For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. – Saint John the Apostle

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Sunday, July 30, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Ignatius of Loyola


We must put aside all judgment of our own, and keep the mind ever ready and prompt to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, our holy Mother, the hierarchical Church.

--Saint Ignatius of Loyola









Saint Quote: Saint Léopold Bogdan Mandic


Since God has not given me the gift of preaching, I want to consecrate myself to drawing souls back to Him through the Sacrament of Penance.

--Saint Léopold Bogdan Mandic









Saturday, July 29, 2006

About "Saint Quote of the Day"

FOR ALL OUR READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS:


As you know, on our Saint Quote of the Day, we have a page that is exactly what it says...a daily saint quote.

I search the web, online publications sites, saints sites, the web sites of various orders to find quotes from the sayings, the writings, the lives of various saints. I try to quote from a saint on his or her feast day, but, sometimes there are no records of any writings or sayings. Many of the quotes are from well known Saints of the Church, and many are also from less familiar saints, blesseds, and venerables as well. I think the less familiar ones incline us to learn more about them. It works on Marie that way, because often I will post a saint quote from a lesser known saint, and she can't rest until she has researched their life, and writes a piece on their life on Saints of the Faith.

So, I had an idea.



Imagine that.

All Catholics have a patron saint, a spiritual hero or heroine that is special to us. Some of us have two or three. Saint Jude is my patron saint for instance, and Saint Polycarp of Smyrna is one of my heroes. So, send us an email by clicking here, and tell us who your patron saint or other favorite saints are. If you have a favorite quotation from them, include that in your email also. Then, I will take the top ten and post a quote from them (if one is available) one at a time over the next few weeks. I will also try to include a picture or icon of the saint (when one is available) with their quote. Be sure to make the subject line of the email "Favorite Saints", without the quotation marks, of course.

You don't have to be Catholic to participate in this either. I have found that many of our non-Catholic readers have favorite saints also.

--Steve

Saint Quote: Pope Saint Gregory the Great


He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps.

-- Pope St. Gregory the Great









Friday, July 28, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Titus Brandsma


Prayer Before a Picture of Jesus

O Jesus, when I look on you

My love for you starts up anew,
And tells me that your heart loves me
And you my special friend would be.

More courage I will need for sure,

But any pain I will endure,
Because it makes me like to you
And leads unto your kingdom too.

In sorrow do I find my bliss,

For sorrow now no more is this:
Rather the path that must be trod,
That makes me one with you, my God.

Oh, leave me here alone and still,

And all around the cold and chill.
To enter here I will have none;
I weary not when I'm alone.

For, Jesus you are at my side;

Never so close did we abide.
Stay with me, Jesus, my delight,
Your presence near makes all things right.

--Blessed Titus Brandsma

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero


The nothing keeps silent, the nothing does not want to be, the nothing suffers all. The nothing does not impose itself, the nothing does not command with authority, and finally, the nothing in the creature is practical humility.

--Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero









Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Angela Merici



Beware of trying to accomplish anything by force, for God has given every single person free will and desires to constrain none; he merely shows them the way, invites them and counsels them.


--Saint Angela Merici

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Agnes of Rome


Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.

--Saint Agnes of Rome








Monday, July 24, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Alphonsus Liguori


It often happens that we pray God to deliver us from some dangerous temptation, and yet God does not hear us but permits the temptation to continue troubling us. In such a case, let us understand that God permits even this for our greater good. When a soul in temptation recommends itself to God, and by His aid resists, O how it then advances in perfection.

-- St. Alphonsus Liguori









Saturday, July 22, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Cyril of Jerusalem


Keep this faith ever by your side to help you on your way and close your ears and have nothing to do with any other, even if I myself should change my allegiance and preach another faith to you or an angel of darkness be transformed into an angel of light to lead you into error… To begin with, simply take the words of the Creed as they stand at their face value, put your faith in them and commit them to memory.

Later, as opportunity offers, you can take the propositions one by one and study them as truths of the Sacred Scriptures. Pay attention then, brethren, to the truths of the Faith now being handed down to you and write them deep in your hearts. Keep a careful watch and be on your guard against foes and heretics intent on perverting your faith and plundering it. You must, as it were, deposit this gift of faith in the bank of safe-keeping and God will demand of you an account of your investment.


In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who is his testimony before Pontius Pilate bore witness to that great claim, I charge you to keep the faith unstained until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.


--Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Friday, July 21, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Catherine of Siena


On behalf of Christ crucified I tell you: refuse to believe the counsels of the devil, who would hinder your holy and good resolution. Be manly in my sight, and not timorous. Answer God, who calls you to hold and possess the seat of the glorious Shepherd St. Peter, whose vicar you have been. And raise the standard of the holy Cross.

--Saint Catherine of Siena to Pope Gregory XI









Thursday, July 20, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Father Damien de Veuster


I am gently going to my grave. It is the will of God, and I thank Him very much for letting me die of the same disease and in the same way as my lepers. I am very satisfied and very happy.

