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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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Saint Catherine of Genoa



When gold has been purified up to twenty-four carats, it can no longer be consumed by any fire; not gold itself but only dross can be burnt away. Thus the divine fire works in the soul: God holds the soul in the fire until its every imperfection is burnt away and it is brought to perfection, as it were to the purity of twenty-four carats, each soul however according to its own degree. When the soul has been purified it stays wholly in God, having nothing of self in it; its being is in God who has led this cleansed soul to Himself; it can suffer no more for nothing is left in it to be burnt away; were it held in the fire when it has thus been cleansed, it would feel no pain. Rather the fire of divine love would be to it like eternal life and in no way contrary to it.

-- Saint Catherine of Genoa

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Saint John of Damascus



The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: 'But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....' Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory.

--Saint John of Damascus 

Monday, October 29, 2012

Saint John Mary Vianney



My little children, your hearts, are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God. Through prayer we receive a foretaste of heaven and something of paradise comes down upon us. Prayer never leaves us without sweetness. It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet. When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun.

-- Saint John Mary Vianney

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez



In the difficulties which are placed before me, why should I not act like a donkey? When one speaks ill of him — the donkey says nothing. When he is mistreated — he says nothing. When he is forgotten — he says nothing. When no food is given him — he says nothing. When he is made to advance — he says nothing. When he is despised — he says nothing. When he is overburdened — he says nothing... The true servant of God must do likewise, and say with David: Before You I have become like a beast of burden.

-- Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Saint Jude Thaddeus



But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for they told you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires." These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in the most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit..Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 

-- Saint Jude Thaddeus

Friday, October 26, 2012

Blessed Titus Brandsma



He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it.

-- Blessed Titus Brandsma

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Saint Dominic Savio


Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well, who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him.

-- Saint Dominic Savio

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Saint Caedmon



Now we should praise the heaven-kingdom's guardian,
the measurer's might and his mind-conception,
work of the glorious father,
as he each wonder,
eternal Lord,
instilled at the origin.

He first created for men's sons heaven as a roof,
holy creator;
then, middle-earth,
mankind's guardian,
eternal Lord,
afterward made
the earth for men,
father almighty.

-- Saint Caedmon

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Saint Alban Roe



My Saviour has suffered far more for me than all that; and I am willing to suffer the worst of torments for his sake.

-- Saint Alban Roe


Butler's Lives of the Saints
Butler's Lives of the Saints


Monday, October 22, 2012

Saint Anthony Mary Claret



For myself, I say this to you: The man who burns with the fire of divine love is a son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and wherever he goes, he enkindles that flame; he deserves and works with all this strength to inflame all men with the fire of God's love. Nothing deters him: he rejoices in poverty; he labors strenuously; he welcomes hardships; he laughs off false accusations; he rejoices in anguish. He thinks only of how he might follow Jesus Christ and imitate him by his prayers, his labors, his sufferings, and by caring always and only for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

-- Saint Anthony Mary Claret


The Book of Saints
Book of All Saints

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Saint John of Capistrano



Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life. They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice. Their upright lives must make them like the salt of the earth for themselves and for the rest of mankind. The brightness of their wisdom must make them like the light of the world that brings light to others. They must learn from their eminent teacher, Jesus Christ, what he declared not only to his apostles and disciples, but also to all the priests and clerics who were to succeed them, when he said, "You are the salt of the earth. But what is salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

Jesus also said: "You are the light of the world." Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view. So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics. By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them. They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord.

-- Saint John of Capistrano

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Saint Peter of Alcantara



The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.

-- Saint Peter of Alcantara

Friday, October 19, 2012

Saint Epiphanius of Salamis



But those who say that there was a time when the Son or the Holy Spirit was not, or was made out of nothing or of another substance or essence, who say the Son of God or the Holy Spirit is liable to change or to becoming different, these people the Catholic and Apostolic Church, your Mother and ours, anathematizes; and again we anathematize those who do not confess the resurrection of the dead, and all heresies which are not consistent with this, the true faith. 

