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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Friday, August 31, 2012

Saint Catherine of Siena



Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light, and causes me to know your truth. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love. 

-- Saint Catherine of Siena

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Saint Peter Damian



Let us detach ourselves in spirit from all that we see and cling to that which we believe. This is the cross which we must imprint on all our daily actions and behavior.

-- Saint Peter Damian

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Saint Mark the Ascetic



When Scripture says, 'He will reward every man according to his works' (Matthew 16:27), do not imagine that works in themselves merit either hell or the Kingdom. On the contrary, Christ rewards each man according to whether his works are done with faith or without faith in Himself; and He is not a dealer bound by contract, but God our Creator and Redeemer.

-- Saint Mark the Ascetic

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Saint Bede the Venerable (On Saint John the Baptist)



As forerunner of our Lord’s birth, preaching and death, the blessed John showed in his struggle a goodness worthy of the sight of heaven. In the words of Scripture: Though in the sight of men he suffered torments, his hope is full of immortality. We justly commemorate the day of his birth with a joyful celebration, a day which he himself made festive for us through his suffering and which he adorned with the crimson splendour of his own blood. We do rightly revere his memory with joyful hearts, for he stamped with the seal of martyrdom the testimony which he delivered on behalf of our Lord.

-- Saint Bede the Venerable  from a homily on the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

Monday, August 27, 2012

Saint Augustine of Hippo



Conquer yourself and the world lies at your feet. 

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Saint Monica




Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in this world. I did have one reason for wanting to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic Christian before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?

-- Saint Monica to her son Saint Augustine of Hippo

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Pope Saint Leo the Great



God decreed that all nations should be saved in Christ. 

-- Pope Saint Leo the Great

Friday, August 24, 2012

Saint Louis IX



Be devout and obedient to our mother the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father. 

-- Saint Louis IX

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Saint Nathanael bar Tolomai



Rabbi: Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel. 

-- Saint Nathanael bar Tolomai from The Gsopel of John 1: 49

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Saint Rose of Lima



Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart. 

-- Saint Rose of Lima

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Saint Francis de Sales



Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence. 

-- Saint Francis de Sales

Monday, August 20, 2012

Pope Saint Pius X



Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven. 

-- Pope Saint Pius X

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux



Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of his love is to be loved, int he knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him. 

-- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux from a sermon

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Saint Francis de Sales



Some torment themselves in seeking means to discover the art of loving God, and do not know - poor creatures - that there is no art or means of loving Him but to love those who love Him - that is, to begin to practice those things which are pleasing to Him. 

-- Saint Francis de Sales

Friday, August 17, 2012

Saint Alphonsus Liguori



Nothing but self-will can separate us from God.

-- Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Saint Mary Hermina of Jesus



Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is half my life. The other half consists in loving Jesus and winning souls for Him. 

-- Saint Mary Hermina of Jesus


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Saint Stephen of Hungary



My beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at every time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow-countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way you will reach the highest state of happiness. Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak. 

-- Saint Stephen of Hungary to his son

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Blessed Virgin Mary


The Magnificat


My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

-- The Blessed Virgin Mary from The Gospel of Luke 1: 46 - 55













Monday, August 13, 2012

Saint Maximilian Kolbe



No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves? 

-- Saint Maximilian Kolbe in the last issue of the Knight

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Saint John Eudes




Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desires, and his disposition live and reign there. All our religious exercises should be directed to this end. It is the work which God has given us to do unceasingly.

-- Saint John Eudes

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque




But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him. 

-- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Friday, August 10, 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

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Saint Augustine of Hippo (On Saint Lawrence)




As you have often heard, Lawrence was a deacon of the Church at Rome. There he ministered the sacred blood of Christ; there for the sake of Christ’s name he poured out his own blood. Saint John the apostle was evidently teaching us about the mystery of the Lord’s supper when he wrote: “Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” My brethren, Lawrence understood this and, understanding, he acted on it. In his life he loved Christ; in his death he followed in his footsteps.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo from a sermon on Saint Lawrence

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)



One cannot desire freedom from the Cross when one is especially chosen for the Cross. 

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

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Saint Dominic de Guzman



Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes. 

-- Saint Dominic de Guzman

Monday, August 6, 2012

Saint Vincent Pallotti




Not the goods of the world, but God.
Not riches, but God.
Not honors, but God.
Not distinction, but God.
Not dignities, but God.
Not advancement, but God.
God always and in everything. 

-- Saint Vincent Pallotti

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Pope Saint Leo the Great




This marvel of the transfiguration contains another lesson for the apostles, to strengthen them and lead them into the fullness of knowledge. Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, appeared with the Lord in conversation with him. This was in order to fulfil exactly, through the presence of these five men, the text which says: Before two or three witnesses every word is ratified. What word could be more firmly established, more securely based, than the word which is proclaimed by the trumpets of both old and new testaments, sounding in harmony, and by the utterances of ancient prophecy and the teaching of the Gospel, in full agreement with each other?

The writings of the two testaments support each other. The radiance of the transfiguration reveals clearly and unmistakably the one who had been promised by signs foretelling him under the veils of mystery. As Saint John says: The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In him the promise made through the shadows of prophecy stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law. He is the one who teaches the truth of the prophecy through his presence, and makes obedience to the commandments possible through grace.

In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.

-- Pope Saint Leo the Great from a homily on The Transfiguration

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Saint Louis de Montfort



The Our Father contains all the duties we owe to God, the acts of all the virtues and the petitions for all our spiritual and corporal needs.

-- Saint Louis de Montfort

Friday, August 3, 2012

Saint John Mary Vianney



Prayer is nothing else but union with God. In this intimate union, God and the soul are fused together like two bits of wax that no one can ever pull apart. This union of God with a tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is a happiness beyond understanding. 

-- Saint John Mary Vianney

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Pope Saint Gregory the Great



As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

-- Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Saint Peter Julian Eymund



If the love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament does not win our hearts, Jesus is vanquished! Our ingratitude is greater than His Goodness our malice is more powerful than His Charity. 

-- Saint Peter Julian Eymund