The church is a collection of souls, brought together in one by God’s secret grace, though that grace comes to them through visible instruments, and unites them to a visible hierarchy. What is seen, is not the whole of the church, but the visible part of it.
–Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
For He raised up the falling, healed the sick, satisfied those who were hungry, and filled the poor, and, what is more wonderful, raised us all from the dead. Having abolished death, He has brought us from affliction and sighing to the rest and gladness of this feast, a joy which reaches even to heaven.
–Saint Athanasius the Great (c. 296-373)
As two pieces of wax fused together make one, so he who receives Holy Communion is so united with Christ that Christ is in him and he is in Christ.
–-Saint Cyril of Alexandria (378-444)
The Word who became all things for us is close to us, our Lord Jesus Christ who promises to remain with us always. He cries out, saying: ‘See, I am with you all the days of this age.’ He is himself the shepherd, the high priest, the way and the door, and has become all things at once for us.
–Saint Athanasius the Great (c. 296-373)
Sometimes the flame of a lamp can leap up and burn furiously. At other times it burns gently and quietly. Sometimes its light leaps up and emits a great radiance. At other times its small flame gives out only a dim light. This is how it is with the lamp of grace in the soul. It is always lit and giving off illumination, but when it burns with special radiance, it is as if the soul were drunk with love for God. At other times, as God himself decides, the light is still there but it is only a dim glow.
–Saint Macarius the Great (c. 300-391)
As time goes on, the way will gradually be rendered less rough, and the difficulties will be smoothed away, because the purer our hearts become, the more abundantly we shall receive graces.
–Louis Lallemant (1578–1635)
