Category Archives: Spirituality

Twenty Five Quotes from St. John Paul II

Karol Wojtyla was ordained a priest in Poland on All Saints Day 1946. On Divine Mercy Sunday 2014 the Church gave him the title of Saint John Paul the Great.

St. John Paul the Great was known as the patron of the youth. He began the tradition of having World Youth Days. The following quotes remind us of the powerful teachings of St. John Paul the Great.

1. The cross means there is no shipwreck without hope; there is no dark without down, nor storm without haven.

St. John Paul the Great


2. The most beautiful and stirring adventure that can happen to you is the personal meeting with Jesus, who is the only one who gives real meaning to our lives.

St. John Paul the Great


3. Do not be afraid of getting lost. The more we give of ourselves, the more we will find ourselves.

St. John Paul the Great


4. The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being.

St. John Paul the Great


5. How to pray? This is a simple matter. I would say: Pray any way you like, so long as you do pray;

St. John Paul the Great


6. Future begins today, not tomorrow.

St. John Paul the Great


7. Darkness can only be scattered by light. Hatred can only be conquered by love.


8. Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.

St. John Paul the Great


9. Faith leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to God.

St. John Paul the Great


10. Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

St. John Paul the Great


11. As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.

St. John Paul the Great


12. Remember that you are never alone. Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives.

St. John Paul the Great


13. In God’s plan, nothing happens by chance.

St. John Paul the Great


14. Confession is an act of honesty and courage–an act of entrusting ourselves beyond sin, to a loving and forgiving God.

St. John Paul the Great


15. We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love for us.

St. John Paul the Great


16. From Mary we learn to trust when all hope seems gone.

St. John Paul the Great


17. It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.

St. John Paul the Great


18. There is no evil to be to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us and does not now bear with us.


19. If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.


20. Let us remember the Past with Gratitude, Live the Present with Enthusiasm, and look forward to the Future with Confidence.

St. John Paul the Great


21. An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded.

St. John Paul the Great


22. Let Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek.


23. Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and halleluiah is our song.

St. John Paul the Great


24. The worst prison would be a closed heart.

St. John Paul the Great


25. Freedom consist not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

St. John Paul the Great

Twenty Five Quotes from St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila was a Spanish Carmelite nun and mystic. She was born in Avila Spain on March 28, 1515, one of ten children. Her mother died when Teresa was 15.

Invoked against bodily ills, headaches, and sickness, St. Teresa was canonized a Saint by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. The Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila is celebrated on October 15.


Saint Teresa of Ávila was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI on 27 September 1970.


St. Teresa has written many books. These include: The Interior Castle, The Life of Teresa of Jesus, and The Way of Perfection. Her spirituality has led many to a much deeper prayer life.

Reflecting on the life of this Carmelite nun, let’s ponder her many quotes which reveal her spirituality.

1. Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God, finds he lacks nothing. God alone suffices.

St. Teresa of Avila


2. Leave it all to God and leave your interests in His hands. He knows what is fitting for us.

St. Teresa of Avila


3. Often, the Lord allows a fall so that the soul will be more humble, and when it returns to the right way of acting and grows in self-knowledge, it advances further in the service of our Lord, as we see among many saints.

St. Teresa of Avila


4. We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials.

St. Teresa of Avila


5. True humility consists in our being satisfied with what is given us.

St. Teresa of Avila


6. Tear your heart away from everything else, then seek God and you will surely find him.

St. Teresa of Avila


7. There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

St. Teresa of Avila


8. Hope, O my soul, Hope! You know neither the day, nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience turns a very short time into a long one.

St. Teresa of Avila



9. The chief object of the devil’s work on earth is to fill us with pride.

St. Teresa of Avila


10. You pay God a great complement by asking great things of Him.

St. Teresa of Avila


11. Prayer is an act of Love, words are not needed.

St. Teresa of Avila


12. Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.

