“Bitter thoughts come from the evil spirit; those from Our Lord are gentle and mild.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “These then, whom Herod’s cruelty tore as sucklings from their mothers’ bosom, are justly hailed as ‘infant martyr flowers’; they were the Church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief.”   - St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of Grace

 There is no sin, however great and grievous it may be, which cannot be pardoned in this life, if one confesses it. This is an article of faith.    -  St. Francis de Sales

 “Oh! happy is he who can say, ‘I have despised the kingdom of the world, and all the glory of the time, for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ.’”    St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

 Understanding is the sure and clear knowledge of some invisible thing.    - St. Bernard

 It is necessary that your foundation consist of more than prayer and contemplation. If you do not strive for the virtues and practice them, you will always be dwarfs.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 7 : 4 : 9

 Jesus: My child, make the resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself completely to My will saying, “Not as I want, but according to Your will, O God, let it be done unto me.” These words, spoken from the depths of one’s heart, can raise a soul to the summit of sanctity in a short time. In such a soul I delight. Such a soul gives Me glory. Such a soul fills heaven with the fragrance of her virtue. 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 need    WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1487).

 “ The worldly, engulfed in their affairs, live in obscurity and error, nor do they try to learn about God, or give a thought to their eternal salvation, or try to find out about the coming of that longed-for Messiah who was awaited by men and prophesied and predicted by the prophets.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 "The Child, laid by Mary in the crib, is the man-God we shall see nailed to the Cross. In the stable at Bethlehem He allowed Himself to be worshiped under the humble outward appearance of a newborn baby by Mary and Joseph and by the Shepherds. This same Redeemer is present in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In the consecrated Host we adore Him sacramentally under the humble appearance of bread and wine which becomes His Body and Blood ... and for us the food of eternal life."   - Pope St. John Paul II

“The Christmas message is not that peace will come automatically, because Christ is born in Bethlehem; that birth in Bethlehem was the prelude to His birth in our hearts by grace and faith and love.  Peace belongs only to those who will to have it.  If there is no peace in the world today, it is not because Christ did not come; it is because we did not let Him in.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Simple Truths)

“Lord, to glorify you, I want to hear and to do whatever is indicated to me on Your behalf.”   - St. Vincent de Paul

 Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.    –St. Augustine

 "When the Spirit dwells in a person, from the moment in which that person has become prayer, he never leaves him. For the Spirit himself never ceases to pray in him. Whether the person is asleep or awake, prayer never from then on departs from his soul. Whether he is eating or drinking or sleeping or whatever else he is doing, even in deepest sleep, the fragrance of prayer rises without effort in hid heart. Prayer never again deserts him ."   -  St. John, Apostle and Evangelist (in one of his many treatises on Prayer)

 "Thus we find in our days a great part of mankind filled with hatred towards God, Christ and the Church; and the consequences of this hatred are rebellion against lawful authority; they are lawlessness and disorder.  All that is right is despised and stamped under foot, while might gains the upper hand over right.  And not satisfied with their own estrangement from God, they in their devilish wickedness try to ruin many others and destroy their happiness for time and eternity."   - St. John Vianney

“Take care that your prayer becomes more and more interior, in pure faith; humble yourself, and seek no consolations but the great God Who gives them.”   - St. Paul of the Cross (1694-1775) 

You need not be desiring to benefit the whole world, but must concentrate on those  who are in your company, and thus your deed will be greater since you are more obliged toward them.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 7 : 4 : 14 

"I am Love and Mercy Itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My Mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted – it increases. The soul that trusts in My Mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA

(Diary, 1273)

 “ Jesus calls the poor and simple shepherds by means of angels to manifest Himself to them. He calls the learned men by means of their science. And all of them moved interiorly by grace hasten to adore Him. He calls all of us with divine inspirations and He communicates Himself to us with his grace. How many times has He not lovingly invited us also? And with what promptitude have we replied? My God I blush and am filled with confusion at having to reply to such a question.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 "It is sweet music to the ear to say, 'I honor you, O Mother!' It is a sweet song to repeat, 'I honor you, O Holy Mother!'You are my delight, dear hope, and chaste love, my strength in all adversities. If you see your child overwhelmed by misfortune, O gracious Virgin Mary, let me find rest in your motherly embrace.'"   -  Pope Leo XIII 

 “Now Christmas day was the restoration of humor, and those who displayed it most were the shepherds and the wise men.  They came to this little Babe and “saw through Him” – God Himself.  His Flesh was the Sacrament of His Divinity.  Christmas then is a romance and a joy only to those who have a sense of humor, whose vision is not opaque when they look at a Babe, but can see through Him all the problems of life answered in the vision of God Who appeared as a Man.  They who pass through this life with that sense of humor, which is faith, will one day be rewarded by the one thing that will make heaven Heaven – His Smile.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"Know for certain, least of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of heaven and earth. It is my earnest wish that a temple be built here to my honor. Here I will demonstrate, I will exhibit, I will give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am your merciful mother, the merciful mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities and misfortunes."   -  Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

“Let every one stay at home, that is, within himself, and sit in judgment on his own actions, without going abroad to investigate and criticise those of others.”   - St. Philip Neri (1515-1595)

 ". . . In His childhood . . . the Son of God took another merciful step when He appeared upon earth as a child . . . the Son of God might have appeared upon earth as a grown man.  But He did not do this.  He abased Himself, and lay in the crib as a helpless infant.  The heathens have represented Jupiter with lightning in his eyes, falcons at his feet, flaming swords in his hands; no hand free to bless.  Our divine Saviour wished to appear very differently.  Not a threatening, mighty figure; not armed with lightning.  No, He appeared as a child full of love, full of tenderness, full of joy.  The child looks at every one; at the sight of the child, all fear vanishes.  All may approach a child without fear, the high and the low, the learned and the unlearned, rich and poor.  How near has God come unto us!"    - St John Vianney.

 "I do not tremble when I see my weakness, for the treasures of a mother belong also to her child, and I am thy child, O dear Mother Mary."   - St Terese de Lisieux

Let us desire and be occupied in prayer not for the sake of our enjoyment but so as to have this strength to serve.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 7 : 4 : 12

Write, My daughter, that I am mercy itself for the contrite soul. A soul’s greatest wretchedness does not enkindle Me with wrath; but rather, My Heart is moved towards it with great mercy.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA.  (Diary, 1739)

“ Don't let your zeal be bitter, fussy, aggravating or a cause of uneasiness, but let it be free from all defects: Let it be sweet, benevolent, gracious, peaceful and uplifting. Ah, who cannot see the dear little Infant of Bethlehem in the event for which we are preparing? Who does not see his incomparable love for souls? He comes to die in order to save, and He is so humble, sweet and lovable.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “From the Virgin Mary, life was born in person, and thus did Mary become the Mother of all living.”    - St. Epiphanius

 “One night there went out over the stillness of the evening breeze, out over those chalky hills of Bethlehem, the cry of a new born babe.  The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.  Earth did not hear the cry, for the earth slept; men did not hear the cry, for they did not know that a Child could be greater than a man; kings did not hear the cry, for they did not know that a King could be born in a stable; empires did not hear the cry, for empires did not know that an Infant could hold the reins that steer suns and worlds in their courses.  But shepherds and philosophers heard the cry, for only the very simple and the very learned know that the heart of a God can cry out in the cry of a Child.  And they came with gifts – and adored, and so great was the majesty seated on the brow of the Child, so great was the dignity of the babe, so powerful was the light of these eyes that shone like celestial suns, that they could not help but cry out: Emmanuel, God is with us.”     Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Life of All Living)

