Saint Quote : Saint Jeanne de Chantal

 

 

Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.

-- Saint Jeanne de Chantal

Saint Quote : Saint Mark the Ascetic

 

 

When Scripture says, ‘He will reward every man according to his works’ (Matthew 16:27), do not imagine that works in themselves merit either hell or the Kingdom. On the contrary, Christ rewards each man according to whether his works are done with faith or without faith in Himself; and He is not a dealer bound by contract, but God our Creator and Redeemer.

-- Saint Mark the Ascetic

Saint Quote : Saint Augustine of Hippo

 

 

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.

-- Saint Augustine of Hippo

Saint Quote of the Day : Saint Peter Chrysologus

 

 

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

Saint Quote : Saint Ignatius Loyola

 

 

He is generous even to exhaustion; and what is most wonderful is, that He gives Himself thus entirely, not once only, but every day, if we wish it. Every fresh Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself.

-- Saint Ignatius Loyola

Saint Quote : Saint Bernadette of Lourdes

 

 

Nothing is anything more to me; everything is nothing to me, but Jesus: neither things nor persons, neither ideas nor emotions, neither honor nor sufferings. Jesus is for me honor, delight, heart and soul.

-- Saint Bernadette of Lourdes

Saint Quote : Saint Alphonsus Liguori

 

 

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our redeemer and our supreme good.

Has not God in fact won for himself a claim on all our love? From all eternity he has loved us. And it is in this vein that he speaks to us: "O man, consider carefully that I first loved you. You had not yet appeared in the light of day, not did the world yet exist, but already I loved you. From all eternity I have loved you."

Since God knew that man is enticed by favors, he wished to bind him to his love by means of his gifts: I want to catch men with the snares, those chains of love in which they allow themselves to be entrapped, so that they will love me. And all the gifts which he bestowed on man were given to this end. He gave him a soul, made in his likeness. He endowed him with memory, intellect and will; he gave him a body equipped with the senses. It was for him that he created heaven and earth and such an abundance of things. He made all these things out of love for man, so that all creation might serve man, and man in turn might love God our of gratitude for so many gifts.

But he did not wish to give us only beautiful creatures; the truth is that to win for himself our love, he went so far as to bestow upon us the fullness of himself. The eternal Father went so far as to give us his only Son. When he saw that we were all dead through sin and deprived of his grace, what did he do? He sent his beloved Son to make reparation for us and to call us back to a sinless life.

-- Saint Alphonsus Liguori from a sermon  

Saint Quote : Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Muñoz

 

 

The heart is rich when it is content, and it is always content when its desires are fixed on God.

-- Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Muñoz

Saint Quote : Saint Jerome Emiliani

I urge you to persevere in your love for Christ and your faithful observance of the law of Christ.

Our Goal is God, the source of all good. As we say in our prayer, we are to place our trust in God and in no one else. In his kindness, our Lord wished to strengthen your faith, for without it, as the evangelist points out, Christ could not have performed many of his miracles. He also wished to listen to your prayer, and so he ordained that you experience poverty, distress, abandonment, weariness and scorn.

God alone knows the reasons for all this, yet we can recognize three causes. In the first place, our blessed Lord is telling you that he desires to include you among his beloved sons, provided that you remain steadfast in his ways, for this is the way he treats his friends and makes them holy.

The second reason is that he is asking you to grow continuously in your confidence in him alone and not in others.

Now there is a third reason. God wishes to test you like gold in the furnace. The dross is consumed by the fire, but the pure gold remains and its value increases. It is in this manner than God acts with his good servant, who puts his hope in him and remains unshaken in times of distress. God raises him up and, in return for the things he has left out of love for God, he repays him a hundredfold in this life and with eternal life hereafter.

If then you remain constant in faith in the face of trial, the Lord will give you peace and rest for a time in this world, and for ever in the next.


-- Saint Jerome Emiliani from a letter to his brothers

Saint Quote : Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

If we do not risk anything for God we will never do anything great for Him.

-- Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort in a letter

Saint Quote : Saint Paul Miki

 

 

The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.

-- Saint Paul Miki

About Commenting On All 24 of Faith of the Fathers Blogs

Regular readers of these blogs, may recall that we recently implemented some changes in the layout of these blogs, and that we also started using a new comments managing system from Disqus.

We are very pleased with the disqus system, but we are forced to make a change in the way we utilize it.......Read more by clicking here

Saint Quote : Saint Agatha

 

Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am - you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.

