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

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Do not let any occasion of gaining merit pass without taking care to draw some spiritual profit from it; as, for example, from a sharp word which someone may say to you; from an act of obedience imposed against your will; from an opportunity which may occur to humble yourself, or to practice charity, sweetness, and patience. All of these occasions are gain for you, and you should seek to procure them; and at the close of that day, when the greatest number of them have come to you, you should go to rest most cheerful and pleased, as the merchant does on the day when he had had most chance for making money; for on that day business has prospered with him. 

-- Saint Ignatius of  Loyola

Saint Peter Chrysologus

Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ. 

-- Saint Peter Chrysologus

Saint Augustine of Hippo

No one of you should say, "Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!" Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me." 

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Saint Boniface

Let us continue the fight on the day of the Lord. The days of anguish and of tribulation have overtaken us; if God so wills, "let us die for the holy laws of our fathers," so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them. 

-- Saint Boniface

Blessed Maria of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

I want to be holy, loving Jesus in the Eucharist, suffering with Christ Crucified and seeing Christ in my brothers and sisters. 

-- Blessed Maria of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Saint John Damascene

Joachim and Anne, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him. Joachim and Anne, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have borne, as the Lord says: “By their fruits you will know them.” The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during, and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body. Joachim and Anne, how chaste a couple! While leading a devout and holy life in your human nature, you gave birth to a daughter nobler than the angels, whose queen she now is. 

-- Saint John Damascene from a sermon

Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Christian perfection has but one limit, that of having none. 

-- Saint Gregory of Nyssa

Saint John of Avila

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God's glory. Present affliction become the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles God opens his arms in loving, tender friendship. 

That is why he (Christ) tells us that if we want to join him, we shall travel the way he took. It is surely not right that the Son of God should go his way on the path of shame while the sons of men walk the way of worldly honor: "The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant greater than his master." 

-- Saint John of Avila from a letter

Saint Bridget of Sweden

Rejoicing and eternal praise be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, who sent the Holy Spirit into the hearts of your disciples and increased the boundless love of God in their spirits. 

-- Saint Bridget of Sweden from a prayer attributed to her

Saint John Chrysostom

You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,. . . . You dishonor this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. . . . God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful. 

-- Saint John Chrysostom

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi

God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned. 

-- Saint Lawrence of Brindisi 

Saint Gemma Galgani

O my soul, bless Jesus. Never forget the many graces He has given thee. Love that God who so loves thee. Lift thyself up to Him, who has lowered Himself for thee; show thyself as He shows Himself with thee; be clean of heart, be pure. Love thy Jesus, who has lifted thee out of so much misery. Love thy God, bless thy Lord. 

-- Saint Gemma Galgani

Saint John Plessington

But I know it will be said that a priest ordayned by authority derived from the See of Rome is, by the Law of the Nation, to die as a Traytor, but if that be so what must become of all the Clergymen of the Church of England, for the first Protestant Bishops had their Ordination from those of the Church of Rome, or not at all, as appears by their own writers so that Ordination comes derivatively from those now living. 

-- Saint John Plessington, from the gallows as he was about to be martyred

Saint Francis De Sales

I leave you the spirit of liberty - not that which excludes obedience, for that is the liberty of the flesh; but that which excludes restraint, scruple, and worry.

-- Saint Francis De Sales

Saint John Chrysostom

It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but He who was crucified for us, Christ Himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their Power and Grace are God's. This is my body, He says. This word transforms the things offered. 

-- Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Vianney

I turn to you, dear parents, and implore you to imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth.

-- Saint John Vianney

Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

Mary seeks for those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts as her children. 

-- Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

I have deliberated enough. For a long time my decision on what I will do has been made. I have consecrated myself entirely to Jesus, son of Mary, I have chosen Him for husband and He alone will take me for wife.

-- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Beat The Heat

The good Carmelite Monks of Wyoming have some great ways to beat the heat and quench your thirst during this hot weather around the country with their Mystic Monk Coffee iced coffee's and iced teas.

First, there is the new Banana Cream Iced Coffee, a blend of banana's and sweet cream, that the good monks suggest be served over ice with whipped cream. To help you make the iced coffee of your choice there is also available the Bodum Ice Coffee Maker, and double-walled glasses from Bodum to keep your coffee cold for hours. 

If tea is more to your liking, then you'll love their Iced Tea Blend. This is a blend of black tea, black currant leaves and fruit flavor. Each bag makes a full gallon of tea for you to enjoy and share.

So go take a look at these and other great coffee and tea from Mystic Monk Coffee.

Your purchase helps support the monastery of the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and this blogger!

Saint Teresa of the Andes

Let's live intimately united with Him, since one who loves tends to be united with the one loved. The fusing of two souls is done through love. 

-- Saint Teresa of the Andes

Saint Francis of Assisi

Nor did demons crucify him; it is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. 

-- Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Benedict of Narsia

Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration if Divine grace. 

-- Saint Benedict of Narsia

Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

Let us attach ourselves to God alone, and turn our eyes and our hopes to Him. 

-- Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

Saint Paulina of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus

Be humble. Trust always and a great deal in divine Providence; never never must you let yourselves be discouraged, despite contrary winds. I say it again: trust in God and Mary Immaculate; be faithful and forge ahead! 

-- Saint Paulina of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus

Saint Jeanne-Marie Kerguin

Do not be afraid. Death is only God who is passing by. 

-- Saint Jeanne-Marie Kerguin

Saint Nicholas Pieck

We must always serve God with cheerfulness. 

--Saint Nicholas Pieck

Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia

The entire Church must formally pray for (vocations) because the purpose of the prayer to gain vocations must concern all the faithful, every Christian who has at heart the good of souls and, in a particular way, the Bishops who are the shepherds of the spiritual flock and to whom souls are entrusted. They are the living Apostles of Jesus Christ today. 

-- Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia

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. 

-- Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Saint John of the Cross

Those who trust in themselves are worse than the devil!!

-- Saint John of the Cross

Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. He was the only disciple absent; on his return he heard what had happened but refused to believe it. The Lord came a second time; he offered his side for the disbelieving disciple to touch, held out his hands, and showing the scars of his wounds, healed the wound of his disbelief.

Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvellous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

-- Pope Saint Gregory the Great From a HomilyOn Saint Thomas the Apostle

Saint Jose Isabel Flores Varela

God knows I am here. This is his will for me. 

-- Saint Jose Isabel Flores Varela

Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

The denial of personal guilt makes men ready to surrender their liberty. Better it is for a man to realize he has evil tendencies which must be fought and combated in order that his higher self may emerge.

-- Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen