The light that true knowledge gives out is the ability to distinguish unerringly what is right from what is wrong. This being so, the path of uprightness – which leads the mind towards God, the radiant sun of righteousness – takes that same mind into an unbounded light of knowledge and then leads it on to seek trustingly for love.
–Saint Diadochus of Photike (c. 400 – c. 486)
Such sins, even if they do not kill all grace in us, do harm, nevertheless; and though they are only venial in themselves, they make us apt, ready, and inclined to lose grace and to fall into mortal sin.
–Johannes Tauler (c. 1300-1361)
If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)
Hour by hour, day by day, let us by penitence work at being renewed, so that we may learn to fight and wrestle with the devils, our enemies who are always at war with us.
–Saint Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022)
The virgin soul that desires to be united to God must keep itself pure not only from overt sins like unchastity, murder, theft, gluttony, backbiting, falsity, avarice, greed and so on; but to an even greater degree it must keep itself pure from sins that are hidden, such as desire, self-esteem, love of popularity, hypocrisy, love of power, wiliness, malice, hatred, unbelief, envy, self-love, affectation and other things of this kind. According to Scripture, these concealed sins of the soul are just as pernicious as the overt sins.
–Saint Macarius the Great (295-392)
The sweetness of the apple makes up for the bitterness of the root. The hope of gain makes pleasant the perils of the sea. The expectation of health mitigates the nauseousness of medicine. One who desires the kernel breaks the nut. So one who desires the joy of a holy conscience swallows down the bitterness of penance.
–Saint Jerome (c. 340-420)
