I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God’s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.
— Saint Ignatius of Antioch (First Century)
In all of our deeds God looks at the intention, whether we do it for His sake, or for the sake of some other intention.
— Saint Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil. Nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in order to qualify for the hope of a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love. His actions are not motivated by desire for personal benefit, so he does not have personal advantage as his aim. But as soon as he has realized the beauty of doing good, he does it with all his energies and in all that he does. He is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a human or divine reward. The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in the image and likeness of God.
— Saint Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215)
You must teach yourself how to eat less, but with discernment, insofar as your work allows. The measure of temperance should be such that after lunch you want to pray.
— Saint Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938)
The missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building.
— Saint Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
There is one case of death-bed repentance recorded, that of the penitent thief, that none should despair; and only one that none should presume.
— Saint Augustine (354-430)
