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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Thursday, August 31, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Cyprian of Carthage


Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.

--Saint Cyprian of Carthage








Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Jeanne Jugan


Little Sisters, take good care for the aged, for in them you are caring for Christ Himself.

--Blessed Jeanne Jugan








Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint John the Baptist


A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven. You yourselves do bear me witness, that I said, I am not Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.

--Saint John the Baptist in John 3:26-30

Monday, August 28, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Edmund Arrowsmith


Be witnesses with me that I die a constant Roman Catholic and for Christ's sake; let my death be an encouragement to your going forward in the Catholic religion.

--Saint Edmund Arrowsmith at his execution for the crime of being a priest in England 1628








Sunday, August 27, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Monica


Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.

--Saint Monica, about the conversion of Saint Augustine of Hippo








Saturday, August 26, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Therese of Lisieux


True charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbor's faults, never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues.

-- St. Therese of Lisieux








Friday, August 25, 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

*
Helped found the missionary Carmel of Mangalore, India, and built a Carmelite monastery in Bethlehem in 1875.








Thursday, August 24, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Bartholomew the Apostle


Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel.

--Saint Bartholmew the Apostle to Jesus in John 1:49


Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Rose of Lima


Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven."

When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemd to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: "Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep aprticipation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul."


"If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men."


--from the writings of Saint Rose of Lima








Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Saint Quote: Pope Saint Leo the Great

Leo I Meeting Attila the Hun

It cannot be doubted that the poor can more easily attain the blessing of humility than those who are rich. In the case of the poor, the lack of worldly goods is often accompanied by a quiet gentleness, whereas the rich are more prone to arrogance. Nevertheless, many wealthy people are disposed to use their abundance not to swell their own pride but to perform works of benevolence. They consider their greatest gain what they spend to alleviate the distress of others. This virtue is open to all men, no matter what their class or condition, because all can be equal in their willingness to give, however unequal they may be in earthly fortune.

-- Pope St. Leo the Great

**In 452, Attila and his Huns invaded Italy and were about to attack defenseless Rome when he was met at the gates by Pope Saint Leo the Great. In this face-to-face meeting with Leo, Attila was dissuaded from destroying the city.

As Leo spoke, Attila saw the vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword, and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey Pope Leo. As Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter, it is generally believed the first Pope Peter was the visionary opponent to the invading Huns.










Monday, August 21, 2006

Saint Quote: Pope Saint Pius X



My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help. I can do all in Him who strengthens me. His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is infinite, and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.

--Pope Saint Pius X








Sunday, August 20, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Anthony of Padua


Consider every day that you are then for the first time--as it were--beginning; and always act with the same fervour as on the first day you began.

--Saint Antony of Padua








Saturday, August 19, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Isidore of Seville


Heresy is from the Greek word meaning 'choice'.... But we are not permitted to believe whatever we choose, nor to choose whatever someone else has believed. We have the Apostles of God as authorities, who did not...choose what they would believe but faithfully transmitted the teachings of Christ. So, even if an angel from heaven should preach otherwise, he shall be called anathema.

--Saint Isidore of Seville

Note: Proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722, and became the leading candidate for patron of computer users and the Internet in 1999.









Friday, August 18, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga


As I leave to return to God, my Father, permit me to confide to you one last desire: that you strive to create a climate of true love and respect for the poor because the poor man is Christ. “What you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me” (Mt 25,40).

--Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga
Letter dictated while a patient at the Clinic of the Catholic University, four days before his death in August of 1952


Thursday, August 17, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Augustine of Hippo


If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.

--Saint Augustine of Hippo









Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Basil the Great



Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence.

--Saint Basil the Great









Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Thomas Aquinas


Hold firmly that our faith is identical with the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.

-- St. Thomas Aquinas









Monday, August 14, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Maximilian Kolbe


The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.

--Saint Maximilian Kolbe









Sunday, August 13, 2006

Saint Quote; Saint Maximus the Confessor


The extremities of the earth, and all in every part of it who purely and rightly confess the Lord look directly towards the most holy Roman Church and its confession and faith, as it were to a sun of unfailing light, awaiting from it the bright radiance of the sacred dogmas of our Fathers according to what the six inspired and holy councils have purely and piously decreed, declaring most expressly the symbol of faith. For from the coming down of the incarnate Word amongst us, all the Churches in every part of the world have held that greatest Church alone as their base and foundation, seeing that according to the promise of Christ our Saviour, the gates of hell do never prevail against it, that it has the keys of a right confession and faith in Him, that it opens the true and only religion to such as approach with piety, and shuts up and locks every heretical mouth that speaks injustice against the Most High.

--Saint Maximus the Confessor*

confessor:

(1) One who has given heroic testimony to the Christian faith. In the early Church, this term frequently designated a martyr. In modern ecclesiastical language, however, a confessor is a male saint who did not shed his blood for the faith. The Church divides such saints into two classes: those who were bishops (confessores pontifices); and those who were not bishops (confessores non pontifices).

(2) A priest empowered with the necessary jurisdiction to hear confessions and to impart sacramental absolution.










