He who wishes to avoid future troubles should endure his present troubles gladly. For in this way, balancing the one against the other, through small sufferings he will avoid those which are great.
–Saint Mark the Ascetic (Fifth Century)
Vigils, prayer and patient acceptance of what comes constitute a breaking that does not harm but benefits the heart, provided we do not destroy the balance between them through excess. He who perseveres in them will be helped in other ways as well; but he who is slack and negligent will suffer intolerably on leaving this life.
— Saint Mark the Ascetic (Fifth Century)
With all our strength and with all our effort we must strive by humility to acquire for ourselves the good gift of sober-mindedness, which can preserve us unharmed by excess from both sides. For, as the Fathers say, the extremes from both sides are equally harmful—both excess of fasting and filling the belly, excess of vigil and excessive sleep, and other excesses.
— Saint John Cassian (c. 360-435)
Fasts and vigils, the study of Scripture, renouncing possessions and everything worldly are not in themselves perfection, as we have said; they are its tools. For perfection is not to be found in them; it is acquired through them. It is useless, therefore, to boast of our fasting, vigils, poverty, and reading of Scripture when we have not achieved the love of God and our fellow men. Whoever has achieved love has God within themselves and their intellect is always with God.
–Saint John Cassian (c. 360-435)
We must give alms. Charity wins souls and draws them to virtue.
–Saint Angela Merici (1474-1540)
If God is for us, what evil could possibly harm us? One can never insist enough on the necessity of quiet, meditative prayer – the real source of interior peace. The heart does not awaken to confidence until it awakes in love.
–Jacques Philippe (1947-