St. Teresa of Avila


13. To have courage for whatever comes in life…everything lies in that.

St. Teresa of Avila


14. The measure in which you desire God, is the measure in which you will find Him!

St. Teresa of Avila


15. Remember, that you have only one soul: that you have only one death to die: that you have only one life…if you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

St. Teresa of Avila


16. Truth suffers, but never dies.


17. It is love alone that gives worth to all things.

St. Teresa of Avila


18. When we accept what happens to us and make the best of it, we are praising God.

St. Teresa of Avila


19. In this life our lot is not to enjoy God, but to do His Holy Will.

St. Teresa of Avila


20. Look for Christ Our Lord in everyone and you will then have respect and reverence for all.

St. Teresa of Avila


21. The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless.

St. Teresa of Avila


22. Life is to live in such a way that we are not afraid to die.

St. Teresa of Avila


23. The feeling remains that God is on the journey too.

St. Teresa of Avila


24. Learn to suffer for Jesus Christ without letting others perceive it.

St. Teresa of Avila


25. Christ has no body on earth but yours. no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ looks out to the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless others.

Twenty Five Quotes from Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Soon, Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be given the title of Blessed. On September 24, 2026. he will be beatified at 2 pm Central time at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. This means there is only one more step until he is officially a Saint.

Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979) was an American archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio.

He became known as a trailblazer for television evangelization with his Emmy-winning show “Life Is Worth Living.” The show aired on television from 1952 until 1957, discussing morality and Catholicism.

Patron of missions and Media

As we celebrate the event of his beatification, let’s reflect on his many quotes which made him loved by many.

1. You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


2. Before the sin, Satan assures us that it is of no consequence; after the sin, he persuades us that it is unforgiveable.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


3. It is not man who is on the quest for God. It is God who is on the quest for man.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


4. God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


5. It’s impossible to lose your footing when you’re on your knees.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


6. When you are getting kicked from the rear it means you are in front.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


7. Very few people believe in the devil these days, which suits the devil very well. He is always helping to circulate the news of his own death. The essence of God is existence, and He defines Himself as ‘I am Who am’. The essence of the devil is the lie, and he defines himself as: ‘I am who am not.’ Satan has very little trouble with those who do not believe in him; they are already on his side.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


8. Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


9. A Catholic may sin, and sin as badly as anyone else, but no genuine Catholic ever denies he is a sinner. A Catholic wants his sins forgiven – not excused or sublimated.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


10. Ever since the days of Adam, man has been hiding from God and saying, ‘God is hard to find’.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


11. Satan always tempts the pure – the others are already his.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


12. There are two ways of waking up in the morning. One is to say, ‘Good morning, God!’ and the other is to say, ‘Good God, morning!’

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


13. Humility is dependence on God as pride is independence of Him. The humble soul is always the thankful soul.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


14. When we die to something…something comes alive within us. If we die to self, charity come alive; if we die to pride, service comes alive; if we die to lust, reverence for personality comes alive; if we die to anger, love comes alive.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


15. Most of us do not like to look inside ourselves for the same reason we don’t like to open a letter that has bad news.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


16. Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


17. Skeptics always want miracles such as stepping down from the Cross, but never the greater miracle of forgiveness.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


18. Souls generally do not fall away from Christ because of the Creed; they first have difficulty with the commandments.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


19. In vocal prayer we go to God on foot. In meditation we go to God on horseback. In contemplation we go to God in a jet.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

20. Grace does not work like a penny in a slot machine. Grace will move you only when you want it to move you, and only when you let it move you. The supernatural order supposes the freedom of the natural order, but it does not destroy it.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


21. God, who made the sun, also made the moon. The moon does not take away from the brilliance of the sun. All its light is reflected from the sun. So Mary reflects her Divine Son; without Him she is nothing. With Him, she is the mother of men.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


22. The only difference between a sinner and a saint is found in their attitude toward their sins-the one persisting in them; the other weeping bitterly.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


23. Heaven is a city on a hill; hence, we cannot coast into it, we have to climb.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


24. Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen


25. If I were not a Catholic…and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hated.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Fulton Sheen

Three Prayers by St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

Canticle of the Sun

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings. To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace for by You Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.

PEACE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Etern
al Life.

Amen

PRAYER INSPIRED BY THE OUR FATHER

Our Creator Redeemer, Comforter, and Savior

In The Angels and the Saints, enlightening them So that they may know YOU, for You, Lord, are Light;

Setting them Aflame so that they may Love YOU,

for YOU, Lord, are Love.

Dwelling in Them and Filling Them with Happiness,

For YOU, Lord are the Supreme Good. the Eternal Good, from whom all Good Comes and Without Whom no Good Exists.