“We must ask God himself to perform our duty; then, if our strength fails, He will bear the burden.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 O Emmanuel “O Emmanuel (God with us), our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God!” (Vespers for December 23rd; antiphon recited with the Magnificat)

 We desire to be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas-time, not in a cold manger of our heart, but in a heart full of love and humility, a heart so pure, so immaculate, so warm with love for one another.”   - St.   Teresa Of Calcutta

 “We believe that the Divine presence is everywhere, and that the eyes of the LORD behold the good and the evil in every place. Especially should we believe this, without any doubt, when we are assisting at the Work of God.”   - St. Benedict, Founder of the Benedictines

 "If through feebleness, I sometimes fall, may your divine glance purify my soul, consuming all my imperfections like the fire that transforms everything into itself."   -St. Therese of Lisieux

 We shouldn't build castle in the air. The Lord doesn't look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 7 : 4 : 15

“ May the Child Jesus be your guiding star in the desert of this present life.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “My daughter, look into the abyss of My Mercy and give praise and glory to this Mercy of Mine. Do it this way: Gather all sinners from the entire world and immerse them into the abyss of My Mercy. I want to give Myself to souls; I yearn for souls, My daughter. On the Day of My Feast, the FEAST OF MERCY, you will go through the whole world and bring fainting souls to the spring of My Mercy. I shall heal and strengthen them.”   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA ( DIARY, 206)

"Joseph took Mary as his wife in humble acceptance of the mystery of her maternity. He accepted her along with her Son who would come to the world by the action of the Holy Spirit. St. Joseph can therefore be compared to Our Lady in his great docility to the will of God as revealed to him by an angel."   - Pope St. John Paul II

“No one ever drifted into virtue; but anyone can drift into vice.  A man who is poisoned may be brought an antidote.  It makes little difference whether he throws the antidote out of the window or whether he pours it on the floor or whether he ignores it.  The poison which he has in his body operates by the mere fact that he neglects to take the remedy.  What is curious about all who drift is that eventually they begin to say that they are under the control of fate, necessity or cruel destiny, in order to relieve themselves of responsibility.  A scapegoat must be found to ease the conscience.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Walk With God)

“Let us endeavor to grow more and more in the confidence that in whatever state we are placed by God we shall be secure, although we may think that we would be better off somewhere else.”   -  St. Vincent de Paul

 O Rex Gentium: “O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and save man, whom you formed out of the clay!” (Vespers for December 22nd; antiphon recited with the Magnificat)

 "At the beginning of the day, I endeavor to unite myself closely with Jesus Christ, and then I do the next thing, with the thought of this union in mind."  - St. John Vianney

 "I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who live in this land and of all mankind. I will hear the weeping and sorrows of those who love me, cry to me, and have confidence in me, and I will give them consolation and relief."   - Our Lady of Guadalupe

 "Your heart, which preserves my innocence, cannot disappoint my confidence. In you O Lord I place my hope that after this exile I shall see you in heaven."   -St. Therese of Lisieux

 "Love and sacrifice are closely linked, like the sun and the light. We cannot love without suffering and we cannot suffer without love."   St. Gianna Molla (1922 – 1962)

 Since our nature is bad, we will not reach perfection in the love of neighbour if that love doesn't rise from love of God as its root.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 5 : 3 : 9

 The Lord said to me, My daughter, do not tire of proclaiming My mercy. In this way you will refresh this Heart of Mine, which burns with a flame of pity for sinners. Tell My priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1521)

“ May the Child Jesus be your guiding star in the desert of this present life.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 "You are My Mother, the Mother of Mercy, and the consolation of the souls in Purgatory."   -  S. Bridget to our Lady

 “Most of us are like the man who lay at the Pool of Bethsatha for thirty-eight years who was not cured.  His excuse was that when the waters were stirred, there was no one to put him in.  He needed healing but he really did not want it.  When our Lord appeared, He told the man to do the very thing he thought was impossible, namely take up his bed.  What was wanting was his will.  He was moribund because he did not want to be better.  Ever since the days of Adam man has been hiding from God and saying God is hard to find.  The truth is that in each heart there is a secret garden which God made uniquely for Himself.  The garden is like a safety deposit vault inasmuch as it has two keys.  God has one key, hence the soul cannot let in anyone else but God.  The human heart has the other key, hence not even God can get in without man’s consent.  God is always at the Garden Gate with his key.  We pretend to look for ours, saying we cannot find it, but all the while it is in our hand, did we but will to see it.  The reason we are not happy is because we do not want God.”     Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Modern Soul in Search of God)

 O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power. 

 “The more perfect we practice virtue, the more pleasing we are to God.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 "Clearly, what God wants above all is our will which we received as a free gift from God in creation and possess as though our own. When a man trains himself to acts of virtue, it is with the help of grace from God from whom all good things come that he does this. The will is what man has as his unique possession"    - St. Joseph Cupertino, patron of pilots and air travel

"O my God, You have surpassed all my expectations."   -?St. Therese of Lisieux 

 "Things were in God’s plan which I had not planned at all. I am coming to the living faith and conviction that – from God’s point of view – there is no chance and that the whole of my life, down to every detail, has been mapped out in God’s divine providence and makes complete and perfect sense in God’s all-seeing eyes."   - St. Edith Stein

“Our Faith will never be true unless it is united to that of St. Peter and the Pontiff, his successors.”    St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

 Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.    - St. Teresa of Calcutta

“One need not say much to pray well”, he explained to them, “we know that Jesus is there in the Tabernacle.   Let us open our hearts to Him, let us rejoice in His sacred presence.   That is the best prayer”.   And He would urge them:  “Come to communion, my brothers and sisters, come to Jesus.   Come to live from Him in order to live with Him… Of course you are not worthy of Him but you need Him!”    - St John Vianney.

 In order to ascend to the dwelling places we desire, the important thing is not to think much but to love much.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 4 : 1 : 7

Today, I was talking with the Lord, and He said to me, There are souls with whom I can do nothing. They are souls that are continuously observing others, but know nothing of what is going on within their own selves. They talk about others continually, even during times of grand silence, which is reserved for speaking only with Me. Poor souls, they do not hear My words; their interior remains empty. They do not look for Me within their own hearts, but in idle talk, where I am never to be found. They sense their emptiness, but they do not recognize their own guilt, while souls in whom I reign completely are a constant source of remorse to them. Instead of correcting themselves, their hearts swell with envy, and if they do not come to their senses, they plunge in even deeper. A heart, which thus far is envious, now begins to be filled with hate. And they are already at the edge of the precipice. They are jealous of my gifts in other souls, but they themselves are unable and unwilling to accept them.   WORDS OF  JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary, 1717)

“ Stay very close to the crib of this most beautiful Child, especially during these days of his birth. If you love riches, here you will find the gold the Kings left Him. If you love the smoke of honours, here you will find that of incense. And if you love the delicacy of the senses, you will smell the perfumed myrrh which perfumes the entire holy stable.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 O Mother of Jesus, and my Mother, 

let me dwell with you, cling to you 

and love you with ever-increasing love.

