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, December 31, 2014

Saint Cyril of Alexandria Quote



Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both mother and virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course no one could be prevented from living in the house he had built for himself, yet who would invite mockery by asking his own servant to become his mother?

Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

-- Saint Cyril of Alexandria


Saint Teresa of Avila Quote

Saint Teresa of Avila


The highest perfection consists not in interior favors or in great raptures, but in the bringing of our wills so closely into conformity with the Will of God that, as soon as we realize that he wills anything, we desire it ourselves with all our might.

-- Saint Teresa of Avila


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Saint Isidore of Seville 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*

*Trivia Note: Saint Isidore of Seville is the patron of computer technicians, computer users, computers, and the Internet.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Saint Francis de Sales Quote



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


Saturday, December 27, 2014

Saint John the Apostle Quote

Saint John the Apostle


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 from The Gospel of Saint John 3: 16


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Saint Stephen, First Martyr Quote

Saint Stephen First Martyr for Christ


Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

-- Saint Stephen First Martyr for Christ from Acts 7: 55


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Saint Romanos the Melodist Quote (For Christmas)



The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal
And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible.
The angels and shepherds praise him
And the magi advance with the star,
For you are born for us, Little Child, God eternal!

-- Kontakion of Saint Romanos the Melodist


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Saint Augustine of Hippo Quote

Saint Augustine of Hippo


Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened ‘to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come.

Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.

He has become our justice, our sanctification, our redemption, so that, as it is written: Let him who glories glory in the Lord.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo from a sermon


Saint John of the Cross Quote

Saint John of the Cross


In giving us His Son, His only Word, He spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word -- and He has no more to say...because what He spoke before to the prophets in parts, He has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son.

-- Saint John of the Cross


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons Quote

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons


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


Saturday, December 20, 2014

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Quote (On Mary's Fiat)

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux


Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.

Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.

-- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux from a homily


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons Quote

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons


For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.

-- Saint Irenaeus of Lyons


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Saint Aelred of Rievaulx Quote

Saint Aelred of Rievaulx


How I savor it when I see the Lord of all majesty showing himself as far as bodily exertion and human emotion are concerned not like the strong but the weak. What a comfort it is to me in my weakness! Truly this weakness of my Lord without doubt brings me strength and stability in my weakness. I am entrusted with the care of my brother's body and soul (for I do not love the whole man if I neglect anything belonging to either -- for it is very difficult for the mind not to be tempted when the flesh has too much to suffer). If I see him in distress, whether it be on account of the austerity of the food or because of work or the vigils -- if, I say, I see that he is tormented in body and tempted in spirit, if I see him in such affliction and...do not on occasion accommodate myself to the infirmities of the weak I am not running in the fragrance of Christ's ointments but with the harshness of the pharisees.

-- Saint Aelred of Rievaulx

I would appreciate it if you would take the time to read this by clicking here.



Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Saint Romanos the Melodist Quote



For Balaam laid before us precisely
the meaning of the words he spoke in prophecy,
when he said that a Star would dawn,6
a Star that quenches all prophecies and auguries;
a Star that resolves the parables of the wise,
and their sayings and their riddles,
a Star far more brilliant than the star
which has appeared, for he is the maker of all the stars,
of whom it was written of old, ‘From Jacob, there dawns
a little Child, God before the ages.’”

-- Saint Romanos the Melodist


I would appreciate it if you could take the time to read this by clicking here.


Monday, December 15, 2014

Saint Nicasius of Rheims Quote

Saint Nicasius of Rheims


Let us abide the mercy of God and pray for our enemies. I am ready to give myself for my people.

-- Saint Nicasius of Rheims


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Saint John of the Cross Quote



At the end of your life, you will be judged by your love.

-- Saint John of the Cross





Friday, December 12, 2014

Saint Lucy of Syracuse Quote

Saint Lucy of Syracuse


Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit.

-- Saint Lucy of Syracuse


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Saint María Maravillas de Jesús Quote

Saint María Maravillas de Jesús


I felt that this is the Carmelite's way, imitating Mary, how we must grow less, to be truly poor, self-sacrificing, humble, nothing. I felt quite deeply how Jesus gives us in His own life continual examples of sacrifice, of humiliation, of making ourselves small, yet we do not understand. I felt His mercy and zeal for souls in this way, that here is the strength that can take hold of our life through His mercy. By His grace, may I, who am so absolutely poor in everything, be well able to imitate Him in this with more ease than other creatures.

-- Saint María Maravillas de Jesús


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Saint Eustace White Quote



The morrow after Simon and Jude’s day I was hanged at the wall from the ground, my manacles fast locked into a staple as high as I could reach upon a stool: the stool taken away where I hanged from a little after 8 o’clock in the morning till after 4 in the afternoon, without any ease or comfort at all, saving that Topcliffe came in and told me that the Spaniards were come into Southwark by our means: ‘For lo, do you not hear the drums’ (for then the drums played in honour of the Lord Mayor). The next day after also I was hanged up an hour or two: such is the malicious minds of our adversaries.

-- Saint Eustace White in a letter written to Father Henry Garnet from prison, November 23, 1591.


