QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS

QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS

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ABANDONMENT OF SELF TO GOD

Let us throw ourselves into the ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be canceled and anxiety turned into love. -St. Paul of the Cross

ABORTION

A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction between its being completely formed or unformed is not admissible among us. -St. Basil the Great

AFFLICTION

The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance in the next; the more sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future. -St. Isadore of Seville

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. -St. John of the Cross

Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them. -St. Francis de Sales

Tribulation is a gift from God; one that he especially gives His special friends. -St. Thomas More

Comfort in tribulation can be secured only on the sure ground of faith holding as true the words of Scripture and the teaching of the Catholic Church. -St. Thomas More

Without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases. -St. Rose of Lima

AGAINST TEMPTATION

 ”Jesus Christ gave up his life that we might live, therefore, whoever wishes to carry the cross for his sake must take up the proper weapons for the contest, especially those mentioned here. First, diligence; second, distrust of self; third, confidence in God; fourth, remembrance of the Passion; fifth, mindfulness of one’s own death; sixth, remembrance of God’s glory; seventh, the injunctions of Sacred Scripture following the example of Jesus Christ in the desert”. -St. Catharine of Bologna (On the Seven Spiritual Weapons)

 ALMSGIVING

The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor. -St. Basil the Great

The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt. -St. Ambrose of Milan

It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn’t give to someone in greater need than we are. -St. Francis of Assisi

We must give alms. Charity wins souls and draws them to virtue. -St. Angela Merici

 AMBITION

The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of the Angels. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

ANGELS

Make yourself familiar with the Angels, and behold them frequently in spirit. Without being seen, they are present with you. -St. Francis de Sales

Beside each believer stands an Angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life. -St. Basil the Great

When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel. -St. John Bosco

I bind to myself today the power in the love of the Seraphim, in the obedience of the Angels, in the ministration of the Archangels, in the hope of Resurrection unto reward, in the prayers of the Patriarchs, in the predictions of the Prophets, in the preaching of the Apostles, in the faith of the Confessors, in the purity of the holy Virgins, in the deeds of Righteous men. -St. Patrick of Ireland

ANGER

There is no sin nor wrong that gives man such a foretaste of Hell in this life as anger and impatience. -St. Catherine of Siena

You will accomplish more by kind words and a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity. -St. Angela Merici

This deadly cancer of anger from which so much harm grows: It makes us unlike ourselves, makes us like timber wolves or furies from Hell, drives us forth headlong upon the points of swords, makes us blindly run forth after other men’s destruction as we hasten toward our own ruin. -St. Thomas More

From what does such contrariness arise in habitually angry people, but from a secret cause of too high an opinion of themselves so that it pierces their heart when they see any man esteem them less than they esteem themselves? An inflated estimation of ourselves is more than half the weight of our wrath. -St. Thomas More

If we should see two men fighting together over serious matters, we would still think them both crazy if they did not leave off fighting when they saw a ferocious lion coming toward them, ready to devour them both. Now considering that we surely see that death is coming on us all, and will undoubtedly within a short time devour us all—–how soon, we don’t know—–isn’t it worse than insanity to be angry and bear malice to one another, more often than not over trivial matters, in the same way children fight over cherry stones? -St. Thomas More

There is a holy anger, excited by zeal, that moves us to reprove with warmth those whom our mildness failed to correct. -St. John Baptiste de la Salle

 SPIRITUAL ARIDITY

One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion. -St. Francis de Sales

AUTHORITY

It is right to submit to a higher authority whenever a command of God would be violated. -St. Basil the Great

Men desire authority for its own sake that they may bear a rule, command and control other men, and live uncommanded and uncontrolled themselves. -St. Thomas More

 BAD COMPANY

If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate . . . Much harm may result from bad company, and we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse than what is better. -St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Nothing can be more dangerous than keeping wicked companions. They communicate the infection of their vices to all who associate with them. -St. John Baptiste de la Salle

BAPTISM

The Lord was Baptized, not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters, so that those waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin, might have the power of Baptism. -St. Ambrose of Milan