May Knowledge of You Shine Within Us,

So that We may know the Greatness of Your blessings, the Breadth of Your Promises, the Height of Your Majesty, and the Depth of Your Judgments.

So that You may reign in us through grace and lead us to Your Kingdom, where we will see Your face without shadows, Love You perfectly, Live in Your Joyful Company, and Rejoice With You Forever,

So That We May Love You With All Our Heart, Always Thinking Of You;

With All Our Soul, Always Desiring You;

With All Our Mind, Directing Our Intentions Toward You and Seeking Your Honor in all Things;

And with All Our Strength,

Placing the Energies and Affections Of Body and Soul

At the Service of Your Love, and Nothing Else.

May We Love Our Neighbor as Ourselves, Drawing everyone, as far as we can, to Your Love;

Rejoicing in the Goodof Others as in Our Own,

Suffering With Them in Their Difficulties, and Offending No One.

Your Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, So that we may Remember, Understand and Revere, the Love He Had For Us and All that He Said, Did, and Suffered for Us.

Through Your Immeasurable Mercy, Through the Power of Your Beloved Son’s Passion, and Through the Merits and Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and All Your Elect.

And What We Have Not: Yet Forgiven Completely, Grant, Lord, That We May Forgive Entirely, So That We May Truly Love Our Enemies For Your Sake, Pray for Them Sincerely Before You, Return Evil for Evil to No One, and Seek to Do Good To Everyone in You.

Hidden or Visible,

Sudden or persistent,

Past, Present, and Future,

Amen

St. Francis of Assisi

Praying for Peace: Quotes from the Saints

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let not your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid.” John 14:27.

Quote of Jesus

Peace and serenity of heart are difficult to acquire.  The world is a chaotic place to live. Our emotions can make us feel quite helpless.  How do we find peace?  How do we live in peace?  Faith is a gift.  With faith, we can pray for peace

The following 25 quotes of the saints are ‘pearls of wisdom’ to help us on our journey


1. Lord, Make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

 St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

2.  Keep your soul at peace, in order to be able to be attentive and very faithful to the inner movement of the Holy Spirit.


St. Peter Julian Eymard

St. Peter Eymard


3.  Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?”

St. Gerard Majella

St. Gerard Majella

4.  Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

5.   From humility of heart proceed serenity of mind, gentleness of conduct, interior peace, and every good.”

 St. Paul of the Cross

St. Paul of the Cross
Public Domain Image

6.   While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it more fully in your heart.

Saint Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

7. If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, defend life. If you want life, embrace truth.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

8.  Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image

9.  Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.

St Faustina

St. Faustina

10.  Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

St. Jane Frances de Chantal
Public Domain Image

11.  Let us not be justices of the peace, but angels of peace.

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux

12.  But above all preserve peace of heart.  This is more valuable than any treasure.

St. Mary Margaret Alacoque

St. Mary Margaret Alacoque

13.  Peace in the society depends on peace in family.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine

14.  Be at Peace.  What God has started He will finish.
 

St Faustina

St. Faustina
Public Domain Image

15.  Let peace be your quest and aim.

St. Benedict

St. Benedict
Public Domain Image

16.  Be peace loving.Peace is a precious treasure to be sought with great zeal.  Live your life that you may receive the blessings of the Lord.  Then the peace of God the Father will be with you always.

St. Francis of Paola

St. Francis of Paola

17.  Maintain a spirit of peace and you will save a thousand souls.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

St. Seraphim of Sarov

18.  Be at peace with your own soul, then heaven and earth will be at peace with you.

St. Jerome

St. Jerome

19.  The only way to peace is forgiveness.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II
Public Domain Image

20.  What can you do to promote world peace?  Go home and love your family.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa
Public Domain Image

21.  Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to His good pleasure and rest in Him.

St. John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross

22.  If 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 forever in the next.

St. Jerome

St. Jerome

23. Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ, just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it, can they derive peace, grace, and truth.

St. Dominic

St. Dominic
Public Domain Image

24.  Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of the world disturb it.

St. John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross

25.  Peace demands four essential conditions:  Truth, Justice, Love, and Freedom.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

Twenty Five Quotes from the Saints on Suffering and Sorrow

Suffering comes in many forms. Pain, illness, loss, and death of a loved one all cause grief and sorrow. Turning to God during troubled times can be very difficult. Let the words of the Saints help you as you travel on your spiritual journey.