Saint Vincent of Lerins Quote

Saint Vincent of Lerins


What then shall the Catholic do if some portion of the Church detaches itself from communion of the universal Faith? What other choice can he make – and if some new contagion attempts to poison, no longer a small part of the Church, but the whole Church at once, then his great concern will be to attach himself to antiquity (Tradition) which can no longer be led astray by any lying novelty.

-- Saint Vincent of Lerins


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Saint Anselm of Canterbury Quote (On The Blessed Virgin)

Saint Anselm of Canterbury


To Mary God gave his only-begotten Son, whom he loved as himself. Through Mary God made himself a Son, not different but the same, by nature Son of God and Son of Mary. The whole universe was created by God, and God was born of Mary. God created all things, and Mary gave birth to God. The God who made all things gave himself form through Mary, and thus he made his own creation. He who could create all things from nothing would not remake his ruined creation without Mary.

God, then, is the Father of the created world and Mary the mother of the re-created world. God is the Father by whom all things were given life, and Mary the mother through whom all things were given new life. For God begot the Son, through whom all things were made, and Mary gave birth to him as the Savior of the world. Without God’s Son, nothing could exist; without Mary’s Son, nothing could be redeemed.

Truly the Lord is with you, to whom the Lord granted that all nature should owe as much to you as to himself.

-- Saint Anselm of Canterbury from a sermon


Saint Ambrose of Milan Quote

Saint Ambrose of Milan


Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that you may charm the ears of people. And by the grace of your words win them over to follow your leadership. Solomon says: “The weapons of the understanding are the lips of the wise”; and in another place he says: “Let your lips be bound with wisdom.” That is, let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.

-- Saint Ambrose of Milan


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Saint John Almond Quote

Saint John Almond


To use this life well is the pathway through death to everlasting life.

-- Saint John Almond


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Saint John of Damascus Quote

Saint John of Damascus


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


Saint Francis Xavier Quote

Saint Francis Xavier


It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the “two P’s” seriously: prayer and penance.

-- Saint Francis Xavier


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Saint Chromatius of Aquileia Quote

Saint Chromatius of Aquileia


You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp only to put it under a bushel basket; they put it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. The Lord called his disciples to salt of the earth because they seasoned with heavenly wisdom the hearts of men, rendered insipid by the devil. Now he calls them the fight of the world as well, because they have been enlightened by him, the true and everlasting light, and have themselves become a light in the darkness. Since he is the Sun of Justice, he fittingly calls his disciples the light of the world. The reason for this is that through them, as through shining rays, he has poured out the light of the knowledge of himself upon the entire world.

-- Saint Chromatius of Aquileia from a treatise on the Gospel of Saint Matthew


Sunday, November 30, 2014

Saint Edmund Campion Quote



And touching our Society, be it known to you that we have made a league - all the Jesuits in the world - cheerfully to carry the cross you shall lay upon us, and never to despair your recovery, while we have a man left to enjoy your Tyburn, or to be racked with your torments or consumed with your prisons. The expense is reckoned, the enterprise is begun; it is of God, it cannot be withstood. So the faith was planted; so it must be restored.

-- Saint Edmund Campion


Saturday, November 29, 2014

Saint John Chrysostom Quote



After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother Peter. Notice what Andrew said to him: “We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ.” Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce to great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, loving kinship and sincere affection.

-- Saint John Chrysostom from a homily on the Gospel of John


Saint John Eudes Quote



We must continue to accomplish in ourselves the stages of Jesus' life and his mysteries and often to beg him to perfect and realize them in us and in his whole Church. . . . For it is the plan of the Son of God to make us and the whole Church partake in his mysteries and to extend them to and continue them in us and in his whole Church. This is his plan for fulfilling his mysteries in us.

-- Saint John Eudes


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Saint Catherine Laboure Quote

Saint Catherine Laboure


Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do’ . . . And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.

-- Saint Catherine Laboure


Saint Louis IX Quote



In prosperity, give thanks to God with humility and fear lest by pride you abuse God's benefits and so offend him.

-- Saint Louis IX


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Saint Leonard of Port Maurice Quote

Saint Leonard of Port Maurice


Sinners, the advice I want to give you will no doubt seem strange to you; but if you understand it well, it is, on the contrary, inspired by tender compassion toward you. I implore you on my knees, by the blood of Christ and by the Heart of Mary, change your life, come back to the road that leads to heaven, and do all you can to belong to the little number of those who are saved. If, instead of this, you want to continue walking on the road that leads to hell, at least find a way to erase your baptism. Woe to you if you take the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the sacred character of the Christian engraved upon your soul into hell! Your chastisement will be all the greater. So do what I advise you to do: if you do not want to convert, go this very day and ask your pastor to erase your name from the baptismal register, so that there may not remain any remembrance of your ever having been a Christian; implore your Guardian Angel to erase from his book of graces the inspirations and aids he has given you on orders from God, for woe to you if he recalls them! Tell Our Lord to take back His faith, His baptism, His sacraments.

