, and suffers anguish from every side because he has no consolation within and is forbidden to seek it from without. The religious who does not live up to his rule exposes himself to dreadful ruin, and he who wishes to be more free and untrammeled will always be in trouble, for something or other will always displease him.

How do so many other religious who are confined in cloistered discipline get along? They seldom go out, they live in contemplation, their food is poor, their clothing coarse, they work hard, they speak but little, keep long vigils, rise early, pray much, read frequently, and subject themselves to all sorts of discipline. Think of the Carthusians and the Cistercians, the monks and nuns of different orders, how every night they rise to sing praise to the Lord. It would be a shame if you should grow lazy in such holy service when so many religious have already begun to rejoice in God.

If there were nothing else to do but praise the Lord God with all your heart and voice, if you had never to eat, or drink, or sleep, but could praise God always and occupy yourself solely with spiritual pursuits, how much happier you would be than you are now, a slave to every necessity of the body! Would that there were no such needs, but only the spiritual refreshments of the soul which, sad to say, we taste too seldom!

When a man reaches a point where he seeks no solace from any creature, then he begins to relish God perfectly. Then also he will be content no matter what may happen to him. He will neither rejoice over great things nor grieve over small ones, but will place himself entirely and confidently in the hands of God, Who for him is all in all, to Whom nothing ever perishes or dies, for Whom all things live, and Whom they serve as He desires.

Always remember your end and do not forget that lost time never returns. Without care and diligence you will never acquire virtue. When you begin to grow lukewarm, you are falling into the beginning of evil; but if you give yourself to fervor, you will find peace and will experience less hardship because of God's grace and the love of virtue.

A fervent and diligent man is ready for all things. It is greater work to resist vices and passions than to sweat in physical toil. He who does not overcome small faults, shall fall little by little into greater ones.

If you have spent the day profitably, you will always be happy at eventide. Watch over yourself, arouse yourself, warn yourself, and regardless of what becomes of others, do not neglect yourself. The more violence you do to yourself, the more progress you will make.

The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Twenty-Fifth Chapter

"Do not risk losing Jesus for all eternity, for He is so good. Enough with sin. Love Jesus, love him!"
- Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904-1955), Feast day October 13

Be tranquil as far as your soul is concerned. Confide totally, more and more in Jesus. Make an effort to unite yourself always and in everything to the Divine will, both in happy and sad events, and do not worry about the future. St.  Pio of Pietrelcina (Letters III, p. 459)

"The Rosary is a prayer both so humble and simple and a theologically rich in biblical content. I beg you to pray it."   St. John Paul II.

“It takes three to make love in Heaven, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It takes three for Heaven to make love to earth, God, man, and Mary, through whom God became man. It takes three to make love in the holy family, Mary, Joseph, and the consummation of their love, Jesus. It takes three to make love in hearts, the lover, the beloved, and love.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Three to Get Married)

"Abandonment is the delicious fruit of love."  St. Augustine

“Let us give ourselves wholeheartedly to God and offer ourselves to Him for whatever ministries in which His Divine Majesty may be pleased to engage us. Let us not be cowards any longer.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

"Heroism at work is to be found finishing each task." St. Josemaria Escriva (1902.-1975.)

"I truly feel my heart bursting from my breast on hearing of your suffering. What wouldn't I do to see you relieved of it. But why are you so anxious? Why are you so restless? Come on, my dear daughter, I have never seen Jesus grant you so many jewels as He does now. I have never seen you so dear to Jesus as you are now. So why do you tremble and fear? Your fear and trembling is similar to that of a child in the arms of its mother. So your fear is useless and silly."  St. Pio of Pietrelcina

"Begin now to be what you will be hereafter" St. Jerome (347-420)

"The Rosary is the weapon given us by Mary to use against the tricks of the infernal enemy."  - St.  Pio of Pietrelcina

“Darkness can only be scattered by light. Hatred can only be conquered by love.” (Pope St. John Paul II, Address to Diplomatic Corps, 10 January 2002)

“We must act moderately and tranquilly and always preserve peace of mind and heart."
– St. Vincent de Paul

I beg you not to worry about what I am suffering at present and will suffer in the future. No matter how severe this suffering is, when it is placed before the good that awaits us, it is always a delight for the soul. St. Pio of Pietrelcina(Letters III, p. 406)

“This Beloved of ours is merciful and good. Besides, he so deeply longs for our love that he keeps calling us to come closer. This voice of his is so sweet that the poor soul falls apart in the face of her own inability to instantly do whatever he asks of her. And so you can see, hearing him hurts much more than not being able to hear him… For now, his voice reaches us through words spoken by good people, through listening to spiritual talks, and reading sacred literature. God calls to us in countless little ways all the time. Through illnesses and suffering and through sorrow he calls to us. Through a truth glimpsed fleetingly in a state of prayer he calls to us. No matter how halfhearted such insights may be, God rejoices whenever we learn what he is trying to teach us.” 
― St. Teresa of Ávila, Interior Castle

"Abide in me [echoes Sister Elizabeth]. It is the Word of God who gives this order, who voices this will. Abide in Me — not just for a moment or a few hours — but abide in a lasting and permanent fashion. Abide in Me — pray in Me, adore in Me, love in Me, suffer in Me, work and act in Me. Abide in Me so that in Me you may go out to all persons and all things, entering ever more deeply into Me."

+ Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

“The two most evident symptoms of the breakdown of the family are: divorce and voluntary or deliberate sterility, i.e. broken contracts and frustrated loves. Divorce destroys the stability of the family; voluntary sterility destroys its continuity, Divorce makes the right of living souls hang up the caprice of the senses and the terminable pact of selfish fancy; while voluntary sterility makes a covenant with death, extracting from love its most ephemeral gift while disclaiming all its responsibilities.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Philosophies at War)

“Let us serve God as He wishes, leaving to Him the disposal of all.”  – St. Vincent de Paul

“What a joy to remember that Mary is our Mother! Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear?” -St. Therese

"Prayer is a repose, a relaxation. One must come in total simplicity to the One whom one loves, holding oneself near to Him as a small child in its mother’s arms, allowing one’s heart to go out ... there is only one occupation for a Carmelite and that is to love and to pray."  + Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity  

“May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing.”  - St. Pio of Pietrelcina 

"Beware of anxiety and restlessness because there is nothing that more greatly impedes progress towards perfection. Sweetly place your heart in the wounds of our Lord, but not with force. Have great confidence in His mercy, because He will never abandon you. But do not fail, for this reason, to tightly embrace His holy Cross."  St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“Take every day as a ring which you must engrave, adorn and embellish with your actions, to be offered up in the evening at the altar of God.”  – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

"If I am tempted to leave Thee, do not Thou, O my God, leave me."  —part of a prayer by Blessed John Henry Newman

"St. Joseph, father of Christ, is also your father and your lord. Ask him to help you." St. Josemaria Escriva (1902.-1975.)

“But one aspect of Revelation must not be allowed to exclude or to obscure another; and Christianity is dogmatical, devotional, practical all at one; it is esoteric and exoteric; it is indulgent and strict; it is light and dark; it is love, and it is fear.”  —Blessed John Henry Newman

"Don't be upset when you are unable to meditate, receive Communion or carry out all the pious practices. In the meantime, try to make up for this in a different manner, by keeping yourself united to our Lord with a loving will, with ejaculatory prayers and spiritual Communion."  St. Pio of Pietrelcina

The world today is tearing up the photographs of a good society, a good family, a happy, individual personal life. But the Church is keeping the negatives. And when the moment comes when the world wants a reprint, we will have them.”  - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

"We who belong to Him …should be completely identified with Him, we ought to be able to repeat those words at the close of each day. You will ask me perhaps how we are to glorify Him. It is very simple, and He told us the secret when He said, ‘My will is to do the will of Him who sent Me’.
So cling closely to the will of this adorable Master. Look upon everything, every suffering and every joy, as coming straight from Him and your life will be a continual communion since everything will be, as it were, a sacrament which gives you God — and that is really true, for God is not divided. His will is Himself. He is wholly and entirely in everything and these things are, in a way, but an emanation of
His love."  +Bl Elizabeth of the Trinity

A certain monk told me that when he was very sick, his mother said to his father, "How our little boy is suffering. I would gladly give myself to be cut up into pieces if that would ease his suffering." Such is the love of God for people. He pitied people so much that he wanted to suffer for them, like their own mother, and even more. But no one can understand this great love without the grace of the Holy Spirit.  St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IX.10)

"Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing dismay you, All thing pass, God never changes. Patience attains all. He who has God lacks nothing: God alone suffices."  St. Teresa of Ávila

Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing dismay you, All thing pass, God never changes. Patience attains all. He who has God lacks nothing: God alone suffices.(St. Teresa of Ávila)

Pride is so terrible, because we rebel against God Who always was and always will be. For us to rebel against God is just a big lie. - Mother Angelica

"He will communicate His power to you so you can love Him with a love as strong as death ; the Word will Imprint in your soul, as in a crystal, the image of His own beauty, so you may be pure with His purity, luminous with His light." Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

“The greater my unworthiness, the more abundant is his mercy.”  – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

"When we leave the holy banquet of Communion, we are as happy as the wise men would have been if they could have carried away the infant Jesus." -St. Jean Vianney

"Large families are the most splendid flower-beds in the garden of the Church; happiness flowers in them and sanctity ripens in favorable soil. Every family group, even the smallest, was meant by God to be an oasis of spiritual peace." - Pope Pius XII

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." St. John Vianney (1786-1859)

“Many contradictory things happen to us: unfavorable opinions about ourselves, our works, our intentions. These contradictions have the
advantage of preventing vain-glory, of obliging us to throw ourselves more confidently into the arms of God.”  – St. Vincent de Paul

"When the Eucharist is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar."
~ St. John Chrysostom, 388ad

“Every grace granted to man in this life has three successive steps: from God it comes to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, and from the Virgin it descends to us.” 
— St. Bernardine of Siena

"Do not be ashamed to recite the Rosary alone, while you walk along the streets to school, to the university or to work, or as you commute by public transport. Adopt the habit of reciting it among yourselves, in your groups, movements and associations. Do not hesitate to suggest that it be recited at home by your parents and brothers and sisters, because it rekindles and strengthens the bonds between family members."  Pope St. John Paul II

"Drive away, once and for all, every perplexity and anxiety and enjoy peace, the most sweet pains of the Beloved."  St. Pio of Pietrelcina

"The business of the Christian is nothing else than to be ever preparing for death." St. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 130 – 202)

IF YOU wish to make progress in virtue, live in the fear of the Lord, do not look for too much freedom, discipline your senses, and shun inane silliness. Sorrow opens the door to many a blessing which dissoluteness usually destroys.

It is a wonder that any man who considers and meditates on his exiled state and the many dangers to his soul, can ever be perfectly happy in this life. Lighthearted and heedless of our defects, we do not feel the real sorrows of our souls, but often indulge in empty laughter when we have good reason to weep. No liberty is true and no joy is genuine unless it is founded in the fear of the Lord and a good conscience.

Happy is the man who can throw off the weight of every care and recollect himself in holy contrition. Happy is the man who casts from him all that can stain or burden his conscience.

Fight like a man. Habit is overcome by habit. If you leave men alone, they will leave you alone to do what you have to do. Do not busy yourself about the affairs of others and do not become entangled in the business of your superiors. Keep an eye primarily on yourself and admonish yourself instead of your friends.

If you do not enjoy the favor of men, do not let it sadden you; but consider it a serious matter if you do not conduct yourself as well or as carefully as is becoming for a servant of God and a devout religious.

It is often better and safer for us to have few consolations in this life, especially comforts of the body. Yet if we do not have divine consolation or experience it rarely, it is our own fault because we seek no sorrow of heart and do not forsake vain outward satisfaction.

Consider yourself unworthy of divine solace and deserving rather of much tribulation. When a man is perfectly contrite, the whole world is bitter and wearisome to him.

A good man always finds enough over which to mourn and weep; whether he thinks of himself or of his neighbor he knows that no one lives here without suffering, and the closer he examines himself the more he grieves.

The sins and vices in which we are so entangled that we can rarely apply ourselves to the contemplation of heaven are matters for just sorrow and inner remorse.

I do not doubt that you would correct yourself more earnestly if you would think more of an early death than of a long life. And if you pondered in your heart the future pains of hell or of purgatory, I believe you would willingly endure labor and trouble and would fear no hardship. But since these thoughts never pierce the heart and since we are enamored of flattering pleasure, we remain very cold and indifferent. Our wretched body complains so easily because our soul is altogether too lifeless.

Pray humbly to the Lord, therefore, that He may give you the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet: "Feed me, Lord, with the bread of mourning and give me to drink of tears in full measure.

The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Twenty-First Chapter

"Let us walk always, even with slow steps, as long as we have good intentions, we cannot but make progress. No, it is not necessary to be always attentive to everything for the exercise of the virtues."  St.  Pio  of Pietrelcina

THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO RECITE THE ROSARY SHALL HAVE DURING THEIR LIFE AND AT THEIR DEATH THE LIGHT OF GOD AND THE PLENITUDE OF HIS GRACES, AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH THEY SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE MERITS OF THE SAINTS IN PARADISE..."
- Revelation by Our Lady to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche.

"The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description."- Archbishop Fulton Sheen (praying the Rosary)

"May your sermon be continual self-sacrifice; be discreet wherever you go and be like the smile of God." St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“The power to sin greatly increases our merit, if we abstain from offending God.”  – St. Louise de Marillac

I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior."    St. Faustina  Diary 1541

"Even on the Cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its maker." St. Athanasius (296 - 373)

"As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary."
- Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church

"SEEK a suitable time for leisure and meditate often on the favors of God. Leave curiosities alone. Read such matters as bring sorrow to the heart rather than occupation to the mind. If you withdraw yourself from unnecessary talking and idle running about, from listening to gossip and rumors, you will find enough time that is suitable for holy meditation." Imitation of Christ by  Thomas a' Kempis