Just as a man cannot live in the flesh unless he is born in the flesh, even so a man cannot have the spiritual life of grace unless he is born again spiritually. This regeneration is effected by Baptism: “Unless a man is born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” [Jn 3:5]. -St. Thomas Aquinas

BEAUTY

Christ has made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him Whom the Angels serve. -St. Agnes

BELIEF

We can’t have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves. -St. Thomas Aquinas

BITTERNESS

 The recollection of an injury is . . . a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. -St. Francis

 BOOKS

Never read books you aren’t sure about . . . even supposing that these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: Would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup? -St. John Bosco

CHARITY

True virtue has no limits, but goes on and on, and especially holy charity, which is the virtue of virtues, and which having a definite object, would become infinite if it could meet with a heart capable of infinity. -St. Francis de Sales

It can only be disgraceful for some Christians to snore while other Christians are in peril. -St. Thomas More

Charity is that with which no one is lost, and without which no one is saved. -St. Robert Bellermine

The school of Christ is the school of charity. On the last day, when the general examination takes place, there will be no question at all on the text of Aristotle, the aphorisms of Hippocrates, or the paragraphs of Justinian. Charity will be the whole syllabus. -St. Robert Bellermine

CHILDREN

You can do nothing with children unless you win their confidence and love by bringing them into touch with yourself, by breaking through all the hindrances that keep them at a distance. We must accommodate ourselves to their tastes, we must make ourselves like them. -St. John Bosco

Both the raven and the ape think their own young the fairest. -St. Thomas More

Children should never be taken to church in dress that would not be thought good enough for appearing before company. -St. John Baptiste de la Salle

CHRIST

When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking of Christ. -St. Ambrose of Milan

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left, Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting, Christ in rising up, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. -St. Patrick of Ireland

If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way. -St. Thomas Aquinas

This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Mount Calvary is the academy of love. -St. Francis de Sales

I bind myself today
The might of the Incarnation of Christ with that of His Baptism,
The might of His Crucifixion with that of His Burial,
The might of His Resurrection with that of His Ascension,
The might of His Coming on the Judgment Day. -St. Patrick of Ireland

The Church has always taught that all our penance without Christ’s passion is not worth a pea. -St. Thomas More

Here learn the science of the Saints: All is to be found in the passion of Jesus. Make every effort to remain hidden in the wounds of Jesus, and you will be enriched with every good and every true light, enabling you to fly to that Perfection which is consonant with your way of life. -St. Paul of the Cross

The passion of Jesus is a sea of sorrows, but it is also an ocean of love. Ask the Lord to teach you to fish in this ocean. Dive into its depths. No matter how deep you go, you will never reach the bottom. -St. Paul of the Cross

Make a little bouquet of the sufferings of Jesus and carry them in the bosom of the soul. -St. Paul of the Cross

The Child, the Lord Jesus Christ . . . Word in our flesh, Wisdom in infancy, Power in weakness, and in true Man, the Lord of Majesty. -Pope St. Leo the Great

 CHRISTMAS

Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ. -St. Paul of the Cross

 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

There is but one Church in which men find salvation, just as outside the ark of Noah it was not possible for anyone to be saved. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members; even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church. -St. Thomas Aquinas

I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself. -St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . .Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Since the Church began aiming more at temporal things than at spiritual, things have gone from bad to worse. -St. Catherine of Siena Comfort

Either Christ has a Church in the world continually and until the end of the world, or else He has a Church sometimes, and sometimes not at all. Could we think that He had a Church while He was here Himself, and perhaps awhile after, but mysteriously none since? . . . No . . . that can in no way be, since He must necessarily still preserve His Church somewhere; otherwise, how could He be with His followers continually until the end of the world? -St. Thomas More

 DAILY COMMUNION

If it is “daily bread,” why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year. -St. Ambrose of Milan

If someone knows from experience that daily Communion increases fervor without lessening reverence, then let him go every day. But if someone finds that reverence is lessened and devotion not much increased, then let him sometimes abstain, so as to draw near afterwards with better dispositions. -St. Thomas Aquinas