Saint Quote: Blessed Mark of Aviano


God knows that the scope of all of my works is only to do His will. My only interest is God's glory and the good of souls. I am always an obedient son of Holy Mother Church and am ready to shed my blood and give my life for Her.

--Blessed Mark of Aviano

Trivia Note: Legend has it that when the Ottomans fled before the European army, they left behind a lot of their strong, bitter coffee. The Christian soldiers, to make this liberated coffee more palatable, mixed it with honey and milk; they named the drink after Mark's Order, the Capuchins, and thus cappuccino was born.










Saturday, August 12, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Joseph Cafasso


Who is this man who in the world is called an ecclesiastic, a priest? Who is this personage whom some bless and others curse? Who is he whom the whole world talks about and criticizes, and who is the subject of discussion by all pens and all tongues? What is the significance of that name which resounds in every corner of the world? What is a priest? In order to define clearly what he is, I shall avail myself of the distinctions that Saint Bernard made concerning ecclesiastics and shall consider him in his nature, in his person, in his habits. Quid in natura, quis in persona, qualis in moribus! In his nature he is a man like others. In his person, his dignity is above that of all other men in the world. In his conduct and habits, he should be a man totally different from all others as he is by his dignity and office. These are the three points which I propose for your consideration.

--Saint Joseph Cafasso









Friday, August 11, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Francis de Sales


Oh what remorse we shall feel at the end of our lives, when we look back upon the great number of instructions and examples afforded by God and the Saints for our perfection, and so carelessly received by us! If this end were to come to you today, how would you be pleased with the life you have led this year?

--Saint Francis de Sales









Thursday, August 10, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Augustine


When we hear heretical voices about us..., when we see that the sanctity of marriage and the priesthood are attacked without fear of rebuke, have confidence, for the Holy Church is incorruptible.

-- St. Augustine









Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)



God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need. Then the rest of the day can take its course, under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace. And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone, and all the reasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed: just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with Him. Then you will be able to rest in Him -- really rest -- and start the next day as a new life.

--Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Mary MacKillop


You must know, dear ones, how often Charity was thoughtlessly wounded, how often deviations from obedience in little matters were made, how often criticism and murmuring were indulged in. These and similar faults had to be corrected, and our good God has chosen His own way. It is but right that He should let the heaviest part of the Cross fall upon your Mother, who was so little able to be to you what the Mother-General of such an Institute should be. I am glad that it should be so, and oh, my dearly-loved Sisters, listen to me now, and if you do what I ask you, you will indeed be happy, and my sorrow shall not have been in vain.

--Blessed Mary MacKillop

Monday, August 7, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint John Neumann


Since every man of whatever race is endowed with the dignity of a person, he has an inalienable right to an education corresponding to his proper destiny and suited to his native talents, his cultural background, and his ancestral heritage. At the same time, this education should pave the way to brotherly association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted. For a true education aims at the formation of the human person with respect to the good of those societies of which, as a man, he is a member, and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share.

--Saint John Neumann









Sunday, August 6, 2006

Saint Quote: Blessed Mary MacKillop


Let us all resign ourselves into His hands, and pray that in all things He may guide us to do His Holy Will ... When thoughts of this or that come I turn to Him and say: "Only what you will, my God. Use me as You will".

--Blessed Mary MacKillop







Saturday, August 5, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Vincent Palloti


Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.

--Saint Vincent Pallotti

Thanks to Danielle!









Friday, August 4, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint John Vianney


All our religion is but a false religion, and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God, if we have not that universal charity for everyone - for the good, and for the bad, for the poor and for the rich, and for all those who do us harm as much as those who do us good.

--Saint John Vianney









Thursday, August 3, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Clare of Assisi


He Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, "the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud."

Behold, I say, the birth of this mirror. Behold Christ's poverty even as he was laid in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. What wondrous humility, what marvelous poverty! The King of angels, the Lord of heaven and earth resting in a manger! Look more deeply into the mirror and meditate on his humility, or simply on his poverty. Behold the many labors and sufferings he endured to redeem the human race. Then, in the depths of this very mirror, ponder his unspeakable love which caused him to suffer on the wood of the cross and to endure the most shameful kind of death. The mirror himself, from his position on the cross, warned passers-by to weigh carefully this act, as he said: "All of you who pass by this way, behold and see if there is any sorrow like mine." Let us answer his cries and lamentations with one voice and one spirit: "I will be mindful and remember, and my soul will be consumed within me."

--Saint Clare of Assisi from a letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague









Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Peter Julian Eymard


How kind is our Sacramental Jesus! He welcomes you at any hour of the day or night. His Love never knows rest. He is always most gentle towards you. When you visit Him, He forgets your sins and speaks only of His joy, His tenderness, and His Love. By the reception He gives to you, one would think He has need of you to make Him happy.

--Saint Peter Julian Eymard









Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Saint Quote: Saint Alphonsus Liguori


When we hear people talk of riches, honors and amusements of the world, let us remember that all things have an end, and let us then say: "My God, I wish for You alone and nothing more."

--Saint Alphonsus Liguori