Quotes

Suffering for God…

Suffering for God is better than working miracles.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

We know that the coming of the Lord is threefold: the third coming is between the other two and it is not visible in the way they are. At his first coming the Lord was seen on earth and lived among men, who saw him and hated him. At his last coming All flesh shall see the salvation of our God, and They shall look on him whom they have pierced. In the middle, the hidden coming, only the chosen see him, and they see him within themselves; and so their souls are saved.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

When God forgives…

When God forgives a sinner who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses his dominion over the heart he had taken.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Grace and free will…

Grace is necessary to salvation, free will equally so – but grace in order to give salvation, free will in order to receive it.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Need for prudence and discernment…

When one receives grace, there is then need for the greatest prudence and discernment. God gives these to the person that asks Him for them so that he may serve God in the Spirit Whom he receives, and also that he may not be conquered by evil and be deceived, led astray through ignorance, presumption, and carelessness by acting against all that the Lord wills.
–Saint Macarius the Great (295-392)

Gift of discernment…

Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbor, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go.
–Saint Basil the Great (329-379)

Distinguishing accurately…

The mind is capable of tasting and distinguishing accurately whatever is presented to it.
–Saint Diadochus of Photike (c. 400 – c. 486)

Pay attention…

In the measure that we pay attention and take care to carry out what we hear, God will always enlighten us and make us understand His will.
–Saint Dorotheus of Gaza (Sixth Century)

With stillness sit…

Seal your senses with stillness and sit in judgment upon the thoughts that attack your heart.
–Saint Thalassios the Libyan (Sixth-Seventh Centuries)

Praying without distraction…

Blessed is the mind which, praying without distraction, acquires ever greater longing for God.
–Saint Nilus of Sinai (d. 430)

Come to prayer…

Come to prayer, and bring your whole self with you. Do not let your mind remain in the market with your business. … Bring it back, so that it may come in and ask for its life. Do not stand half in and half out, or your prayer may get lost between the two parts. Stand at prayer united and complete, a true human, and then you can receive whatever you ask from God.
–Jacob of Serugh (c. 451-521)

If the mind is distracted…

If, at the time when the mind is praying it is distracted by any extraneous thought or worry about anything, then this prayer is not called pure.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)

The devil dreads…

The devil dreads fasting, prayer, humility, and good works: he is not able even to stop my mouth who speak against him. The illusions of the devil soon vanish, especially if a man arms himself with the Sign of the Cross. The devils tremble at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord, by which He triumphed over and disarmed them.
–Saint Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356)

The devil strains…

The devil strains every nerve to secure the souls which belong to Christ. We should not grudge our toil in wresting them from Satan and giving them back to God.
–Saint Sebastian (third century)

Gratitude makes patience…

What makes people patient, so that they patiently bear hurt, reproach, slander, and abuse from others, and torments and assaults from the devil? Gratitude.
–Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

Goodness of God…

Enrich your soul in the great goodness of God: The Father is your table, the Son is your food, and the Holy Spirit waits on you and then makes His dwelling in you.
— Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

A soul truly united…

A soul that is truly united to God is not conscious of itself; it neither sees, nor loves itself, nor anyone else, but keeps its thoughts on God alone, not on any creature.
— Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

No discernment…

You cannot imagine how foolish people are. They have no sense of discernment, having lost it by hoping in themselves and putting their trust in their own knowledge.
–Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

Pray sincerely and slowly…

But for those who have not attained the capability of praying sincerely it is necessary to pray slowly, waiting for a corresponding echo in the heart to each word of the prayer. And this is not always soon given to men unaccustomed to prayerful contemplation. Therefore, for such men, it must be laid down as an absolute rule to pronounce the words of the prayer slowly, and with pauses. Wait until every word gives back its corresponding echo in your heart.
–Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)

Goodness and mercy of God…

Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God’s wisdom, nor our infirmity God’s omnipotence.
— Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)

Without confessing…

The longer we remain without confessing, the worse it is for us, the more entangled we become in the bonds of sin, and therefore the more difficult it is to give an account.
–withoutSaint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)

We shall have peace…

Though we are in such pain, trouble and distress, that it seems to us that we are unable to think of anything except how we are and what we feel, yet as soon as we may, we are to pass lightly over it, and count it as nothing. And why? Because God wills that we should understand that if we know him and love him and reverently fear him, we shall have rest and be at peace. And we shall rejoice in all that he does.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

God is our Mother…

As truly as God is our Father, so truly God is our Mother.
— Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

My own sin…

My own sin will not hinder the working of God’s goodness.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

Love was, is, and shall be…

Love was without beginning, is, and shall be without ending.
— Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

Act wisely in prayer…

Do not be foolish in the requests you make to God, otherwise you will insult God through your ignorance. Act wisely in prayer, so that you may become worthy of glorious things. Ask for things that are honorable from Him Who will not hold back, so that you may receive honor from Him as a result of the wise choice your free will had made. Solomon asked for wisdom (3 Kg 3:8-14) – and along with it he also received the earthly kingdom, for he knew how to ask wisely of the heavenly King, that is, for things that are important.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)

