Saint Jerome

That which nature possesses not, which custom uses not, which eclipses reason, which the mind of man is unable to compass, which makes the heavens tremble, and strikes dumb the earth, which amazes every inhabitant of Heaven, all this was divinely announced by Gabriel to Mary, and was fulfilled in Christ.

-- Saint Jerome

Saint Jeanne de Chantal

We should go to prayer with deep humility and an awareness of our nothingness. We must invoke the help of the Holy Spirit and that of our good angel, and then remain still in God's presence, full of faith that He is more in us than we are in ourselves. 

-- Saint Jeanne de Chantal

Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

God does not ask of us the perfection of tomorrow, nor even of tonight, but only of the present moment. 

-- Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

Saint Charles of Sezze

God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. 

-- Saint Charles of Sezze

Saint Augustine of Hippo

God had only One Son without sin, but never one without suffering.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Blessed Mary Frances Schervier

"You are my friends if you do what I command you.... I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another." (John 15:14,17) If we do this faithfully and zealously, we will experience the truth of the words of our father Saint Francis who says that love lightens all difficulties and sweetens all bitterness. We will likewise partake of the blessing which Saint Francis promised to all his children, both present and future, after having admonished them to love one another even as he had loved them and continues to love them. 

-- Blessed Mary Frances Schervier

Saint John of the Cross

It is a matter of real sorrow when God has given those strength to break stronger fetters, those of vanity and sin, that they neglect their own progress and the attainment of such great blessings because they will not detach themselves from trifles. Not only do they not advance, they fall back. For it is well known that on the spiritual road not to go on overcoming self is to go backwards, and not to increase our gain is to lose.As wood can never be transformed into fire if one necessary degree of heat is missing, so the soul that has even one imperfection can never be perfectly transformed in God.

-- Saint John of the Cross