I promise the honor, love, and trust of a child.

Give me a mother's protection, 

for I need your watchful care.

You know better than any other 

the thoughts and desires of the Sacred Heart.

Keep constantly before my mind 

the same thoughts, the same desires,

that my heart may be filled with zeal 

for the interests of the Sacred Heart of your Divine Son. 

Instill in me a love of all that is noble, 

that I may no longer be easily turned to selfishness. 

Help me, dearest Mother, 

to acquire the virtues that God wants of me:

to forget myself always, to work solely for Him, 

without fear of sacrifice.

I shall always rely on your help 

to be what Jesus wants me to be.

I am His; I am yours, my Good Mother!

Give me each day your holy and maternal blessing 

until my last evening on earth,

when your Immaculate Heart 

will present me to the heart of Jesus in heaven,

there to love and bless you 

and your Divine Son for all eternity.

Amen.

- Marian Prayer of Cardinal John Henry Newman

 “Centuries ago the Star of Bethlehem became the beacon that led the truly Wise Men to the God Whose love became Incarnate and who preached love God and love your neighbor.  On this day millions of stars are out again, shining in the crystal skies of millions of American homes, whence the flower of American manhood has gone out to right a world that forgot the meaning of that first star and the Love that lived at the end of its trail.”      Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Seven Pillars of Peace)

 “We must consult God to learn his language and ask that He himself speak in us and through us.”   - St. Vincent de Paul

  “You love St. Augustine and St. Mary Magdalen, those souls to whom many sins were forgiven because they loved much. I love them too; I love their sorrow, and especially their audacious love.”    –St. Therese of Lisieux

 O Radix Jesse: “O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to save us, and do not delay!” (Vespers for December 19th; antiphon recited with the Magnificat)

 "It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey."   - St. Ignatius (1491.-1556.)

 "Do not be ashamed to enter again into the Church. Be ashamed when you sin. Do not be ashamed when you repent. Pay attention to what the devil did to you. These are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is a wound; repentance is a medicine. Just as there are for the body wounds and medicines, so for the soul are sins and repentance. However, sin has the shame and repentance possesses the courage.”   - St. John Chrysostom

 My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.   - St. John Vianney

 If like the young man in the Gospel, we turn our backs and go away sad when the Lord tells us what we must do to be perfect, what do you want His Majesty to do ?   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 3 : 1 : 7

 Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1448)

 “ All the feasts of the Church are beautiful. Easter, yes, is glorification but Christmas has a tenderness, a child-like sweetness that completely captivates my heart. St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “No man is delivered or preserved from the worldwide snares of Satan save through Mary; and God grants His graces to no one except through her alone.”    - St. Germanus

 “There are two births of Christ, one unto the world in Bethlehem; the other in the soul, when it is spiritually reborn.  Men think of the former much more than the later, and celebrate it every year; but the spiritual Bethlehem is equally momentous.  This is the second Bethlehem, or the personal relationship of the individual heart to the Lord Christ.”   Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Rejoice)

 “The good God always does our business when we do His.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “We must watch over ourselves. We must have the most filial confidence in Our Saviour, in our blessed Mother, in the angels and saints; but as for men, we must avoid them: this is the advice of the angel to St. Arsenius. Have courage; be assured that God will never abandon you, but will always assist you and give you what is needful.”   -  St. Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)

 This great God has not ceased to love us even though we have offened Him very much. Thus the Lord is right in wanting all to pardon the wrongs done to them.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 6 : 10 : 4

 "In this communication and manifestation of himself to the soul, which in my opinion is the greatest possible in this life, he is to it innumerable lamps giving forth knowledge and love of himself."    St. John of the Cross

 I want people who have a devotion to my Rosary to have my Son's grace and blessing during their lifetime and at their death.    - Our Lady to Blessed Alan De la Roch

 "The angels announced to the shepherds tthat it should be made known to all people, in the east and the west, in the north and the south; it shall ring forth and make joyful though all the ages; it shall never cease, not even when the world shall keep its vigil, and the book of humanity will be closed, and then it will ring on in eternity: a Saviour is born to you, who is Christ the Lord. Oh, who can depict the joy of a Christmas festival! Over our altars floats the joy of a Christmas festival!"   St. John Vianney

 “ May the Holy Family never withdraw its loving gaze from you and your family. Model yourselves on it and you will have peace, and spiritual and temporal well-being.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive you of the ability to practice virtue. All temptations united together ought not disturb your interior peace, not even momentarily. Sensitiveness and discouragement are the fruits of self-love. You should not become discouraged, but strive to make My love reign in place of your self-love. Have confidence, My child. Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to forgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy.”   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1488)

 "Mary full of grace – mother of Jesus! We love and honor our Jesus when we love and honor her… Our best honor to Mary is the imitation of her virtues – her life is a model for all conditions of life."    - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

"One night there went out over the stillness of an evening breeze, out over the white chalk hills of Bethlehem, a cry, a gentle cry. The sea did not hear the cry, for the sea was filled with its own voice. The earth did not hear the cry, for the earth slept. The great men of the earth did not hear the cry, for they could not understand how a Child could be greater than a man.  "There were only two classes of men who heard the cry that night: Shepherds and Wise Men. Shepherds: Those who know they know nothing. Wise Men: Those who know they do not know everything. The Shepherds found their Shepherd, and the Wise Men discovered Wisdom. And the Shepherd and the Wisdom was a Babe in a crib."    Archbishop Fulton Sheen 

 Let us not think we are doing anything by suffering injuries, but we should very eagerly endure everything, and let us love the one who offends us.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 6 : 10 : 4

 If we fail in love of neighbor we are  lost.  May it please the Lord this will never be so   - St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle   - chapter 4:3-12

 “Our works are worthless if they are not vibrant and animated by the intention of doing them for God.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “O Wisdom, who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily: come, and teach us the way of prudence!” (Vespers for December 17th; antiphon recited with the Magnificat)

 "I have my weaknesses also, but I rejoice in them... It's so good to feel that one is weak and little."   - St. Therese of Lisieux (1873.-1897)

 "Preach the Truth as if you had a million voices. It is silence that kills the world."   - St Catherine of Siena

 Thought of the day,

"When we love some one, we are happy to possess his or her picture.  It is the same if we love the Blessed Virgin, my 

dear friends.  We consider it an honor and a duty to have her picture in our house, to remind us frequently of this good Mother.  Furthermore, those parents who are truly Christians should never omit to inspire their children with a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin.  This is the best means to call down the blessings of heaven, and the protection of Mary upon your families."    St. John Vianney

 The soul wants to flee people, and it has great envy of those who have lived in the deserts. On the other hand, it would want to enter into the midst of the world to try to play a part in getting even one soul to praise God more.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 6 : 6 : 3

 My child, make the resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself completely to My will saying, “Not as I want, but according to Your will, O God, let it be done unto me.” These words, spoken from the depths of one’s heart, can raise a soul to the summit of sanctity in a short time. In such a soul I delight. Such a soul gives Me glory. Such a soul fills heaven with the fragrance of her virtue. 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 need."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary, 1487)

 “ You must cultivate this well-formed heart, carefully, and spare nothing which could be useful to its happiness. Even though in every season - that is, at every age - you can and must do this, your present age is the most suitable.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“The creature most filled with the love of God Himself was the Immaculata. We know she never contracted the slightest stain of sin; she never departed in the least from God's will. United to the Holy Spirit as his spouse, she is one with God in an incomparably more perfect way than any other creature. In fact, we can say that the Holy Spirit does not act except through the Immaculata, his spouse. That is why she is the Mediatrix of all graces of the Holy Spirit. And why we can be holy by staying close to her throughout our life."