COMMUNION OF SAINTS

What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things? -Pope St. Gregory the Great
Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is in a spiritual body such as the Church. And since all the faithful are one body, the good of one member is communicated to another; everyone members, as the Apostle says, of one another [Eph 4:25]. For that reason, among the points of faith handed down by the Apostles, is that there is a community of goods in the Church, and this is expressed in the words Communion of Saints. -St. Thomas Aquinas

The greater the charity of the Saints in their heavenly home, the more they intercede for those who are still on their journey and the more they can help them by their prayers; the more they are united with God, the more effective those prayers are. This is in accordance with Divine order, which makes higher things react upon lower things, like the brightness of the sun filling the atmosphere. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Those in the Catholic Church, whom some rebuke for praying to Saints and going on pilgrimages, do not seek any Saint as their savior. Instead, they Seek saints as those whom their Savior loves, and whose intercession and prayer for the seeker He will be content to hear. For His Own sake, He would have those He loves honored. And when they are thus honored for His sake, then the honor that is given them for His sake overflows especially to Himself. -St. Thomas More

Considering that when the Saints lived in this world they were at liberty to roam the earth, do you really think that in Heaven God would have them tied to a post? -St. Thomas More

You say you see no reason why we should pray to the Saints since God can hear us and help us just as well, and will do so gladly, as any Saint in Heaven. Well, then, what need, I ask, do you have to ask any physician to help your fever, or to ask and pay any surgeon to heal your sore leg? For God can both hear you and help you as well as the best of doctors. He loves you more than they do, and He can help you sooner. Besides—–His poultices are cheaper and He will give you more for your words alone than they will for your money! -St. Thomas More

If Saint Paul exhorts us to pray for one another, and we gladly think it right to ask every poor man to pray for us, should we think it evil to ask the holy Saints in Heaven to do the same? -St. Thomas More

CONFESSION

To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin, all hope consists in confession; in confession there is a chance for mercy. -St. Isidore of Seville

In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works. -St. Thomas Aquinas

The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience, frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of our souls. -St. Francis de Sales

Our Lord Himself I saw in . . . this venerable Sacrament . . . I felt as if my chains fell, as those of St. Peter at the touch of the Divine messenger. My God, what new scenes for my soul! -St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

First let a little love find entrance into their hearts, and the rest will follow. -St. Philip Neri

 CONSCIENCE

God desires from you the least degree of purity of conscience more than all the works you can perform. -St. John of the Cross

CONTEMPLATION

The greatness of contemplation can be given to none but those who love. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Contemplation is nothing else than a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love. -St. John of the Cross

Whoever wishes to hold the fortress of contemplation must first of all train in the camp of action. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

We ascend to the heights of contemplation by the steps of action. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the contemplative life a man may, with now purified mental gaze, pass on to the contemplation of the Divine Light. -St. Isidore of Seville

CONVERSION

There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection. -Pope St. Gregory the Great

You can win more converts with a spoonful of honey than with a barrelful of vinegar. -St. Francis de Sales

CORRECTION

Reprimand and rebuke should be accepted as healing remedies for vice and as conducive to good health. From this it is clear that those who pretend to be tolerant because they wish to flatter—–those who thus fail to correct sinners—–actually cause them to suffer supreme loss and plot the destruction of that life which is their true life. -St. Basil the Great

COURAGE AND FORTITUDE

The principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly rather than to attack them. -St. Thomas Aquinas

Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage and a persevering spirit. -St. John of the Cross

CREATION AND CREATURES

If there is anyone who is not enlightened by this sublime magnificence of created things, he is blind. If there is anyone who, seeing all these works of God, does not praise Him, he is dumb; if there is anyone who, from so many signs, cannot perceive God, that man is foolish. -St. Bonaventure

In everything, whether it is a thing sensed or a thing known, God Himself is hidden within. -St. Bonaventure

God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty. -St. John of the Cross