--Saint Agatha

Saint Quote : Saint Aelred

 

 

One who speaks the word of God to others ought not aim at vaunting his own knowledge but at discerning how he can build up his hearers. And with a motherly compassion for weaker minds he ought, I might say,  prattle to them, descending to the use of baby talk. But the limit of my gifts make it necessary that my hearers stoop down to the poverty of my words.

 --Saint Aelred

Saint Quote: Saint Joseph of Leonissa

 

 

Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel. This is what Saint Paul says to the Corinthians, 'Clearly you are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh in the heart' (2 Corinthians 3:3). Our heart is the parchment; through my ministry the Holy Spirit is the writer because 'my tongue is nimble as the pen of a skillful scribe'(Psalms 45:2).

-- from a sermon by Saint Joseph of Leonissa

Saint Quote : Saint John Vianney

 

 

Prayer is nothing else but union with God. In this intimate union, God and the soul are fused together like two bits of wax that no one can ever pull apart. This union of God with a tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is a happiness beyond understanding.

--Saint John Vianney

Saint Quote : Saint Thomas More

 

 

The Devil never runs upon a man to seize him with his claws until he sees him on the ground, already having fallen by his own will.

-- Saint Thomas More

Saint Quote : Saint John Bosco

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them.

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or willfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger.

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized and still others to hope for God's mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

-- Saint John Bosco from a letter

Saint Quote : Saint John of the Cross

 

 

Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.

-- Saint John of the Cross

Saint Quote : Saint Teresa of Avila

 

 

God, deliver me from sullen saints.

--Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Quote : Saint Thomas Aquinas

Most loving Lord, grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may drag downards; an unconquered heart which no hardship may wear out; an upright heart which no worthless purpose may ensnare. Impart to me also, O God, the understanding to know you, the diligence to seek you, a way of life to please you, and a faithfulness that may embrace you, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

--Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Quote : Saint Angela Merici

Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.

--Saint Angela Merici 

Note: She lived from 1474 - 1540. I wonder what she'd think today!

Saint Quote : Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

 

 

What does it matter if my feet, bare and torn, fill my wooden shoes with blood? I would willingly begin the journey all over again, for I have indeed found the good God!

--Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

Saint Quote : Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman

 

 

Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him....He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me to strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me; still He knows what He is about.

-- Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman

Saint Quote : Saint Francis de Sales

 

 

There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.

-- Saint Francis de Sales

Saint Quote : Saint John the Almsgiver

 

 

If we are able to enter the church day and night and implore God to hear our prayers, how careful we should be to hear and grant the petitions of our neighbor in need.

--Saint John the Almsgiver

Saint Quote : Saint Vincent Pallotti

 

 

Eternal Father, it is your will that all should be saved. Great is your mercy. Your Son, Jesus Christ died for all. Teach all people to recognize you and love you. With deep faith in Christ's death and resurrection we pray: Send Forth, O Lord, laborers into your vineyard and spare your people. Eternal Word, Redeemer of all creation, convert all souls to you. You have been obedient for all, even to death on the cross. Look upon the merits of your Mother and of all the angels and saints who intercede for us. Send forth, O Lord, laborers into your vineyard and spare you people. O Holy Spirit, through the infinite merits of our Lord, Jesus Christ, enkindle in all hearts your ardent love that can do all things, that all may be one fold and one shepherd, and that all may arrive in heaven to sing your divine mercy. Queen of Apostles and all the angels and saints, pray to the Lord of the harvest: Send forth, O Lord, laborers into your vineyard and spare your people, that united with you, and the Father and the Holy Spirit, we may all rejoice forever. Amen.

-- Saint Vincent Pallotti, his Apostolic Prayer

Saint Quote : Saint Agnes of Rome

 

 

Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.

--Saint Agnes of Rome

Saint Quote : Saint Peter Julian Eymard

 

 

He loves, He hopes, He waits. If He came down on our altars on certain days only, some sinner, on being moved to repentance, might have to look for Him, and not finding Him, might have to wait. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep him waiting one instant.

 --Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Saint Quote : Saint Vincent de Paul

 

 

 It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer.... Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.

-- Saint Vincent de Paul

Time Is Of The Essence

We are seeing and hearing more and more of the desperate plight of the people in Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

The people of Haiti desperately need our aid and support. You may begin by going to the site for Catholic Relief Services, and making a donation now. If you are not comfortable making a donation online, you may donate to Catholic Relief Services by phone, by calling 1-800-736-3467 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (U.S. and Canada), or you may send a check by mail to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090


You may also go to The Hunger Site, and click on the banner entitled “Earthquake in Haiti - PLEASE HELP NOW”.

