So there is earthly and heavenly mercy: that is, human and divine. What is human mercy? Exactly this: to have care for the sufferings of the poor. What is divine mercy? Without doubt, to grant forgiveness of sins. Whatever human mercy gives away on the journey, divine mercy pays back when we arrive at last in our native land.
— Saint Caesarius of Arles (460-542)
There is a celebrated saying by the French writer Léon Bloy, who in the last moments of his life said, “The only real sadness in life is not becoming a saint.” Let us not lose the hope of holiness; let us follow this path. Do we want to be saints? The Lord awaits us, with open arms; he waits to accompany us on the path to sanctity. Let us live in the joy of our faith, let us allow ourselves to be loved by the Lord . . . let us ask for this gift from God in prayer, for ourselves, and for others.
–Pope Francis (1936-
He who stays in the desert and practices stillness is delivered from three temptations, that of hearing, that of speaking, and that of seeing. He has only one temptation, that of the heart
— Saint Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356)
Do not want things to turn out as they seem best to you, but as God pleases. Then you will be free from confusion, and thankful in prayer.
–The Desert Fathers (and Mothers)
When we make a sacrifice it is always thus, we have to give something up, not because it is a bad thing– for more often it is a good thing– but the offering of ourselves is a complete offering, it means a whole attention, a whole concentration, a whole donation.
–Caryll Houselander (1901-1954)
It is not necessary that those who seek the Lord seek him outside themselves; rather, those who seek him should seek him in themselves through faith.
–Saint Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
