Cheerfulness strengthens…
Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life; wherefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.
— Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)
Obtaining perseverance…
One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days.
–Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)
The mind of the Scriptures…
It is not possible, I say not possible, ever to exhaust the mind of the Scriptures. It is a well which has no bottom.
— Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Devotion requires…
That perfect devoting ourselves to God, from which devotion has its name, requires that we should not only do the will of God, but also that we should do it with love.
— François Fénèlon (1651-1715)
Faith gives rise to prayer…
Reading the Holy Gospel nourishes in us the habit of prayer, builds up our faith, and disposes us to trust in the Lord rather than in ourselves… We must believe, then, in order to pray; and we must ask God that the faith enabling us to pray may not fail. Faith gives rise to prayer, and this prayer obtains an increase of faith.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
You have forgotten his presence…
When you have to listen to abuse, that means you are being buffeted by the wind. When your anger is roused, you are being tossed by the waves. So when the winds blow and the waves mount high, the boat is in danger, your heart is imperiled, your heart is taking a battering. On hearing yourself insulted, you long to retaliate; but the joy of revenge brings with it another kind of misfortune-shipwreck. Why is this? Because Christ is asleep in you. What do I mean? I mean you have forgotten his presence. Rouse him, then; remember him, let him keep watch within you, pay heed to him…. A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ and let him remind you of those words: “Who can this be? Even the winds and the sea obey him.”
–Saint Augustine (354-430
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