Listen to the sermon preached to you by the flowers, the trees, the shrubs, the sky, and the whole world. Notice how they preach to you a sermon full of love, of praise of God, and how they invite you to glorify the sublimity of that sovereign Artist who has given them being. -St. Paul of the Cross

 THE CROSS

Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn’t seek the glory of Christ. -St. John of the Cross

The Cross is the way to Paradise, but only when it is borne willingly. -St. Paul of the Cross

In uniting yourself to God’s will, you take on new life and gather great courage, willingly embracing the cross and kissing His hand even when it chastises you, a hand that reaches out to you in love and has no other intention but your greater spiritual well-being. -St. Paul of the Cross

DEFECTS, FAULTS

Peace and union are the most necessary of all things for men who live in common, and nothing serves so well to establish and maintain these as the forbearing charity whereby we put up with one another’s defects. -St. Robert Bellermine

There is no one who is without faults, and who is not in some way a burden to others, whether he is a superior or a subject, an old man or a young one, a scholar or a dunce. -St. Robert Bellermine

DESIRE

He who desires anything but God deceives himself, and he who loves anything but God errs miserably. -St. Philip Neri

DETACHMENT

Give me ten truly detached men. and I will convert the world with them. -St. Philip Neri

THE DEVIL

Remember that the Devil doesn’t sleep, but seeks our ruin in a thousand ways.- St. Angela Merici

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. – St. Thomas More

DRESS

Proud is many a man who looks down on his neighbor because the wool of his gown is finer! Yet as fine as it is, a poor sheep wore it upon her back before it came upon his back, and all the while she wore it, she was after all still only a sheep. And why should he now think himself better than she was simply by having that wool—–wool that, even though it is now his, is still not so truly his as it was truly hers? – St. Thomas More

 FAITH AND SACRED SCRIPTURE

It is good to read the testimonies of Scripture; it is good to seek the Lord our God in them. As for me, however, I have already made so much of Scripture my own that I have more than enough to meditate on and turn over in my mind. I need no more . .. I know Christ, the poor crucified One. -St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Paul tells us, “The letter kills, but the spirit gives life” [2 Cor 3:6]. A man has been killed by the letter of the Sacred Scripture when he wants to quote it only so that people will think him to be very learned, . . . when he has no desire to follow the spirit of Sacred Scripture, but wants to know what it says only so he can explain it to others. -St. Francis of Assisi

 GOD

One must see God in everyone. -St. Catherine Laboure

GRATITUDE

In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks. -St. Teresa of Avila

HEAVEN AND DIVINE REWARD

His Majesty (the Lord) rewards great services with trials, and there can be no better reward, for out of trials springs love for God. -St. Teresa of Avila

That is how His Majesty [the Lord] rewards our good works—–I mean, by predisposing us to perform better ones. -St. Teresa of Avila

May I not come before You with empty hands, since we are rewarded according to our deeds. -St. Teresa of Avila

 MORTAL SIN

We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it. -St. Francis of Assisi

PRAYER

How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer. -St. Teresa of Avila

Don’t imagine that, if you had a great deal of time, you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of that idea; it is no hindrance to prayer to spend your time well. -St. Teresa of Avila

Jacob did not cease to be a Saint because he had to attend to his flocks. -St. Teresa of Avila

 The most potent and acceptable prayer is the prayer that leaves the best effects. I don’t mean it must immediately fill the soul with desire . . . The best effects (are) those that are followed up by actions; when the soul not only desires the honor of God, but really strives for it. -St. Teresa of Avila

 We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success . . . but on Jesus alone. -St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

 Anyone who has the habit of speaking before God’s majesty as if he were speaking to a slave, careless about how he is speaking, and saying whatever comes into his head and whatever he’s learned from saying prayers at other times, in my opinion is not praying. Please, God, may no Christian pray in this way. -St. Teresa of Avila 

I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me. St. Teresa of Avila

 Let him never cease from prayer who has once begun it, be his life ever so wicked; for prayer is the way to amend it, and without prayer such amendment will be much more difficult. -St. Teresa of Avila

 Vocal prayer . . . must be accompanied by reflection. A prayer in which a person is not aware of Whom he is speaking to, what he is asking, who it is who is asking and of Whom, I don’t call prayer—–however much the lips may move. -St. Teresa of Avila 

You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him. -St. Teresa of Avila

PRAYING FOR SINNERS

“I can’t stop praying for poor sinners who are on the road to hell. If they come to die in that state, they will be lost for all eternity. What a pity! We have to pray for sinners! Praying for sinners is the most beautiful and useful of prayers because the just are on the way to heaven, the souls of purgatory are sure to enter there, but the poor sinners will be lost forever. All devotions are good but there is no better one than such prayer for sinners.”

“What souls we can convert by our prayers. The one who saves a soul from hell saves this soul and his own as well.”

“One can offer himself as a victim for 8-15 days for the conversion of sinners. One can suffer cold, heat, deprive oneself of looking at something, go visit someone who would appreciate it, make a novena, attend daily Mass for this intention in places where it is possible. Not only would one contribute to God’s glory by this holy practice of praying for sinners, but one would obtain an abundance of grace.”

“I am only content when I’m praying for sinners. The good God has made me see how much he loves that I pray for poor sinners. … I don’t know if it were really a voice I heard or a dream, but, whatever it was, it woke me up and told me that to save a soul in the state of sin is more pleasing to God than all sacrifices. For that reason, I do all my resolutions for penance.” – St. John Vianney

PREACHING

Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. -St. Charles Borromeo

When I see the need for Divine teaching and how hungry people are to hear it, I am atremble to be off and running throughout the world, preaching the word of God. I have no rest, my soul finds no other relief, than to rush about and preach. -St. Anthony Mary Claret

 PURITY

Those whose hearts are pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit. -St. Lucy

REPENTANCE

I wealthiest am when richest in remorse. -St. Robert Southwell

Where sin was hatched, let tears now wash the nest. -St. Robert Southwell

SADNESS

Leave sadness to those in the world. We who work for God should be lighthearted. -St. Leonard of Port Maurice

THE SOLDIER OF CHRIST

Refusing further service as a Roman soldier: I am a soldier of Christ: combat is not permitted to me. -St. Martin of Tours

SUFFERING

One must not think that a person who is suffering is not praying. He is offering up his sufferings to God, and many a time he is praying much more truly than one who goes away by himself and meditates his head off, and, if he has squeezed out a few tears, thinks that is prayer. -St. Teresa of Avila

Blessed be He, Who came into the world for no other purpose than to suffer. -St. Teresa of Avila

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal. -St. Teresa of Avila

THE TIMES

Truly, matters in the world are in a bad state; but if you and I begin in earnest to reform ourselves, a really good beginning will have been made. -St. Peter of Alcantara

TRUST IN GOD

I am afraid that if we begin to put our trust in human help, some of our Divine help will fail us. -St. Teresa of Avila

Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, Who does not change. -St. Teresa of Avila

TRUTH

Truth suffers, but never dies. -St. Teresa of Avila

VAINGLORY

We should let God be the One to praise us and not praise ourselves. For God detests those who commend themselves. Let others applaud our good deeds. -Pope St. Clement I

VOCATIONS

Our Lord has created persons for all states in life, and in all of them we see people who who achieved sanctity by fulfilling their obligations well. -St. Anthony Mary Claret

WEALTH

We should have no more use or regard for money in any of its forms than we have for dust. Those who think it is worth more, or who are greedy for it, expose themselves to the danger of being deceived by the Devil. -St. Francis of Assisi

Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth; yet we get upset about it and our gain turns to loss. -St. Teresa of Avila

THE WORLD

This world and the world to come are two enemies. We cannot therefore be friends to both; but we must decide which we will forsake and which we will enjoy. -Pope St. Clement I

WORRY

By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man’s heart and make a dwelling for himself there. -St. Francis of Assisi

For pity’s sake, don’t start meeting troubles halfway. -St. Teresa of Avila

YOUTH

Let us teach the young in the school of the fear of the Lord. -Pope St. Clement I