- St. Maximilian Kolbe (on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception)

 “Sometimes the most humble occupations prepare for the greatest vocations.  Society is built up from below.  The roof is more dependent upon the foundation than the foundation upon the roof.  Nearly all the movements which have changed the thinking and the course of the world have been upward, not downward.  Civilization is a debtor to lowly cradles, to unknown mothers who are denied places in an inn, and to humble shepherds working in the night.”     Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Christmas Inspirations)

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

"Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession."   - Saint Isidore of Seville 

 

 I see Mary Everywhere! 

I see Difficulties Nowhere! 

~St. Maximillian Kolbe

“He who remembers having invoked the name of Mary in an impure temptation, may be sure that he did not yield to it.”   St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

 The love His Majesty has for us is so great that to repay us for our love of neighbor He will in a thousand ways increase the love we have for Him. I cannot doubt this.   St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 5 : 3 : 8

 “If you really love God, you will not be content with avoiding big sins. You will regard as hateful anything which could be even a little displeasing to him.”   - St John Vianney.

 “ To fear losing yourself in the arms of divine Goodness, is stranger than the fear of an infant held tightly in its mother's arms.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself to be nailed to the cross; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Dairy 1485)

 “O Holy Mary! My Mother; into thy blessed trust and special custody, and into the bosom of thy mercy, I this day, and every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and body. To thee I commit all my anxieties and sorrows, my life and the end of my life, that by thy most holy intercession, and by thy merits, all my actions may be directed and governed by thy will and that of thy Son.”   - St. Aloysius Gonzaga

 Divinity is so profound that it can be grasped only by the extremes of simplicity and wisdom.  There is something in common between the wise and the simple, and that is humility.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Eternal Galilean)

 “I praise God for He is so good as to raise up in this century so many good and holy souls for the assistance of the poor common people.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity- the fire of love of God and neighbor- it will work wonders.”   - St. Anthony Mary Claret

 My dear friends!  If we are to have peace and gladness in our hearts, in our families, yea, in the whole human society, there is only one sure way, since "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," which leads to peace, and, finally to the Father.     - St. John Vianney 

 "When evening comes, you will be examined in love. Learn to love as God desires to be loved and abandon your own ways of acting."   - St John of the Cross   Sayings of Light and Love, No. 60

 “What we leave to the poor after our death is not so agreeable to God, nor so useful to us as what we give them during our lifetime; just as a torch which is carried after us is not of the same service as one which is carried before.”   St. Lucy

 Let us look at our own faults and leave aside those of others, for it is very characteristic of persons with such well-ordered lives to be shocked by everything.    St Teresa of Jesus of Avila Dec   The Interior Castle - chapter 3 : 2 : 

13

 “Souls who spread the honour of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Saviour.”   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary 1075) 

 “ It is by means of trials that God binds to Him the souls He loves.”   St Pio of Pietrelcina

 “If anyone does not believe that Holy Mary is the Mother of God, such a one is a stranger to the Godhead.”   - St. Gregory Nazianzen

 “The Cross is not something that has happened; the Crucifixion is something that is happening.  It can be found at any place and at any hour in the human race, for it is the epic struggle of the forces of good and evil.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Thinking Life Through

 “Where human assistance is lacking, God’s abounds.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 "What we know about the virtue of the saints "is the least part of them" St. Philip Neri (1515-1595)

 When your soul is burdened and fatigued by the weight of your body, do not be discouraged, rather go by faith and love to Him who said: “Come to me and I will refresh you.” -  St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

 “As iron is fashioned by fire and on the anvil, so in the fire of suffering and under the weight of trials, our souls receive that form which our Lord desires them to have.”   - St. Madeline Sophie Barat

 If you would rise, shun luxury, for luxury lowers and degrades.    -St John Chrysostom

 Briefly, in all things we have to let God be the judge.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 3 : 1 : 6

When you reflect upon what I tell you in the depths of your heart, you profit more than if you had read many books. Oh, if souls would only want to listen to My voice when I am speaking in the depths of their hearts, they would reach the peak of holiness in a short time.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA  (Diary, 584)

 “Fear is an evil worse than evil itself.”   St Pio of Pietrelcina

 "At the mention of Mary's name, the angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation of this name, sinners obtain grace and pardon"   - St. Peter Canisius

 “Those who dislike any devotion to Mary are those who deny His Divinity, or who find fault with Our Lord because of what He says about hell, divorce, amid judgment.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (World’s First Love)

 “If envy is on the increase today, as it undoubtedly is, it is because of the surrender of the belief of a future life and righteous Divine Justice.  If this life is all, they think they should have all.  From that point on, envy of others becomes their rule of life.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Victory Over Vice)

“Put a good bunch of grapes under the winepress, and a delicious juice will come out. Under the winepress of the Cross, our soul produces a juice that feeds and strengthens us. When we haven’t got any crosses, we are dry. If we carry them with resignation, what happiness, what sweetness we feel!”    - St John Vianney.

“Gentleness causes us to master our passions.”   - St. Vincent de Paul

 "Whoever surrenders unconditionally to the Lord will be chosen by him as an instrument for building his kingdom."   - Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

 O happy wound, wrought by one who knows only how to heal! O fortunate and choicest wound; you were made only for delight, and the quality of your affliction is delight and gratification for the wounded soul!   -  St John of the Cross, The Living Flame Of Love: Stanza 2

 Out of dryness you may draw humility and not disquite.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 3 : 1 : 9

 Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary 965)

“ In short, don't philosophize on your defects; don't reply but carry on firmly. No, God could not lose you when, in order to avoid losing Him you persist in your resolutions. Let the world turn upside down, let everything be in darkness, in smoke, in confusion, but God is with us, what can we fear therefore? If God lives in the darkness and on Mount Sinai amidst the thunder and lightning, shouldn't we be happy, knowing we are close to Him?”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “All gifts, virtues, and graces of the Holy Ghost are administered by the hands of Mary to whomever she desires, when she desires, and in the manner she desires, and to whatever degree she desires.”   - St. Bernardine of Siena

 “Moses and Cain each hid his face from God. Moses hid his face because he could not bear to look upon such goodness; Cain hid his face because he could not bear to have Divine Goodness look at him.  The sinner cannot bear to have the eyes of God upon him for he does not want to know how wicked he is.  But God cannot change his nature to make up for our perversity; it is the ego that must change its ways. If an egotist really understood the psychology of the human mind, he would never be heard to say that God is wrathful-for such a statement publishes his sinfulness. As a brown-colored glass can make the water in it seem brown, although it is not, so the Love that waits for us, passing through our sinful lives, may seem like wrath and anger. A change in our behavior removes all the unhealthy fear of God.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Lift Up Your Heart)

 “We must ask God himself to perform our duty; then, if our strength fails, He will bear the burden.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “Listen, put it into your heart, most little of my sons:

let nothing frighten or grieve you,

let not your heart be disturbed,

do not fear any sickness or anguish.

Am I not here, who am your Mother?

Are you not under my protection?