-- Saint Epiphanius of Salamis

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Saint Paul of the Cross



Therefore, be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will. 

-- Saint Paul of the Cross from a letter by him


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Saint Isaac Jogues



My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. 

-- Saint Isaac Jogues 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Saint Luke the Evangelist



The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.

-- Saint Luke the Evangelist from The Acts of the Apostles 1: 1 - 4

Monday, October 15, 2012

Saint Ignatius of Antioch



I thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honor me with a perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound with iron chains, like Thy Apostle Paul.

-- Saint Ignatius of Antioch


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque



Are you making no progress in prayer? Then you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: "My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions." Continue to do this in every circumstance of life. 

-- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Saint Anthony of Padua



The life of the body is the soul; the life of the soul is God.

-- Saint Anthony of Padua


Friday, October 12, 2012

Saint Louise de Marillac



Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself. 

-- Saint Louise de Marillac 


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Saint Mary Joseph Rossello



Go to Jesus. He loves you and is waiting for you to give you many graces. He is on the altar surrounded by angels adoring and praying. Let them make some room for you and join them in doing what they do.

-- Saint Mary Joseph Rossello

Saint Polycarp of Smyrna



I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal priest of heaven, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Through him by glory to you, together with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. 
                         
-- Saint Polycarp of Smyrna

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pope Blessed John XXIII



Christianity is the meeting-point of earth and heaven. It lays claim to the whole man, body and soul, intellect and will, inducing him to raise his mind above the changing conditions of this earthly existence and reach upwards for the eternal life of heaven, where one day he will find his unfailing happiness and peace.

-- Pope Blessed John XXIII

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Saint Francis Borgia



We must perform all our works in God and refer them to his glory so that they will be permanent and stable. Everyone—whether kings, nobles, tradesmen or peasants—must do all things for the glory of God and under the inspiration of Christ’s example.

-- Saint Francis Borgia from a letter

Monday, October 8, 2012

Blessed John Henry Newman



I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has;
whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man,
God knows me and calls me by my name.
God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission–I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes,
as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his
–if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good, I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end,
which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it;
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends,
He may throw me among strangers,
He may make me feel desolate,
make my spirits sink, hide the future from me
–still He knows what He is about.

-- Blessed John Henry Newman

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Saint Mark the Ascetic



Faith consists not only of being baptized in Christ, but also in fulfilling His commandments. Holy Baptism is perfect and gives us perfection, but does not make perfect those who do not follow the commandments. 

-- Saint Mark the Ascetic

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Saint Athanasius the Great



The Word who became all things for us is close to us, our Lord Jesus Christ who promises to remain with us always. He cries out, saying: See, I am with you all the days of this age. He is himself the shepherd, the high priest, the way and the door, and has become all things at once for us. 

-- Saint Athanasius the Great

Friday, October 5, 2012

Saint Bruno




Rejoice, my dearest brothers, because you are blessed and because of the bountiful hand of God's grace upon you. Rejoice, because you have escaped the various dangers and shipwrecks of the stormy world. Rejoice because you have reached the quiet and safe anchorage of a secret harbor. Many wish to come into this port, and many make great efforts to do so, yet do not achieve it. Indeed many, after reaching it, have been thrust out, since it was not granted them from above. 

-- Saint Bruno from a letter to the Carthusians

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska



Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to a soul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul with God. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist in the close union of my will with the will of God.

-- Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska from her diary "Divine Mercy in my Soul"

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Saint Francis of Assisi



Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which Jesus has levied upon us. 

-- Saint Francis of Assisi

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Saint Clare of Assisi



Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me. 

-- Saint Clare of Assisi

Monday, October 1, 2012

Saint Augustine of Hippo



Mary is more blessed because she embraces faith in Christ than because she conceives the flesh of Christ.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo