Saint Philip Neri Quote

Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.

– Saint Philip Neri

Saint Philip Neri's patronage: Gravina, Italy; archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; Rome, Italy; United States Army Special Forces; Mandaluyong, Philippines; Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; laughter; humor; and joy

Saint Bede the Venerable Quote

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given. Above all other saints, she alone could truly rejoice in Jesus, her savior, for she knew that he who was the source of eternal salvation would be born in time in her body, in one person both her own son and her Lord. “For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fill with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in him.

– Saint Bede the Venerable from a homily

Saint Bede the Venerable's patronage: lectors; English writers; historians; and Jarrow, England.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons Quote (On Pentecost)

When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.

He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation. The Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ.

Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations.

– Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons’ patronage: archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama.

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman Quote

Right reason, that is, reason rightly exercised, leads the mind to the Catholic faith, and plants it there, and teaches it in all its religious speculations to act under its guidance.

– Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

Saint Francis De Sales Quote

Jesus is the teacher of holiness. I go to Him because I want Him to teach me how to become a Saint. Of what use to me is all I learn in school if I do not become holy?

– Saint Francis De Sales

Saint Francis De Sales’ patronage: against deafness; authors; Baker, Oregon; Catholic press; confessors; *deaf people; educators; journalists (proclaimed on 26 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI); teachers; writers (proclaimed on 26 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI); diocese of Annecy, France; diocese of Baker, Oregon; archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio; diocese of Columbus, Ohio; diocese of Houma-Theibodaux, Louisiana; diocese of Keimoes-Upington, South Africa; diocese of Wilmington, Delaware; Champdepraz, Aosta, Italy; and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

* Saint Francis developed a sign language in order to teach a a young deaf person the catechism. Because of this, he is the patron saint of the deaf.

Blessed Alcuin of York Quote

Remember to care for the soul more than the body, since the former remains, the latter perishes.

– Blessed Alcuin of York