Whoever offers repentance…
Whoever offers repentance ought not only to wash his sin with tears, but ought to cover his former transgressions with better deeds, lest the sin be imputed to him.
–Saint Ambrose of Milan (339-397)
The sacred days…
Behold, Dearly Beloved, the sacred days are drawing near, the acceptable time…. And so you must be more earnest in prayer and in almsgiving, in fasting and in prayer. He that till now has given alms, in these days let him give more, for as water quenches a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Ecces. 3:33). He that till now fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more, for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mt. 17:20). Should anyone cherish anger towards another, let him forgive from his heart. Should anyone take unjustly what belongs to another, let him restore it…. And though a Christian should abstain at all times from cursings and revilings, from oaths, from excessive laughter and from idle words, he must do this especially in these holy days which are set apart so that, during these forty days, he may by penance wipe out the sins of the whole year.
–Saint Ambrose of Milan (339-397)
God loves us more…
God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves.
–Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
True prayer before God…
What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips?
–Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Rise again from the dust…
He who walking on the sea could calm the bitter waves, who gives life to the dying seeds of the earth; he who was able to loose the mortal chains of death, and after three days’ darkness could bring again to the upper world the brother for his sister Martha: he, I believe, will make Damasus rise again from the dust.
–Saint Damasus (c. 305-384) (from an epitaph written for himself)
None beyond help…
No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance.
–Saint Leo the Great (c. 400-461)
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