Saint Quote: Saint Bonaventure on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Eternal and inaccessible fountain, clear and sweet stream flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom your depths nor survey your boundaries, none can measure your breadth, nothing can sully your purity. From you flows the river which gladdens the city of God and makes us cry out with joy and thanksgiving in hymns of praise to you, for we know by our own experience that with you is the source of life, and in your light we see light.

– Saint Bonaventure from a work on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, font of sacramental graces and living water.

Saint Bonaventure's patronage: Bagnoregio, Italy; against intestinal problems; Cochiti Indian Pueblo; Saint Bonaventure University, New York.

Saint Quote: Saint Marianne Cope

I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen Ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders... I am not afraid of any disease, hence it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned ‘lepers.’

– Saint Marianne Cope

Saint Marianne Cope's patronage: Lepers; outcasts; those with HIV/AIDS; Hawaii.

Saint Quote: Saint Marcellin Champagnat

Let there be among you just one heart and one mind. Let it always be said of the Little Brothers of Mary as it was of the early Christians: See how they love one another!

– Saint Marcellin Champagnat from his Spiritual Testament of May 18, 1840

Saint Marcellin Champagnat's patronage: Education; teachers.

Saint Quote: Saint Boniface

Let us pray the gracious defender of our life, the only sure refuge of those in trouble, that His right hand may keep us safe amidst these dens of wolves, and that He may guard us from harm, so that the footsteps of apostates walking in darkness may not be found, where should be the beautiful feet of those who carry the peaceful light of the gospel, but that the most gracious Father and God may help us to gird up our loins, with bright candles in our hands, and that He may enlighten the hearts of the heathen to gaze at the glorious gospel of Christ. Amen.

– Saint Boniface from a prayer attributed to him

Saint Boniface's patronage: Brewers; file-cutters; tailors; Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, Canada; Diocese of Fulda, Germany; Germany; Prussia.

Saint Quote: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Church Father and Doctor of the Church

God appeals to us in his mercy to avoid having to punish us in his severity. Listen to the Lord’s appeal: In me, I want you to see your own body, your members, your heart, your bones, your blood. You may fear what is divine, but why not love what is human? You may run away from me as the Lord, but why not run to me as your father? Perhaps you are filled with shame for causing my bitter passion. Do not be afraid. This cross inflicts a mortal injury, not on me, but on death. These nails no longer pain me, but only deepen your love for me. I do not cry out because of these wounds, but through them I draw you into my heart. My body was stretched on the cross as a symbol, not of how much I suffered, but of my all-embracing love. I count it no less to shed my blood: it is the price I have paid for your ransom. Come, then, return to me and learn to know me as your father, who repays good for evil, love for injury, and boundless charity for piercing wounds.

– Saint Peter Chrysologus from a sermon

Saint Peter Chrysologus' patronage: Against fever; against mad dogs.

Saint Quote: Saint Justin Martyr

As by the Word of God, Jesus our Savior was made Flesh and had both Flesh and Blood for our salvation, so also the food which has been blessed by the word of prayer instituted by Him is both the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Incarnate.

– Saint Justin Martyr

Saint Justin Martyr's patronage: Apologists; lecturers; orators; philosophers; speakers.

Saint Quote: Saint Bede the Venerable On "The Visitation"

"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. Then she recalls God’s universal favors, bestowed unceasingly on the human race.

When a man devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God’s greatness. His observance of God’s commands, moreover, shows that he has God’s power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his savior and delights in the mere recollection of his creator who gives him hope for eternal salvation.

These words are often for all God’s creations, but especially for the Mother of God. She alone was chosen, and she burned with spiritual love for the son she so joyously conceived. 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.

– Saint Bede the Venerable

Saint Bede the Venerable's patronage: Lectors; English writers and historians.