--Blessed Father Damien de Veuster









Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed William Hart


Alas! Sweet mother, why do you weep? Why do you lament? Why do you take so heavily my honourable death? Know you not that we are born once to die, and that always in this life we may not live? Know you not how vain, how wicked, how inconstant, how miserable this life of ours is? Do you not consider my calling, my estate, my profession? Do you not remember that I am going to a place of all pleasure and felicity? Why then do you weep? Why do you mourn? Why do you cry out?

But perhaps you will say, I weep not so much for your death as I do for that you are hanged, drawn, and quartered. My sweet mother, it is the favourablest, honourablest, and happiest death that ever could have chanced unto me.

I die not for knavery, but for verity; I die not for treason, but for religion; I die not for any ill demeanour or offence committed, but only for my Faith, for my conscience, for my priesthood, for my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; and, to tell you truth, if I had ten thousand lives, I am bound to lose them all rather than to break my faith, to lose my soul, to offend my God.

--Blessed William Hart in his final letter to his mother

Monday, July 17, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Pavol Gojdic


I am already 62 and sacrifice all my goods and residence, but I will not deny my faith in any way because I want to save my soul. Do not even come to me.

--Blessed Pavol Gojdic to the Communists of Czecho-Slovakia









Sunday, July 16, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Antony Abbot


[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 Antony Abbot









Saturday, July 15, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Bonaventure


Since happiness is nothing but the enjoyment of the Supreme Good, and since the Supreme Good is above us, we cannot be happy unless we rise beyond ourselves. Since we cannot reach above ourselves in our own strength, we must be helped by supernatural strength, lifted up by a higher power that stoops to raise us. However much we structure our inner lives and make progress, it does us no good unless our efforts are accompanied by help from on high. Divine aid is available for those who seek it with a devout and humble heart; this is done by fervent prayer.

Prayer is, therefore, the source and origin of every upward journey toward God. Let us each, then, turn to prayer and say to our Lord God: 'Lead me, O Lord, on your path, that I may walk in your truth.'


--Saint Bonaventure









Friday, July 14, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Brother Solomon Le Clerq


As for us, we hold to what we believed ten and twenty years ago; to what our forefathers believed one hundred years ago, and one thousand years ago, and to that which the whole Catholic world has always believed.

--Blessed Brother Solomon Le Clerq

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Terese of the Andes


A Carmelite is a sister to priests. Both priest and sister offer a host of holocaust for the salvation of the world. A Sister sanctifies herself, that by being more united to God, the blood of the Divine Prisoner which she receives in her soul might circulate through the other members of Christ's Body. In a word, a Sister sanctifies herself to sanctify her brothers.

--Saint Terese of the Andes

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Peter Chrysologus


We exhort you in every respect, honorable brother, to heed obediently what has been written by the Most Blessed Pope of the City of Rome; for Blessed Peter, who lives and presides in his own see, provides the truth of faith to those who seek it.

--Saint Peter Chrysologus, from a letter to Eutyches, 449









Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Benedict


Girded with a faith, and the performance of good works, let us follow in Christ's path by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him "who has called us into his kingdom." If we wish to attain a dwelling place in his kingdom, we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds.

Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.

--from the Rule of Saint Benedict









Monday, July 10, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Boniface


Can there be a more fitting pursuit in youth or a more valuable possession in old age than a knowledge of Holy Writ? In the midst of storms it will preserve you from the dangers of shipwreck and guide you to the shore of an enchanting paradise and the ever-lasting bliss of the angels. Of it the same wise man has remarked. "Wisdom overcometh evil: it stretches from end to end mightily and disposes all things sweetly. Her have I loved from my youth and have become enamoured of her form."[Wisd. Viii.1]

--Saint Boniface in a letter

Saturday, July 8, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Jerome


You say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each other, but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for another can be heard.... But if the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs?

--Saint Jerome from Against Vigilantius, 406AD










Friday, July 7, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified


Everything passes here on earth. What are we? Nothing but dust, nothingness, and God is so great, so beautiful, so lovable and He is not loved.

--Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified









Thursday, July 6, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Martin de Porres


Compassion is preferable to cleanliness: with a little bit of soap I can clean my bed, but think of the flood of tears I would require to clean from my soul the stain that harshness against this unfortunate would leave.

--Saint Martin de Porres









Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria


That which God commands seems difficult and a burden. . . . The way is rough; you draw back; you have no desire to follow it. Yet do so and you will attain glory.

--Anthony Mary Zaccaria









Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati


You ask me whether I am in good spirits. How could I not be, so long as my trust in God gives me strength. We must always be cheerful. Sadness should be banished from all Christian souls. For suffering is a far different thing from sadness, which is the worst disease of all. It is almost always caused by lack of Faith. But the purpose for which we have been created shows us the path along which we should go, perhaps strewn with many thorns, but not a sad path. Even in the midst of intense suffering it is one of joy.

--Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati







Monday, July 3, 2006

Saint Quote: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton


Can you expect to go to heaven for nothing? Did not our Savior track the whole way to it with His tears and blood? And yet you start at every little pain.

-- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton









Sunday, July 2, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Francis of Assisi


Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread.

--Saint Francis of Assisi









Saturday, July 1, 2006

Saint Quote: Pope Saint Pius X


Let the storm rage and the sky darken - not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful "who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent."

-- St. Pius X