This is so important, that this same post is going to be placed on all of the Faith of the Fathers blogs.

Let’s all do what we can. No matter how little it seems, all donations help.

Saint Quote : Saint Jaime Hilario Barbal

 

 

The day you learn to surrender yourself totally to God, you will discover a new world, just as I am experiencing. You will enjoy a peace and a calm unknown, surpassing even the happiest days of your life.

-- Saint Jaime Hilario Barbal

Saint Quote : Saint John Eudes

 

 

We must continue to accomplish in ourselves the stages of Jesus' life and his mysteries and often to beg him to perfect and realize them in us and in his whole Church. . . . For it is the plan of the Son of God to make us and the whole Church partake in his mysteries and to extend them to and continue them in us and in his whole Church. This is his plan for fulfilling his mysteries in us.

--Saint John Eudes

Saint Quote : Saint Teresa of Avila

Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love him. For if at some time the Lord should grant us the grace of impressing his love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and without effort.

--Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Quote : Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

 

 

For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.

-- Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Saint Quote : Pope Saint Pius X

Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make our own the lamentation of the Prophet: "There is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God and man.

-- Pope Saint Pius X

Saint Quote : Saint Peter Claver

 

 

To love God as He ought to be loved, we must be detached from all temporal love. We must love nothing but Him, or if we love anything else, we must love it only for His sake.

-- Saint Peter Claver

Saint Quote : Saint Hilary of Poitiers

For one to attempt to speak of God in terms more precise than He Himself has used: -- to undertake such a thing is to embark upon the boundless, to dare the incomprehensible. He fixed the names of His nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever is sought over and above this is beyond the meaning of words, beyond the limits of perception, beyond the embrace of understanding.

--Saint Hilary of Poitiers on the Holy Trinity

Saint Quote : Saint Margaret Bourgeoys

 

Our Lady's love is like a stream that has its source in the Eternal Fountains, quenches the thirst of all, can never be drained, and ever flows back to its Source.

-- Saint Margaret Bourgeoys 

Saint Quote : Saint Vitalis of Gaza

 

 

Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.

-- Saint Vitalis of Gaza

Saint Quote : Saint Josephine Bakhita

O Lord, if I could fly to my people and tell them of your Goodness at the top of my voice: oh, how many souls would be won!

-- Saint Josephine Bakhita

Saint Quote : Saint Theophilus of Antioch

 

 

If God had drawn the world from preexistent matter, what would be so extraordinary in that? A human artisan makes from a given material whatever he wants, while God shows His power  by starting from nothing to make all He wants.

-- Saint Theophilus of Antioch

Saint Quote : Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis

 

 

We therefore grossly deceive ourselves in not allotting more time to the study of divine truths. It is not enough barely to believe them, and let our thoughts now and then glance upon them: that knowledge which shows us heaven, will not bring us to the possession of it, and will deserve punishments, not rewards, if it remain slight, weak, and superficial.

-- Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis

Saint Quote : Saint Raymond of Penyafort

May the God of love and peace set your hearts at rest and speed you on your journey; may he meanwhile shelter you from disturbance by others in the hidden recesses of his love, until he brings you at last into that place of complete plenitude where you will repose for ever in the vision of peace, in the security of trust, and in the restful enjoyment of his riches.

-- Saint Raymond of Penyafort from a letter

Saint Quote : Saint Justin Martyr

 

An explanation of how repentant sinners are to be freed from their sins is given through the prophet Isaiah in the words: Wash yourselves and be clean. Remove the evil from your souls; learn to do what is right. Be just to the orphan, vindicate the widow. Come, let us reason together, says the Lord. If your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as wool; if they are like crimson, I will make them white as snow.

-- Saint Justin Martyr

Saint Quote : Saint John Nepomucene Neumann

 

A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.

-- Saint John Nepomucene Neumann

Saint Quote : Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

 

What was the first rule of our dear Savior's life? You know it was to do his Father's will. Well, then, the first purpose of our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.

We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.

--Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton from her writings

Saint Quote : Saint Basil the Great

O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity.

-- Saint Basil the Great

Saint Quote : Saint Gregory Nazianzen

God accepts our desires as though they were of great value. He longs ardently for us to desire and love him. He accepts our petitions for benefits as though we were doing him a favor. His joy in giving is greater than ours in receiving. So let us not be apathetic in our asking, nor set too narrow bounds to our requests; nor ask for frivolous things unworthy of God's greatness.

-- Saint Gregory Nazianzen