1. I’m suffering very much, but am I suffering very well?

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux
Public Domain Image

2. Love that does not know of suffering is not worthy of the name.

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare of Assisi
Public Domain Image

3. I am prepared to suffer more. I know the Lord is with me. He has some plan for me. How can I requite His kindness.

St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception

St. Alphonsa
Public Domain Image

4. I will willingly abandon this miserable bed to hunger and suffering provided that my soul may have its ordinary nourishment.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Kateri
Public Domain Image

5. O my Jesus, give me Your strength, when my weak nature rebels against the distress and sufferings of this life of exile, and enable me to accept everything with prosperity and peace.

With my whole strength, I cling to Your merits Your sufferings, Your atonement, and Your tears so that I may be able to cooperate with you in the work of Salvation.

Prayer of Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image

6. 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 depth. No matter how deep you go, you will never reach the bottom

St. Paul of the Cross

St. Paul of the Cross
Public Domain Image

7. Mary’s sorrow was less when she saw her only Son crucified, than it is now at the sight of man offending Him by sin.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius Loyola
Public Domain Image

8. The virgin may suitably be called a blooming rose. Just as the gentle rose is placed among thorns, so the gentle Virgin was surrounded by sorrow.

St. Brigid of Ireland

St. Brigid of Ireland Public Domain Image

9. Suffering gladly borne for others convert more people than sermons.

St. Therese Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux
Public Domain Image

10. Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.

St. Faustina

St. Faustina

11. Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God’s loving kindness; otherwise, sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair.

St. Bernard of Clairveaux

St. Bernard Clairvaux
Public Domain Image

12. In every disappointment, great or small, let your heart fly directly to your dear Savior, throwing yourself against every pain and sorrow, Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.

St. Elizabeth Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Public Domain Image

13. Learn to suffer a little for the love of God without telling everyone about it.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila
Public Domain Image

14. Suffering, no matter how difficult it may be, when compared to the good that is accomplished, makes every pain a joy for the soul.

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image
15

15. Love without suffering does not exist.

St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette of Lourdes

16. He will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

17. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfection. And in suffering the soul practices and acquires virtue and becomes pure, wiser and more cautious.

St John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross

18. When sorrows and misfortunes, physical or spiritual, afflict you, turn to your Guardian Angel with strong trust and he will help you.

St. John Bosco

St. John Bosco Public Domain Image

19. Pain, suffering and sorrow are but the kiss of Jesus-a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp
Public Domain Image

20. All the science of the saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

21. We should strive to keep our hearts open to the suffering and wretchedness of other people, pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the Spirit of God.

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul
Public Domain Image

22. To suffer and be happy through suffering, to have ones feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough path of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels–this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.

St. Edith Stein

St. Edith Stein
Public Domain Image

23. Those who pray and suffer, leaving action for others, will not shine here on earth; but what a radiant crown they will wear in the Kingdom of Life! Blessed be the “apostolic of suffering!”

St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Josemaria Escriva
Public Domain Image

24. Suffering is transformed and elevated when in these moments we become aware of God’s closeness and solidarity. This is the certainty that gives inner peace and spiritual joy to the person who suffers generously and offers his pain as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12.)

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II the Great

25. My Lord Jesus Christ, two graces I beg of you before I die. The first is that in my lifetime I may feel in my soul and in my body, as far as possible, that sorrow which you, sweet Jesus, endured in the hour of your bitter passion. The second is that I may feel in my heart, as far as possible, that abundance of love with which you, Son of God, were inflamed, so as willing to endure so great a passion for us sinners.

St. Francis Assisi, Prayer for Holy Sorrow

St. Francis of Assisi Public Domain Image


Inspired by Grace: Quotes of the Saints

Grace is a wonderful gift from God. It is not earned but given to us in love. When we become aware that God is with us, guiding us…everything changes. Grace is the present of God’ presence! God is not a distant God. He created us and loves us.

Let’s turn to the saints to find out how they felt about grace.

