It is a great art to succeed in having your soul sanctified. A person can become a saint anywhere. He can become a saint in Omonia Square [a notorious section of Athens], if he wants. At your work, whatever it may be, you can become a saint through meekness, patience, and love. Make a new start every day, with new resolution, with enthusiasm and love, prayer and silence — not with anxiety so that you get a pain in the chest.
–Saint Porphyrios (1906-1991)
Divinely wise souls often infuriate the worldly-wise because they always see things from the Divine point of view. The worldly are willing to let anyone believe in God if he pleases, but only on condition that a belief in God will mean no more than belief in anything else. They will allow God, provided that God does not matter. But taking God seriously is precisely what makes the saint. As St. Teresa put it, “What is not God to me is nothing.” This passion is called snobbish, intolerant, stupid, and unwarranted intrusion; yet those who resent it deeply wish in their own hearts that they had the saint’s inner peace and happiness.
–Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
They no longer live their life, but the life of Christ; they no longer suffer their own pain, but rather, the passion of Christ. Therefore they also rejoice in the life of grace that the Lord enkindles in other souls when the spark of divine love touches them and the wine of this love causes in them holy inebriation.
–Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)
The last and highest result of prayer is not the securing of this or that gift, the avoiding of this or that danger. The last and highest result of prayer is the knowledge of God–the knowledge which is eternal life–and by that knowledge, the transformation of human character and of the world.
–George John Blewett (1873-1912)
Good news. A single word – Gospel – that, even as it is spoken, becomes truth, brimming with joy and mercy. We should never attempt to separate these three graces of the Gospel: its truth, which is non-negotiable; its mercy, which is unconditional and offered to all sinners; and its joy, which is personal and open to everyone. Truth, mercy and joy: these three go together.
–Pope Francis (1936-
Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness, and confident — in the most audacious way — in His Fatherly goodness.
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