Always remember death…

Let us always remember death, and in this thought draw near to God in our heart– and the pleasures of this world will have our scorn.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)

God was unwilling…

In his great love, God was unwilling to restrict our freedom, even though he had the power to do so. He has left us to come to him by the love of our heart alone.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)

Our God delights…

As a mother delights in taking her child on her knees, in caressing and feeding him, so does our God delight in treating with love and tenderness those souls who give themselves entirely to Him, and place all their hopes in His goodness and bounty.
–Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

Graces from God…

He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.
–St. Faustina (1905-1938)

Don’t pass judgment…

It’s true he was a sinner. But don’t pass so final a judgement. Have pity in your heart and don’t forget that he may yet be an Augustine, while you remain just another mediocrity.
–Saint Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975)

God is not a…

God is not a deceiver, that he should offer to support us, and then, when we lean upon Him, should slip away from us.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)

The practice of prayer…

What can be more excellent than prayer; what is more profitable to our life; what sweeter to our souls; what more sublime, in the course of our whole life, than the practice of prayer!
–Saint Augustine (354-430)

Do all one can…

One must do all one can do for everybody, expecting no return save from God only.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)

God is almighty…

God is always almighty; He can at all times work miracles, and He would work them now as in the days of old were it not that faith is lacking!
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)

Impure speech is…

The man of impure speech is a person whose lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which hell uses to vomit its impurities upon the earth.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)

Without expectation, do something for love itself, not for what you may receive. Love in action is what gives us grace. We have been created for greater things – to love and to be loved. Love is love – to love a person without any conditions, without any expectations. Small things, done in great love, bring joy and peace. To love, it is necessary to give. To give, it is necessary to be free from selfishness.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

This spiritual food…

Oh, did spiritual persons but know how much good and what great abundance of spirit they lose through not seeking to raise up their desires above childish things, and how in this simple spiritual food they would find the sweetness of all things, if they desired not to taste those things (passing diversions and distractions)! But such food gives them no pleasure.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Obey when we…

It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.
–Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

We cannot expect too much…

We cannot expect too much from God, for with him it is as easy to perform as to will.
–Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Speak little, hear much…

In treating with men we must speak little and hear much; and speak even these few words as if the whole world were to hear them, though we speak only to one.
–Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Divine providence…

Live always in the certainty that whatever happens to you is the result of divine Providence; because nothing hard or laborious falls to your lot without the Lord permitting it.
–Saint Louis de Blois (1506-1566)

God dwells within…

God dwells within you, and there you should dwell with Him.
–Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Present within us…

We need no wings to go in search for Him, but only to look upon Him present within us.
–Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Preserve your peace…

Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

The sin of pride…

You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy — the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud.
–Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

The crucifix…

It was His Will that after His death the Church should give us His image in the crucifix, that he might appear to us in a condition of utmost ignominy. And why? He did it because He knew the worth of humility and the danger of the sin which opposes it.
–Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

You are his secret dwelling…

You yourself are His dwelling and His secret chamber and hiding place.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Never give up…

I plead with you–never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.
–Saint John Paul (1920-2005)

If a Christian…

If a Christian is not growing he is dead. There is no stagnation in Christ.
–Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Serve our God…

Sursum corda, then; let us lift up our hearts and generously serve our great God and Our Lord Jesus in faith and pure love. Amen.
–Saint Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)

Full knowledge…

We can’t have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led.
–Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

The believe but

Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself.
–Madeline L’Engle (1918-2007)

When we are spiritually free…

When we are spiritually free, we do not have to worry about what to say or do in unexpected, difficult circumstances. When we are not concerned about what others think of us or what we will get for what we do, the right words and actions will emerge from the center of our beings because the Spirit of God, who makes us children of God and sets us free, will speak and act through us.
–Henri Nouwen (1932–1996)

How changed the…

How changed the world would be if we worked as hard at being good as we work it making ourselves comfortable or beautiful!
–Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Different gifts for…

God has given different gifts for different people. There is no basis for feeling inferior to another who has a different gift. Once it is realized that we shall be judged by the gift we have received, rather than the gift we have not, one is completely delivered from a false sense of inferiority.
–Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Unhappiness is due…

Your unhappiness is not due to your want of a fortune or high position or fame or sufficient vitamins. It is due not to a want of something outside of you, but to a want of something inside you. You were made for perfect happiness. No wonder everything short of God disappoints you.
–Blessed Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

God is the…

God is the supreme good from Whom every good thing flows, and all blessing that is and ever shall be. Without God all blessedness is cursedness and woe, life is death, joy and sweetness are bitterness. To live with God is happiness in misfortune, riches in poverty, glory in dishonor, and consolation in sorrow. Without God there cannot be true repose, peace and consolation.
–Saint Tikhon (1724-1783)