1. Let us not be afraid to suffer for the truth; for if we suffer for the truth, we shall find grace.

St. Hyacinth

St. Hyacinth of Poland

2. 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

3. How great it is to possess Divine Grace, How beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights!

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima

4. The Grace of God does not find men fit for salvation, but makes them so.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo

5. If only we would learn how great it is to possess Divine Grace and how many riches it has within itself, how many joys and delights. We would devote all our concern to winning for ourselves pains and aflictions in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace.

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima

6. I am where God wills me to be. I have found rest and security. His wisdom governs me. His grace sanctifies me. His mercy encompasses me. His joy sustains me and all will be well with me.

St. Rose Phillippine Duchesne

St. Rose Phillippine Duchesne

7. The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith and this is not of ourselves.

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas

8. Be attentive to the voice of grace.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

9. Grace is like the sun. It shines on all, but only those who open their eyes and look up receive the light. The soul must be willing and awake, or the light passes by unnoticed.

St. Macarius of Egypt

St. Macarius of Egypt

10. In trial, God grants His grace to those who trust in Him.

St. Rita Cascia

St. Rita

11. Let every journey be a prayer, and every road a path of grace.

St. Bona of Pisa

St. Bona of Pisa

12. Lord, give me the grace to work for the things I pray for.

St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More

13. The greatest grace God can give someone is to send him a trial he cannot bear with his own powers…and then sustain him with His grace so he may endure to the end and be saved.

St. Justin Martyr

St. Justin Marty
by Theophanes the Cretan
Public Domain Image

14. Without grace there is no hope, but with it there is no shortage.

St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas
Public Domain Image

15. Rich is the mercy of our God, and abundantly does He bestow grace upon grace on those who love Him.

St. Elizabeth Schoenna

St. Elizabeth of Schoenna

16. What is true in the order of nature is true in the order of super-nature or grace. Only those who use the graces they are given are given more.

Venerable Fulton Sheen

Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen

17. If I am in God’s good grace, may He.keep me there. If I am not, may He put me there.

St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc
Burning at Stake
Public Domain Image

18. To receive the grace of God you must go to the desert and stay awhile.

St. Charles de Foucauld

Bl. Charles de Foucauld

19. Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a grace it is to know God!

St. Josephina Bakhita

St. Josephine Bakhita

20. He who knows how to forgive, prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.

St. Faustina

St. Faustina
Public Domain Image

21. Let us ask three graces of Jesus, to avoid Purgatory, to learn from Purgatory, to empty Purgatory.

Blessed James Alberione

Blessed James Alberione

22. What grace is meant to do, is to help good people, not to escape their sufferings, but to bear them with a stout heart, with a fortitude that finds it’s strength in faith.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine Public Domain Image

I also understood that God’s love shows itself just as well in the simplest soul which puts up no resistance to His grace, as it does in the loftiest soul.

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux Public Domain Image

24. The more I reflect on the graces I have received,the more they astonish me and make me tremble.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose Phillippine Duchesne Public Domain Image

25. Take, O Lord and receive my liberty, my memory, my whole understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed acording to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola Public Domain Image

Twenty Five Quotes from the Saints on Pride

Pride often keeps us from having healthy relationships. It prevents us from asking for help when we need it. Turning to God is difficult to do when we have too much pride.

The saints can help us know when pride is detrimental and how to conquer it. The following quotes from the saints can inspire us to be humble of heart.

1. It was pride that changed angels into devils. It is humility that make men as angels.

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo

2. The chief object of the devil’s work on earth is to fill us with pride.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila

3. Do you know where the tree of death is rooted? In the height of pride, which is nourished by their sensual selfishness. Its core is impatience and its offshoot is the lack of any discernment. These are the four chief vices, which together tell the souls of those I have called trees of death, since they have failed to feed on the life of grace. (Pride, selfishness, lack of discernment, impatience)

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena

4. If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

5. Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of Pride and anger. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to Heaven.

St. Ephrem

St. Ephrem

6. You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy – the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good… for God resists the proud.

St. Vincent de Paul


St. Vincent de Paul

7. Reject pride and consider everyone more righteous than yourself.

St. Anthony of Egypt

St. Anthony of Egypt

8. As pride is the beginning of all sin, so humility is the foundation of all virtue. Learn to be really humble, and not, as the hypocrite, humble in only appearance.

