Spiritual poverty consists in esteeming oneself as though not existing, and God alone as existing; in honoring His words above everything in the world, and in not sparing anything to fulfill them, even ones own life; in considering God’s Will in everything, both for ourselves and others, entirely renouncing our own will.
–Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908))
What is the point of fasting and prayer? Why must we work so hard? They cleanse us from sin, they lead to spiritual peace, to union with God, to sonship, to boldness before God. There are truly important reasons for fasting and confessing from the bottom of one’s heart. Immeasurable rewards will be given for conscientious labor.
–Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)
Don’t consider me too demanding if I ask you once again to set great store by holy books and read them as much as you can. This spiritual reading is as necessary to you as the air you breathe.
–Saint Pio (1887-1968)
To trust in God means to confide to Him our life, our fate, all our future, and to wait with confidence for the fulfillment of His promises. Hope proceeds from faith, as the plant from the seed, or the stream from the source. We believe that the Lord is good and merciful, that He loves us as a Father, and therefore that He desires every good and true happiness for us. He is most wise and omniscient, and consequently He knows better than we ourselves what is really needful and useful for us. He is almighty; and thus He is always able to bestow upon us that which He pleases, to fulfil that which He has promised. He is holy and righteous, and therefore all His words are truth. His promises are unchangeable.
–Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)
In order to attract us the Lord gives us many graces and we imagine we are almost in Heaven. We do not know, however, that to grow we need hard bread – crosses, humiliations, trials and contradictions.
–Saint Pio (1887-1968)
It would be well to remember that the graces and consolations of prayer are not waters of this earth but of Heaven. Therefore, all our efforts are not sufficient to make them fall, even though it be necessary to prepare oneself with great diligence.
–Saint Pio (1887-1968)
