Pope Saint Clement I

Charity unites us to God. There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect. 

-- Pope Saint Clement I

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Whatever was done, therefore, in the crucifixion of Christ, his burial, his resurrection on the third day, his ascension into heaven, his being seated at the Father’s right hand – all these things were done thus, that they might not only signify their mystical meanings but also serve as a model for the Christian life which we lead here on the earth. Thus, of his crucifixion it was said, “And they that are Jesus Christ’s have crucified their own flesh, with the passions and lusts thereof” ; and of his burial, “For we are buried with Christ by baptism into death”; of his resurrection, “Since Christ is raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk with him in newness of life”; of his ascension and session at the Father’s right hand: “But if you have risen again with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” 

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo from his Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love

Easter Prayer by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son. Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness. You cleared away the darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection. You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror. You reconciled Heaven and earth. Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us. Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy. How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!

We pray You, Lord, to preserve Your servants in the peaceful enjoyment of this Easter happiness. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with God The Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

-- Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Saint Melito of Sardis

The Lord, though he was God, became man.

He suffered for the sake of whose who suffer, he was bound for those in bonds, condemned for the guilty, buried for those who lie in the grave; but he rose from the dead, and cried aloud: “Who will contend with me?

Let him confront me.”

I have freed the condemned, brought the dead back to life, raised men from their graves.

Who has anything to say against me?

I, he said, am the Christ; I have destroyed death, triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot, bound the strong one, and taken men up to the heights of heaven: I am the Christ.

Come, then, all you nations of men, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you.

I am your forgiveness.

I am the Passover that brings salvation.

I am the lamb who was immolated for you.

I am your ransom, you life, your resurrection, you light, I am your salvation and your king.

I will bring you to the heights of heaven.

With my own right hand I will raise you up, and I will show you the eternal Father.

-- Saint Melito of Sardis from a letter by him

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.

-- Saint Ignatius of Loyola

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 

Saint Clare of Assisi

Note: Due to severe weather, my wireless internet connection was unavailable, and I was unable to post to any of my blogs. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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

Saint Toribio Romo González

Christ said, 'I am the Truth'; he did not say 'I am the custom.'

-- Saint Toribio Romo González

Saint Dismas

Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation. And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

-- Saint Dismas from Luke 23: 40 - 42

Saint Maximus the Confessor

To harbor no envy, no anger, no resentment against an offender is still not to have charity for him. It is possible, without any charity, to avoid rendering evil for evil. But to render, spontaneously, good for evil - such belongs to a perfect spiritual love. 

-- Saint Maximus the Confessor

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Whoever, then, loves his neighbor aright, ought to urge upon him that he too should love God with his whole heart, and soul, and mind. For in this way, loving his neighbor as himself, a man turns the whole current of his love both for himself and his neighbor into the channel of the love of God, which suffers no stream to be drawn off from itself by whose diversion its own volume would be diminished. 

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Saint Serapion the Scholastic

The mind is purified by spiritual knowledge (or by holy meditation and prayer), the spiritual passions of the soul by charity, and the irregular appetites by abstinence and penance.

-- Saint Serapion the Scholastic

Saint Vincent Pallotti

You must be holy in the way that God asks you to be holy. God does not ask you to be a Trappist monk or a hermit. He wills that you sanctify the world and your everyday life. 

-- Saint Vincent Pallotti

Saint Bernadine of Siena On Saint Joseph

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand. This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord, and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying “Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

-- Saint Bernardine of Siena from a sermon

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

It is not only among us, who are marked with the name of Christ, that the dignity of faith is great; all the business of the world, even of those outside the Church, is accomplished by faith. By faith, marriage laws join in union persons who were strangers to one another. By faith, agriculture is sustained; for a man does not endure the toil involved unless he believes he will reap a harvest. By faith, seafaring men, entrusting themselves to a tiny wooden craft, exchange the solid element of the land for the unstable motion of the waves. Not only among us does this hold true but also, as I have said, among those outside the fold. For though they do not accept the Scriptures but advance certain doctrines of their own, yet even these they receive on faith. 

-- Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Saint John of Avila

Withdraw your heart from the world before God takes your body from it.

-- Saint John of Avila

Saint John of the Cross

O you souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross of the Lord. 

-- Saint John of the Cross

Saint Louise de Marillac

Love the poor and honor them as you would honor Christ Himself.

-- Saint Louise de Marillac

Saint Francis of Assisi

Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread. 

-- Saint Francis of Assisi 

Saint Vincent de Paul

We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God. 

-- Saint Vincent de Paul

Saint John Vianney

I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures. 

-- Saint John Vianney

Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Belief in the Eucharist is a treasure we must seek by submissiveness, preserve by piety, and defend at any cost. Not to believe in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest of misfortunes.

-- Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Saint Colette of of Corbie

If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. 

-- Saint Colette of of Corbie

Saint Mark the Ascetic

Even though knowledge is true, it is still not firmly established if unaccompanied by works. For everything is established by being put into practice. 

-- Saint Mark the Ascetic

Saint Augustine of Hippo

When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrow or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

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 

Saint Chad

God thunders forth from heaven to rouse people to fear the Lord, to call them to remember the future judgment...when God will come in the clouds in great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead. And so we ought to respond to God's heavenly warning with due fear and love so that as often as God disturbs the sky, yet spares us still, we should implore God's mercy, examining the innermost recesses of our hearts and purging out the dregs of our sins, and behave with such caution that we may never deserve to be struck down.

-- Saint Chad