St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure

9. The vice is treated with opposite virtues: hatred – with love, pride – with calm, insensitivity with compassion, laziness with love for labor.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom Icon

10. Pride dies 20 minutes after death.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

11. The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water – it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire – it dries up – it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat, thrown into the earth – it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies but to revive in heaven.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified

12. For what else is pride but, as a saint has defined it, the love of one’s own excellence.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard Clairvaux

13. Not to follow the advice of our confessor is pride and a want of faith

St. John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross

14. If you are discouraged, it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers. Your self-suffering, your selfishness, and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp

15. Be demanding of the world around you; be demanding first of all with yourselves. Be children of God; take pride in it!

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

16. We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit lives to talk a lot, but do nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people see, with no desire for true piety, and interior holiness of spirit.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

17. Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul

18. Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy. it does not boast. It is not proud.

1 Corinthians 13 St. Paul, Apostle

St. Paul, Apostle

St. Paul the Apostle

19. How can one be pleasing to God when one is inflated with pride and self-love under the pretense of striving for God’s glory wile in fact one is seeking one’s own glory?

St. Faustina

St. Faustina

20. The proud always do damage because the grace of heaven cannot fall on them.

St. Frances Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

21. We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived, we are sad. I remark that in a great many people, if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that- they were vexed if their virtues were known, and pleased that their imperfections should be seen.

St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney

22. Pride causes us to use our gifts as though they came from ourselves, not benefits received from God, and to usurp our benefactor’s glory.

St. Bernard Clairveaux

St. Bernard Clairvaux

23. We must observe also that among the heathen the names of the poor men are more likely to be known than of the rich. Now our Lord mentions the names of the poor, but not the names of the rich, because God knows and approves the humble, but not the proud.

St. Gregory the Great

St. Gregory the Great

24. Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart. Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty. If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death. Know that, according to nature, you are susceptible to death, and that every soul sheds its body as its final garment.

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua

25. Lord, free me from every pride, which is the source of all sins. Give me the grace to recognize sick and unbridled ambitions, that make me choose false greatness, or they cause complexes. Jesus, martyred on the cross, obedient to everything to the Father, I am asking for a humble heart like Your Heart. I am asking for humble eyes, who see themselves and others in truth.
Amen

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

When Pride Comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility
comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11.2

Twenty Five Quotes from the Saints on Faith

Meditating on the following quotes from the saints
 can lead us on our journey of faith.


 It is by faith that God dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux



St. Bernard Clairvaux

2.  The Lord is always near to all who call upon his help with sincerity, true faith, sure hope, and perfect love.
St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan



St. Ambrose,


3.  The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith.  What you long for will be given to you, what you love, will be yours forever.
St Leo the Great ,    Bishop of Rome

St. Leo the Great


4.  Jesus saved the thief on the holy hill at Golgotha because of one hour’s faith, will he not save you too since you have believed?
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop

St. Cyril of Jerusalem


5.  Faith is to believe what you do not see, the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine


6.   Faith lifts the soul.  Hope supports it.  Experience says it must, and love says let it be!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton


7.  Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God.
St. John Eudes

St. John Eudes


8.  Live in faith and hope, though it may be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul.  Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you.  Do not think that He is leaving you alone for that would be to wrong Him.
St. John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross


9.  We walk by faith and not by sight.
St. Paul the Apostle

St. Paul the Apostle



10.  The most beautiful act of faith is the one made in darkness, in sacrifice, and with extreme effort.
Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio


11.  Faith furnishes prayer with wings, without which it cannot soar to heaven.
St. John Climacus.

St. John Climacus


12.  Charity is the seed of faith, makes it alive, without love, faith dies.
St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua


13.   For those with faith, no evidence is necessary, for those without it, no evidence will suffice.  
St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas


14.  May faith be the torch which illuminates, animates, and sustains you.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Margaret Mary


15.  Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight.    It enables us to see God in all things, as well as all things in God.
St. Francis de Sales

S

t. Francis de Sales


16.  Our door is faith. of it is strong enough, the entire house is safe.
St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose


17.  By itself, faith accomplishes nothing, for even the devil believes and trembles.  No, faith must be joined to an active love which is expressed in good works. 
St. Maximus the Confessor