Fear not…

Fear not because God is with you.
–Saint Pio (1887-1968)

Divine goodness…

Divine goodness not only does not reject the repentant soul, but always seeks to find even the obstinate.
–Saint Pio (1887-1968)

Sweeping problems…

Sweeping problems under the rug does not solve them.
–Saint John Bosco (1815-1888)

They deceive themselves…

Don’t imitate those who deceive themselves by saying, ‘I will sin and then go to confession.’ How do you know that you will have time to make your confession? Isn’t it madness to wound yourself in the hope that a doctor will be found to heal the wound?”
–Saint John Bosco (1815-1888)

Never see a need…

Never see a need without trying to do something about it.
–Blessed Mary Mackillop (1842-1909)

The gospel passage…

I think that there is no passage of the Gospel that has made a deeper impression on me or changed my life more than this one: “Whatever you do to one of these little ones, you do it to me.”
–Blessed Charles De Foucauld (1858-1916)

Let us work now…

We will lie down for such a long time after death that it is worthwhile to keep standing while we are alive. Let us work now; one day we shall rest.
–Saint Agostina Pietrantoni (1864-1894)

Hope is power…

Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate.
–GK Chesterton (1874-1936)

Hope means hoping…

Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And faith means believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all.
–GK Chesterton (1874-1936)

Sacrament gives God…

Every happening, every event, every suffering as also every joy, is a sacrament that gives God to the soul.
–Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)

Take little account of yourself…

If you take little account of yourself, you will have peace, wherever you live.
–Abba Poeman (c. 340 – c. 450)

Early impressions…

Early impressions are hard to eradicate from the mind. When once wool has been dyed purple, who can restore it to its previous whiteness?
–Saint Jerome (c. 340-420)

A self-indulgent heart…

A self-indulgent heart becomes a prison and chain for the soul when it leaves this life; whereas an assiduous heart is an open door.
–Saint Mark the Ascetic (Fifth Century)

Control desire and…

Control desire and you will dominate anger; for desire gives rise to anger.
–Saint Thalassios the Libyan (6th-7th Centuries)

Practice self-control…

If you want to be free of all the passions, practice self-control, love and prayer.
–Saint Thalassios the Libyan (6th-7th Centuries)

To love God is…

To love God is something greater than to know Him.
–Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

The heart is free…

The heart is free which is held by no love other than the love of God.
–Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274)

Totally love Him…

Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.
–Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

Be sure you preach by…

Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.
–Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

From this night…

From this arid night there first of all comes self-knowledge, whence, as from a foundation, rises this other knowledge of God.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

God dwells in…

It must be known that God dwells and is present substantially in every soul, even in that of the greatest sinner in the world.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Attain holiness…

All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

The means of sanctifying yourself…

Prayer, good reading, the frequentation of the sacraments, with the proper dispositions, and particularly the flight of idleness – these are, believe me, the means of sanctifying yourself.
–Saint Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)

Holiness and perfection…

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our Redeemer and our supreme good.
–Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

The power and love of God…

Remember, never to fear the power of evil more than your trust in the power and love of God.
–Hermas (First Century)

Towards the goal…

Let us run towards the goal which from the beginning has been handed down to us, the goal which is peace; and let us fix our gaze on the Creator of the whole universe, and cling to his splendid and superlative gifts of peace.
–Saint Clement (First Century)

Mary’s obedience…

Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what Eve bound through her disbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.
–Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (late 2nd century)

Toil and fatigue…

What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.
–Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258)

The Spirit comes gently and…

The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console.
–Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)

Many curses the…

Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.
–Saint Basil the Great (330-379)

The sanctifying Spirit…

The sun penetrates crystal and makes it more dazzling. In the same way, the sanctifying Spirit indwells in souls and makes them more radiant. They become like so many powerhouses beaming grace and love around them.
–Saint Basil the Great (329-379)

The Spirit appear…

Fittingly did the Spirit appear in fire in every heart that he enters, he kindles the desire of his own eternity.
–Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)

Control your appetites…

Control your appetites before they control you.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)

God rests in gentle hearts…

God rests with in gentle hearts. The gentle and merciful shall sit fearless in His regions, and will inherit Heavenly glory.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)

Tranquility consists…

The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the soul is still excited. The goal is a perfect peacefulness even in the middle of the raging storm.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)

The discerning mind…

A discerning man, when he eats grapes, takes only the ripe ones and leaves the sour. Thus also the discerning mind carefully marks the virtues which he sees in any person. A mindless man seeks out the vices and failings … Even if you see someone sin with your own eyes, do not judge; for often even your eyes are deceived.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)

Meekness is…

Meekness is an unchanging state of mind, which both in honor and dishonor remains the same. Meekness consists in praying sincerely and undisturbedly in the face of afflictions from one’s neighbor. Meekness is a cliff rising from the sea of irritability, against which all the that waves that strive against it break, but which is itself never broken.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)

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