Am I not your health?

Are you not happily within the folds of my mantle, held safely in my arms?

Do you need anything more?

Let nothing else worry you or disturb you”.

– Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

 Even if Jesus lays on us some part of the Cross, He is there to help us bear it with self-sacrifice and love.   - Pope St. John XXII

“Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.”   - St Ambrose  Prayer before communion.

"....Behold, my brethren, how much Jesus Christ wishes to save us; at one time he appears to us as a poor child in the crib, lying on a handful of straw, which He moistens with His tears; again treated like a criminal, bound, pinioned, crowned with thorns, scourged, falling under the weight of the cross, and dying in martyrdom out of love for us. If this is not capable of moving us, drawing us towards Him, then He announces to us that He will one day come, clothed in the radiance of His glory and the Majesty of His Father, to judge us without clemency and without mercy; where before the whole world He will reveal the good and the bad which we have committed in the course of our lives. Tell me, dear brethren, if we rightly considered all this, should we require anything further to make us live and die like Saints?...."    From St John Vianney's sermon on the Second Week of Advent

 We must work in order to enjoy His glory. And we need to pray for this understanding so that we aren't always entering into temptation.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 11

 Your name, O Mary, is a precious ointment, which breathes forth the odor of divine grace. Let this ointment of salvation enter the inmost recesses of our souls.   - St. Ambrose

 "I desire, My dearly beloved daughter, that you practise the three virtues that are dearest to Me - and most pleasing to God. The first is humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God. As My daughter, you must especially radiate with these virtues"   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary 1415)

“ God is served only when He is served as He wishes to be.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “The learned gentry of our modern world are unlearned because they never have a doubt.  They try to make everything clear, and hence make everything mysterious.  They forget that even nature has a mystery; that there is something in this great cosmos of ours which is just so terribly mysterious that we cannot ‘see’ it, and that is the sun.  It makes us wink whether we like it or not, and yet, in the lightg of that great natural mystery everything else in the world becomes clear.  So too in higher realms, it is in the light of such a great supernatural mystery as the Incarnation that all things become clear, even the problem of evil.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Old Errors and New Labels)

 “Be hopeful that in proportion as difficulties increase, God will increase His grace for you.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

“3. Moreover, it seems that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself wished to confirm by some special sign the definition [of the Immaculate Conception], which the Vicar of her Divine Son on earth [Pius IX] had pronounced amidst the applause of the whole Church. For indeed four years had not yet elapsed when, in a French town at the foot of the Pyrenees, the Virgin Mother, youthful and benign in appearance, clothed in a shining white garment, covered with a white mantle and girded with a hanging blue cord, showed herself to a simple and innocent girl at the grotto of Massabielle. And to this same girl, earnestly inquiring the name of her with whose vision she was favored, with eyes raised to heaven and sweetly smiling, she replied: ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’”   Pope Pius XII, Fulgens Corona, Sept. 8, 1953 

 "If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart, it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children"    St. Louis De Montfort (1673.-1716.)

 Acquire the habit of saying vocal prayers in the morning, while you are dressing. like little children.   -  St. Josemaria Escriva

 "Let us then avoid sin, and pray to Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, for a pure heart. "Ave Maria, gratia plena!"  Holy Mary, as you were full of grace on earth, so you are in heaven full of glory, as Queen of Heaven.  But you are still full of grace for us poor pilgrims of earth.  For thou art, as the Holy Father tells us, the treasurer of heavenly grace.  Through thy hand graces are dispensed, which they divine Son has merited.  They hands are filled, as thou didst once appear to a Saint with shining jewels, the heavenly treasure of grace.  Oh, stretch forth thy merciful hand, enrich and bless us, Mary!  and keep us in the state of grace.  Pray for us, Mary!  Amen."   - St. John Vianney

It is foolish to think that we will enter heaven without entering  into ourselves, coming to know ourselves, reflecting on our misery and what we owe God, and begging Him often for mercy.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 11

 ''My child, do you fear the God of Mercy? My holiness does not prevent Me from being Merciful. Behold, for you I have established a throne of mercy on earth — the tabernacle — and from this throne I desire to enter into your heart. I am not surrounded by a retinue or guards. You can come to Me at any moment, at any time; I want to speak to you and desire to grant you grace."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1485)

“ Lovingly humble yourself before God and man, because God speaks to the humble. Love silence, because much talk is never without sin. Withdraw into yourself as much as you can, because, in this way, the Lord speaks freely to the soul, and the soul is more able to listen to his voice. Cut down on your visits to people, and bear those visits made to you in a Christian manner.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “The creature most filled with the love of God Himself was the Immaculata. We know she never contracted the slightest stain of sin; she never departed in the least from God's will. United to the Holy Spirit as His spouse, she is one with God in an incomparably more perfect way than any other creature. In fact, we can say that the Holy Spirit does not act except through the Immaculata, His spouse. That is why she is the Mediatrix of all graces of the Holy Spirit. And why we can be holy by staying close to her throughout our life."   - St. Maximilian Kolbe

 “Because Mary is what God wanted us all to be, she speaks of herself as the eternal blueprint in the mind of God, the one whom God loved before she was a creature.  She is even pictured as being with Him not only at creation, but before creation.  She existed in the Divine Mind as an Eternal Thought before there were any mothers.  She is the Mother of mothers.  The closer one is to God, the greater the purity.  But since no one was ever closer to God than the woman whose human portals he threw open to walk this earth, then no one could have been more pure than she.  This special purity of hers we call the Immaculate Conception.  The word ‘immaculate’ is taken from two Latin words meaning ‘not stained.’  Conception means that at the first moment of her conception, the Blessed Mother in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, and in virtue of the anticipated merits of the Redemption of her Son was preserved free from the stains of original sin.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The World’s First Love)

 “If we are faithful in small things, God will entrust us with those that are greater.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 "I had one great wish; it was to love God only, and to find my joy in him alone. During my thanksgiving after Holy Communion I often repeated this passage from the Imitation of Christ: "Oh my God, who art unspeakable sweetness, turn for me into bitterness all the consolations of Earth." These words rose to my lips quite naturally; I said them like a child, who, without well understanding, repeats what a friend may suggest. Later on I will tell you how Our Lord has been pleased to fulfill my desire, how he, and he alone, has always been my joy."    -  St Therese of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul, IV, "First Communion and Confirmation"

 “… there is hope that very many from the abominable sect of Mahomet will be converted to the Catholic faith.”    - Pope Eugene IV, Council of Basel, Session 19, Sept. 7, 1434

 “Mary is the heart of the church. This is why all works of charity spring from her. It is well known that the heart has two movements: systole and diastole. Thus Mary is always performing these two movements: absorbing grace from her Most Holy Son, and pouring it forth on sinners.”   - St. Anthony Mary Claret

 "At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God's own love and concern."   - St. Teresa of Calcutta

 The greatest perfection attainable along the spiritual path lies in this conformity. It is the person who lives in more perfect conformity who will receive more from the Lord and be more advanced on this road   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 8

 “…all your miseries have been consumed in the flame of My love, like a little twig thrown into a roaring fire. By humbling yourself in this way, you draw upon yourself and upon other souls an entire sea of My mercy. "    WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 178)

“ When you are unable to take big steps on the path that leads to God, be content with little steps, patiently waiting until you have the legs to run; or better still, wings to fly. Be content with being, for now, a little bee in a hive, which will soon become a big bee, capable of producing honey.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 "O holy Mary, my Mother, into your blessed trust and custody, and into the care of your mercy, I, this day, every day, and at the hour of my death, commend my soul and body."   -  St. Aloysius Gonzaga

 “All love tends to become like that which it loves. God loved man; therefore He became man. For nine months her own body was the natural Eucharist, in which God shared communion with human life, thus preparing for that greater Eucharist when human life would commune with the Divine. Mary’s joy was to form Christ in her own body; her joy now is to form Christ in our souls. In this Mystery, we pray to become pregnant with the Christ spirit, giving Him new lips with which He may speak of His Father, new hands with which He may feed the poor, and a new heart with which He may love everyone, even enemies.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary)

  “The giver of every good and perfect gift is called upon us to mimic God’s giving. By grace. Through faith. And this is not of ourselves”   St. Nicholas 

 “Remember that you have God with you, that He fights along with you, and that you will certainly overcome.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “But how can we rejoice in the Lord if he is far from us? Pray God he may not be far. If he is, that is your doing. Love, and he will draw near; love, and he will dwell within you. The Lord is at hand; have no anxiety. Are you puzzled to know how it is that he will be with you if you love? God is love.”    - St. Augustine of Hippo

 "We are not called upon to do all the good possible, but only that which we can do."   St. Theodora Guerin (1798-1856)

 Embrance the cross your Spouse has carried and understand that this must be your task.    St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 7

“ Your Kingdom is not far away, allow us to participate in Your triumph on earth to then participate in Your Kingdom in Heaven. Grant that, being unable to contain the communication of Your charity, we preach Your divine Regality by our example and good works. Take possession of our hearts in time to possess them in eternity. Keep us under Your scepter so that neither life nor death can separate us from You. Let our lives be drawn from You in large draughts of love which will then extend over humanity and let us die at every moment to live only for You and keep You in our hearts.”   St. Pio of Pietrecina

 "Today the Lord said to me, I have opened My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it. Let them approach this sea of mercy with great trust. Sinners will attain justification, and the just will be confirmed in good. Whoever places his trust in My mercy will be filled with My divine peace at the hour of death."    WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 1520)

 "We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful."   - Blessed Pope Pius IX

 This is probably the most talkative age in the history of the world-not only because we have more mechanical devices to diffuse our talking but also because we have little inside our minds that did not come from the world outside our minds. There are few listeners, although Saint Paul tells us that “faith comes from hearing.” If the bodies of most of us were fed as little as the mind, they would soon starve to death. Hyperactivity and love of noise and chatter characterize our age, as a compensation for the profound distrust human beings have of themselves.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Lift Up Your Heart)

 “ Let us aspire to take Jesus as a model in the way He acted and what He did.”   - St. Vincent de Paul

 “It was not without some deep purpose of the Holy Trinity that it was predestined that the Son should come into the world."   ―St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”  (St. John Damascene, priest and Doctor of the Church)

The whole world is filled with falshood, and that so too these joys the devil gives it are filled with trials, cares, and contradictions.  Intellect tells the soul of its certainty that outside this castle neither security nor peace be found.    St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 4

 ”A man is no true Christian if he has no devotion to the Mother of Jesus Christ.”   - St. John Eudes

 “ May the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, obtain for us from her Son the grace to live a life according to the heart of God, a life that is entirely interior and hidden in Him.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice...    WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary 1146).

“Humanity cannot lift itself by its own bootstraps; there is no such thing as spontaneous generation; life does not come from crystals; poetry does not come from donkeys; international peace does not come from wars; social justice does not come from selfishness.  With all our knowledge of chemistry we cannot make a human life in our laboratories because we lack the unifying, vivifying principal of a soul which comes only from God. Life is not a push from below; it is a gift from above.  It is not the result of the necessary ascent of man but the loving descent of God.”   Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Prodigal World)

 "There are two extremes to be avoided: speaking too much and speaking too little." St. Francis de Sales (1567.-1622)

 "In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal."   St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 “I believe that for good Christians there is life everlasting full of all felicity, and free from all sort of evil : as contrarywise for infidels, and for evil Christians, there is eternal death, replenished with all misery, and void of all good.”   (St. Robert Bellarmine

 The type of soul that enters the second dwelling place pertains to those who have already begun to practice prayer and have understaood how important it is not to stay in the first dwelling place.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Interior Castle - chapter 2 : 1 : 2

“ When you are in a state of abjection imitate the kingfishers who build their nests on the masts of ships, which are raised above the earth. Raise your heart and your thoughts to God who alone can console you and give you the strength to sustain your trials in a holy way.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Write, My daughter, that I am mercy itself for the contrite soul. A soul’s greatest wretchedness does not enkindle Me with wrath; but rather, My Heart is moved towards it with great mercy.   WORDS OF JESUS  TO ST.  FAUSTINA       (Diary,1739)

 "Joseph took Mary as his wife in humble acceptance of the mystery of her maternity. He accepted her along with her Son who would come to the world by the action of the Holy Spirit. St. Joseph can therefore be compared to Our Lady in his great docility to the will of God as revealed to him by an angel."   - Pope St. John Paul II

 “Lest we become slaves to the killjoys, it might be well to reaffirm man’s right to laugh.  Man is the only joker in the deck of nature.  Man alone laughs because he lives in two worlds.”    Archbishop Fulton Sheen

 “ Alas, daughter, how few there are who truthfully love me, I would reveal to them my secrets. Do you know what it is to love Me truthfully ? It is to understand that everything that is to displeasing to me is a lie.”    St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Book of Her Life - chapter 40 : 1

 “I wish you a new heart and an entirely new love for Him who loves us unceasingly and as tenderly as if He were just beginning to love us: all the delights of God are ever new and full of sweetness because He never changes.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.”   – Ezekiel 36:26

 Let us run to Mary and as her little children cast ourselves into her arms with perfect confidence    – St. Francis de Sales

 "Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude." St. John Chrysostom (347-407)

 "What happiness do we not feel in the Presence of God, when we are alone at His feet before the Sacred Tabernacle!....Redouble your fervour; you are alone to adore your God; His eyes rest on you alone" - St John Vianney.

On a certain occasion, the Lord said to me, "I am more deeply wounded by the small imperfections of chosen souls than by the sins of those living in the world". It made me very sad that chosen souls make Jesus suffer, and Jesus told me, "These little imperfections are not all. I will reveal to you a secret of My Heart: what I suffer from chosen souls. Ingratitude in return for so many graces is My Heart's constant food, on the part of a chosen soul. Their love is lukewarm, and My Heart cannot bear it; these souls force Me to reject them. Others distrust My goodness and have no desire to experience that sweet intimacy in their own hearts, but go in search of Me, off in the distance, and do not find Me. This distrust of My goodness hurts Me very much. If My death has not convinced you of My love, what will? Often a soul wounds Me mortally, and then no one can comfort Me. They use My graces to offend Me. There are souls who despise My graces as well as all the proofs of My love. They do not wish to hear My call, but proceed into the abyss of hell. The loss of these souls plunges Me into deadly sorrow. God though I am, I cannot help such a soul because it scorns Me; having a free will, it can spurn Me or love Me. You, who are the dispenser of My mercy, tell all the world about My goodness, and thus you will comfort My Heart".  WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary 580)