You are horror-struck at such a thought? Well then, cast yourself at the feet of Jesus Christ and say to Him, with tearful eyes and contrite heart: "Lord, I confess that up till now I have not lived as a Christian. I am not worthy to be numbered among Your elect. I recognize that I deserve to be damned; but Your mercy is great and, full of confidence in Your grace, I say to You that I want to save my soul, even if I have to sacrifice my fortune, my honor, my very life, as long as I am saved. If I have been unfaithful up to now, I repent, I deplore, I detest my infidelity, I ask You humbly to forgive me for it. Forgive me, good Jesus, and strengthen me also, that I may be saved. I ask You not for wealth, honor or prosperity; I ask you for one thing only, to save my soul."

And You, O Jesus! What do You say? O Good Shepherd, see the stray sheep who returns to You; embrace this repentant sinner, bless his sighs and tears, or rather bless these people who are so well disposed and who want nothing but their salvation. Brothers, at the feet of Our Lord, let us protest that we want to save our soul, cost what it may. Let us all say to Him with tearful eyes, "Good Jesus, I want to save my soul," O blessed tears, O blessed sighs!

-- Saint Leonard of Port Maurice from a sermon

Note: To read this entire powerful sermon by Saint Leonard of Port Maurice click the link below:

http://olrl.org/snt_docs/fewness.shtml



Monday, November 24, 2014

Saint John Eudes Quote

Saint John Eudes


The air which we breathe, the bread which we eat, the heart which throbs in our bosoms, are not more necessary for man that he may live as a human being, than is prayer for the Christian that he may live as a Christian.

-- Saint John Eudes


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Saint John Climacus Quote

Saint John Climacus


Do not condemn, even with your eyes, for they are often deceived.

-- Saint John Climacus


Friday, November 21, 2014

Saint John Baptist de la Salle Quote

Saint John Baptist de la Salle


Guard your eyes that they may not look upon anything contrary to purity; your ears, that they may not listen to evil conversation; your mind, by banishing from it all suggestive thoughts; your heart, by stifling impure desires at their very birth.

-- Saint John Baptist de la Salle


Saint Francis of Assisi Quote

Saint Francis of Assisi


O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-- Saint Francis of Assisi


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Saint Gregory Nazianzen Quote

Saint Gregory Nazianzen


Stay with us Lord, because our souls are full of darkness and you are the one true light; you alone can satisfy the longings that consume us. For we know that above everything that is beautiful and good, the greatest is this; to possess you forever , O Lord.

-- Saint Gregory Nazianzen


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Saint Raphael Kalinowski Quote

Saint Raphael Kalinowski


I keep my eyes fixed on Eternity, and from this source I draw constancy in the midst of the confusion of daily life. God empties my heart of all natural attachments, probably to fill it with things more pure, of which nothing surpasses the desire to do good to my neighbor. I like to find at least a few moments each day spent in doing good for others out of love for God. These few moments, almost unnoticeably used, bring something like rays of peace and comfort behind them. They unite us with people and God with purity and sweetness.

-- Saint Raphael Kalinowski


Monday, November 17, 2014

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Quote

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne


He will never let the trial surpass the strength He gives you, and at the very moment you think yourself overwhelmed by sorrow, He will lift you up and give you peace.

-- Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Saint Augustine of Hippo Quote

Saint Augustine of Hippo


I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo


Saint Gertrude the Great Quote



O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.

-- Saint Gertrude the Great


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Saint Albert the Great Quote

Saint Albert the Great


Do this in remembrance of me.” Two things should be noted here. The first is the command that we should use this sacrament, which is indicated when Jesus says, “Do this.” The second is that this sacrament commemorates the Lord’s going to death for our sake. This sacrament is profitable because it grants remission of sins; it is most useful because it bestows the fullness of grace on us in this life. “The Father of spirits instructs us in what is useful for our sanctification.” And his sanctification is in Christ’s sacrifice, that is, when he offers himself in this sacrament to the Father for our redemption to us for our use. Christ could not have commanded anything more beneficial, for this sacrament is the fruit of the tree of life.

-- Saint Albert the Great from a commentary on the Gospel of Luke


Friday, November 14, 2014

Saint Vincent de Paul Quote

Saint Vincent de Paul


Remember that Jesus Christ, referring to the humility of the publican, said that his prayer was heard. If this was said of a man whose life was evil, what may we not hope for if we are really humble?


-- Saint Vincent de Paul

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Quote

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini


I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him.

-- Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc Quote

Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc


Lord, grant me the grace to shed my blood for the unity of the church and in behalf of obedience to the Holy See.

-- Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc


Monday, November 10, 2014

Saint Martin of Tours Quote

Saint Martin of Tours


I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight.

-- Saint Martin of Tours when refusing his commanders orders to participate in a battle


Pope Saint Leo the Great Quote



Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.

-- Pope Saint Leo the Great


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity Quote

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity


I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them to go out of themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself.

-- Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity


Saturday, November 8, 2014

Saint Peter Wu Gousheng Quote

Saint Peter Wu Gousheng


Be loyal to the Lord, accept his will.

-- Saint Peter Wu Gousheng in a letter from prison to his wife