 “O Lord, keep us in thy way, direct us in thy paths, recall our wanderings, make us to hear thy voice with gladness and to rejoice in thy salvation.”   – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

“ It is a great grace to be able to serve this good God when youth renders one susceptible to everything. Oh how this offering, by which one offers the first fruits of the tree, is appreciated. And what can restrain you from making a total offering of your entire self to the good God, by deciding, once and for all, to give the world, the devil and the flesh a kick, as our god-parents did for us in a determined manner when they held us at Baptism? Perhaps the Lord does not deserve this further sacrifice from you?”    St. Pio of Pietrelcina ( Letters III, p.422 )

 “There is a law that is not in nature, at least not in raw nature, namely, we who are strong should bear the infirmities of the weak and not please ourselves.  It is here that Christianity makes it most unique and distinctive pronouncement, and gives the supreme example of Divinity dying for the weakness and sinfulness of humanity.  The Christian law is not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the unfit.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Guide to Contentment)

“Things have to be done gradually. Grace has its small beginnings and its progress.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 "Let the whole of mankind tremble, the whole world shake and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is on the altar in the hands of a priest."   - Saint Francis of Assisi

 “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” - St. Ambrose

 If I want my interior city to have some similarity and likeness to that “of the King of eternal ages” and to receive this great illumination from God, I must extinguish every other light and, as in the holy city, the Lamb must be “its only light.”   St Elizabeth of the Trinity   - Last Retreat, Fifth Day

 Nor does God ever fail anyone who serves Him.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Book of Her Life - chapter 35 : 2

“ In family life have strong convictions, smile in the face of self-denial and in the constant sacrifice of your whole self.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 "Call upon My mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. 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 fount of mercy for us, I trust in You."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary 186.)

 “All of you who have lain crucified on beds of pain, remember that an hour will come when you will be taken down from your cross, and the Savior shall look upon your hands and feet and sides and find there the imprint of His wounds, which will be your passport to Eternal Joy.”    Archbishop Fulton SheenE

 "Before, by yourself, you couldn't. Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!"   - St. Josemaría Escrivá

 "It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction" St. Edmund the Martyr (841. - 869.)

 "What does Jesus Christ represent, dear brethren, when He is carried around the church in the procession?  He is like a good and gracious king in the midst of His subjects, a kind father surrounded by His children, and a good shepherd gathering His sheep."      St. John Vianney

 Jesus Christ is all my riches; he alone is sufficient for me.    – St. Louis of Toulouse

 "Remove from me, O my God, everything that leads me away from You; give me everything that will bring me nearer to You. Enrapture me, so that I will live wholly and always for You”    St. Nicholas of Flue

 "Whosoever shall die wearing my Scapular shall not suffer the flames of Hell."   - Our Lady of Mount Carmel

 It is a dangerous thing to be satisfied with ourselves, nor should the soul that falls at every step into mortal sin be at rest or content. But for the love of God we should avoid the occasions.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Book of Her Life - chapter 302: 7

 "When, on one occasion, instead of interior prayer, I took up a book of spiritual reading, I heard these words spoken distinctly and forcefully within my soul, You will prepare the world for My final coming. These words moved me deeply, and although I pretended not to hear them, I understood them very well and had no doubt about them. Once, being tired out from this battle of love with God, and making constant excuses on the grounds that I was unable to carry out this task, I wanted to leave the chapel, but some force held me back and I found myself powerless. Then I heard these words, You intend to leave the chapel, but you shall not get away from Me, for I am everywhere. You cannot do anything of yourself, but with Me you can do all things"   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 429).

 “ Place all your worries in God alone, because He has the greatest care of you, and those three angelic children with whom He has blessed you. By their conduct, these children will be a comfort and consolation to you during your lifetime. Take care, not so much of their scientific as of their moral education. And you should take this very seriously, and guard it as the pupil of your eye. As you educate their minds with good studies, assure the education of their hearts, along with that of our holy religion; one without the other causes a mortal wound to the human heart.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “Have you ever thought of how wonderfully you have been made; that there is in you something which can be seen and touched, namely your body whose nature is flesh, but there is also something invisible about you, namely your mind and soul with its thoughts, its loves and its desires.  Your soul is, in a sense, incarnate in a body, that is, your soul animates and unifies your body.  Now consider the Person of Our Divine Lord.  He is the true incarnation, not of a soul in a body, but of God in the form of man.  There is something visible about Him, namely, His perfect human nature, but there is also something invisible about Him, and that is His Divinity.  Just as your body and your soul combine to make one person, so in an infinitely more perfect way, His human nature and His Divine Nature make but one person, the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God true God and true man.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Rock Plunged into Eternity)

“Evenness of temper is a particular virtue, a state which supposes an aggregate of all the virtues, an external manifestation of the peace and beauty of the interior.”

St Vincent de Paul

 “‘Great’ holiness consists in carrying out the ‘little’ duties of each moment.” (St. Josemaría Escrivá; The Way)

 "Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength." St. Phillip Neri  (1515-1595)

 When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down.  - St. Josemaria Escriva

"The virtue of obedience makes the will supple… It inspires the courage with which to fulfill the most difficult tasks." - St John Vianney.

 His Majesty gives value to little things like these that are done for Him, and He gives the help for doing greater things.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila    The Book of Her Life - chapter 31 : 24

 "I demand of you a perfect and whole-burnt offering; an offering of the will. No other sacrifice can compare with this one. I myself am directing your life and arranging things in such a way that you will be for Me a continual sacrifice and will always do My will. And for the accomplishment of this offering, you will unite yourself with Me on the Cross. I myself will give you many orders directly, but I will delay the possibility of their being carried out and make it depend on others (...) but know, My daughter, that this offering will last until your death."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA     (Diary 923)

“ Courage, courage, children are not nails”.  St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr.

St. Cecilia is one of the most famous Roman martyrs and patron saint of musicians. 

O Eternal God, Who gave us, 

in the person of St. Cecilia, 

a powerful protectress, 

grant that after having faithfully 

passed our days, like herself, 

in innocence and holiness, 

we may one day attain 

the land of beatitude, 

where in concert with her, 

we may praise You 

and bless You forevermore in eternity. 

Amen.

"When loaves are more valued than Divine Power which multiplied them: when streams are more admired than the fountains that produced them, mankind will accept any kind of a king that promises bread and plenty. Nor let it be forgotten that He Who promised the spiritual did not deny bread to the poor. Our hopes and our liberties are sold too cheap when they are bartered away to him who feeds the body and leaves the soul naked. This is the problem: The whole world is dying of hunger -- the Eastern World is dying of hunger of body: the Western World is dying of hunger of soul. The first will be fed, but not by those who hate liberty when they give them flour; the Western World will be saved by feeding the East while recognizing their own hunger of the Spirit and seeking again the true King of Hearts Who gives ‘The Bread of Life’."   Archbishop Fulton Sheen

 “You have a thousand reasons for rejoicing in God and for hoping for everything from him through Our Lord who dwells within you.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

 “But God made you without you. You didn’t, after all, give any consent to God making you. How were you to consent, if you didn’t yet exist? So, while he made you without you, he doesn’t justify you without you. So, he made you without you knowing it, he justifies you with your willing consent to it.” (Saint Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 169)

 "Let us, therefore, be students of the laws of God so that we may conduct ourselves according to them. When you walk, these will guide you; when you lie down, watch over you; when you wake, talk with you. Wherever we may be or go, may they go with us to direct our footsteps. May they be so near us when we sleep that they may fill our thoughts as soon as we awaken. His voice will speak to us in them. He will refresh us for the day ahead. 

"Through his laws, we will gain the victory over our doubts. We will cast away every obstacle. We will free ourselves from that sluggishness of nature which is the enemy of strength, the foe of devotion, and the lover of ease. 

"The law of life will help us to overcome our fears in the time of temptation and to follow eagerly in the way of obedience. May it always be at hand to counsel us, so that by it we may find the strength to follow God’s call with generous hearts and willing souls."

~ Saint Raphael of St. Joseph

Excerpt from his Exhortations

When the Lord begins to give a virtue, it should be highly esteemed; and we should in no way place ourselves in the danger of losing it.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Book of Her Life - chapter 31 : 20 

Jesus said, "Secretary of My most profound mystery, know that yours is an exclusive intimacy with Me. Your task is to write down everything that I make known to you about My mercy, for the benefit of those who by reading these things will be comforted in their souls and will have the courage to approach Me"   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA     (Diary 1693)

“ The Principal self-denial takes place in the home.”    St. Pio of Pietrecina

 “But the power of Mary over all the devils will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lay his snares against her heel: that is to say, her humble slaves and her poor children, whom she will raise up to make war against him. They shall be little and poor in the world’s esteem, and abased before all like the heel, trodden underfoot and persecuted as the heel is by the other members of the body. But in return for this they shall be rich in the grace of God, which Mary shall distribute to them abundantly. They shall be great and exalted before God in sanctity, superior to all other creatures by their lively zeal, and so well sustained with God’s assistance that, with the humility of their heel, in union with Mary, they shall crush the head of the devil and cause Jesus Christ to triumph.”   - St. Louis Marie de Montfort

 “Neither theological knowledge nor social action alone is enough to keep us in love with Christ unless both are preceded by a personal encounter with him. When Moses saw the burning bush in the desert, it did not feed on any fuel. The flame, unfed by anything visible, continued to exist without destroying the wood. So personal dedication to Christ does not deform any of our natural gifts, disposition, or character; it just renews without killing. As the wood becomes fire and the fire endures, so we become Christ and Christ endures.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Treasure in Clay)

 I AM BACK POSTING      PLEASE PRAY FOR ME MY HEALTH IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY.  🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

“Free your mind of anything that troubles you; God will take care of it.”   - St. Vincent de Paul

 If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire. - St. Vincent Ferrer

 When you know how much God is in love with you, then you can only live your life radiating that love    -St. Teresa of Calcutta

 "Let the whole of mankind tremble, the whole world shake and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is on the altar in the hands of a priest”     Saint Francis of Assisi

 "When there is no room for the poor, there is no room for me" St. Candida Maria of Jesus (1845 – 1912)

 Virtues are supernatural goods, or against our natural inclination.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Book of Her Life - chapter 31 : 18

 '' My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially poor sinners.''   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA  (Diary 1537)

“There is nothing more nauseating than a woman, especially if she is married, who is fickle, frivolous and haughty. The Christian wife must be woman of sound piety towards God, an angel of peace in the family, dignified and pleasant towards others.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 “Mary is the whole hope of our salvation.”   - St. Thomas Aquinas

 “Why is it that any time we speak of temptation we always speak of temptation as something that inclines us to wrong.  We have more temptations to become good than we do to become bad.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Let the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA    (Diary 1146)

“Jesus permits the spiritual combat as a purification, not as a punishment. The trial is not unto death but unto salvation.”   St. Pio of Pietrecina

“Believe me, there is no more powerful means to obtain God’s grace than to employ the intercessions of the Holy Virgin.”    - St. Philip Neri

“The most honest of those who appear on radio or television, as regards to their material, are the comedians.  At the end of every program, regardless of who the comedian is, there will always be found listed the names of his writers.  The comedians admit, though they speak the humorous lines, that they actually are indebted to others for putting them in their mouths.  One never sees on a television screen at the end of a program given by a politician the names of the one who wrote his speech.  Here we pay tribute to the four writers who have given us the greatest inspiration: 1. A Collector of internal revenue 2. A reporter 3. A physician 4. An official in a fishing company.  These four writers are perhaps better known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Though none of them has written the material that is used in our books, they nevertheless have given us the philosophy and theology behind all that we write.”     Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Thinking Life Through)

All favors, graces, and heavenly inspirations come from Christ as from the Head. All then descend to the body through Mary, since—just as in the human body—it is by the neck that the Head gives life to the limbs.    - St. Robert Bellarmine

We must desire solitude and it is continually present in souls that truly love God.   St Teresa of Jesus of Avila   The Book of Her Foundation - Chapter 5 : 15

“ Renew your faith by attending Holy Mass. Keep your mind focused on the mystery that is unfolding before your eyes. In your mind’s eye transport yourself to Calvary and meditate on the Victim who offers Himself to Divine Justice, paying the price of your redemption.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

"Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity."   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary, 965)

"The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom."   - St. Maximilian Kolbe

“On the day of my ordination, I made two resolutions: 1. I would offer the Holy Eucharist every Saturday in honor of the Blessed Mother to solicit her protection on my priesthood.  The Epistle to the Hebrews bids the priest offer sacrifices not only for others, but also for himself, since his sins are greater because of the dignity of the office.  2.  I resolved also to spend a continuous Holy Hour ever day in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”     Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Treasure in Clay)

“Do not let yourself get carried away by the impetuosity of your impulsive ideas.”   – St. Vincent de Paul

"'Remain in Me.' It is the Word of God who gives this order, expresses this wish..." -Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

If we have good ideas or good desires but lack strength to put them into practice, we must present them to God with a firm hope that He will help us. If we place all our confidence in Divine Goodness, the Lord will not fail to grant whatever is necessary to persevere in His service.    - St. Francis de Sales

Just as a mirror, which reflects all things, is set in its own container, so too the rational soul is placed in the fragile container of the body. In this way, the body is governed in its earthly life by the soul, and the soul contemplates heavenly things through faith.   - Saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.    -St. Therese of Lisieux

“This is a serious warning cry: Surrender without reservation to the Lord who has called us. This is required of us so that the face of the earth may be renewed.”    Edith Stein

 My daughter, don’t be sad when obedience draws you to involvement in exterior matters. Know that if it is in the kitchen, the Lord walks among the pots and pans helping you both interiorly and exteriorly   St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila  The Book of Her Foundation   - chapter 5:8

“My daughter, know that My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled. All misery gets buried in the depths of My mercy, and every saving and sanctifying grace flows from this fountain”.   WORDS OF JESUS TO ST. FAUSTINA   (Diary 1281)

“The Lord is a Father, the most tender and best of fathers. He cannot fail to be moved when His children appeal to Him.”   St. Pio of Pietrelcina

"God sent an angel to tell St. Joseph: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife!" And I say to you: Do not be afraid to take Mary as your Mother in the journey of life! Let Mary be a model for you of how to follow Jesus. Do not be afraid to enter into confidence with her, to entrust to her maternal hands all problems, all concerns, all plans and expectations. And, above all, confide in her the plan that concerns your entire life."   - St. John Paul II