St. Maximus the Confessor


18, Faith is the light which guides you through the darkness.
Venerable Bishop Sheen



19.  Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace.
St. Luke the Evangelist


St. Luke the Evangelist


20.  Faith leads us beyond ourselves.  It leads us directly to God.
St. John Paul II,    Bishop of Rome


21.  Your faith will help you realize that it is Jesus Himself who is present in the Blessed Sacrament, working working for you and calling you to spend one special hour with Hime each week. 
St. John Paul II,    Bishop of Rome



St. John Paul II


22.  If faith is lacking, it is because there is too much selfishness., too much concern for personal gain.  For faith to be true, it has to be genuine and loving.  Love and faith go together…they complete each other.  
 St. Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa


23.   Among the many signs of a lively faith is the hope we have in eternal life.  One of the secrets is not being overly sad at the death of those whom we dearly love in our Lord. 
St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius Loyola

24.  Your soul must hold fast to Him.   You must follow after Him in your thoughts, you must tread His way, by faith, not in outward show.
St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose


25.  Faith fills a man with love for the beauty of its truth, with faith in the truth of its beauty.
St. Francis de Sales


Twenty Five Quotes From the Saints about Courage

Ascension Press

During our journey of faith, all of us at some time in our life need an extra dose of courage. To face our fears can be very daunting, requiring a decision from deep within ourselves not to run from adversity. Reflecting on the wisdom of the saints can help during those times. The following quotes are on the virtue of courage…another name for fortitude.

1. Grace and truth will in turn give rise to courage. Following Christ has always demanded courage.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II, Bishop of Rome

2. Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo

3. He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it.

Bl. Titus Brandsma

Bl. Titus Brandsma

4. Confession is an act of courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

5. We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage is steadfast and our trust is fixed on God.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

6. To have courage for whatever comes in life, everything lies in that.

St. Teresa of Avila


St. Teresa of Avila

7. Whoever does not fear death and has boundless love for Christ is not called prideful but brave and most courageous.

St. Cecelia

St. Cecelia

8. Go courageously to God, along the way He has traced out for you, steadfastly embracing the means He offer you.

St. Margaret Mary Alocoque

St. Margaret Mary

9. Our Lord likes courage. Get it from Him. You con’t find it in yourself.

St. Katherine Drexel

St. Katherine Drexel

10. True love is love that causes us pain, that hurts and yet brings us joy. That is why we must pray to God and ask Him to give us the courage to love.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

11. Many people say “I don’t have the courage to make the sacrifice.” Let them do what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace which gives one the courage to act. Afterward the heart is strenghthened.

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisiieux

12. Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and he 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

St. John of the Cross

13. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

14. If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably with all and never slight anybody. By following this method, I have always had significant success, in fact, marvelous success!

St. John Bosco

St. John Bosco

15. The principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas

16. Remember, that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing with you, nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

17. Courage! I too must learn to force myself, even if I am tired, even if I am exhausted, at the end I can rest on the heart of Jesus.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes

St. Bernadette of Lourdes

18. Even if I must suffer greatly, thanks be to God’s mercy, I will not lack courage.

St. Genoveva Torres Morales

St. Genoveva Torres Morales

19. Courage, courage, my daughters. Remember that God does not give anyone more trials than can be suffered and that His Majesty is with the afflicted… for this is certain, there is no reason to fear God, but to hope in His mercy.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila

20. Help me! Give me the courage to overcome all the obstacles that might make me less dear to you.

St. Frances Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

21. O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve you. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived, when the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.

St. Edith Stein

St. Edith Stein

22. Let us never lose courage or despair of God’s mercy. We may not understand His will for us in time, but in eternity the veil will be drawn, and we shall see that He acted only for our happiness. Let us bear our cross and leave it to God to determine the length and the weight.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose Phillippine Duchesne

23. I repeat and ask that you always have courageous thoughts. As a result of them the Lord will give you grace for courageous deeds.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila

24. When I am weak, Help me find courage. When I am afraid of what the future holds, Help me find trust. When I cannot see God anymore in my life, Hel me find faith.

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua

25. God of our life. There are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage.

Flood the path with light, turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; turn our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so, quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to your honor and glory. Amen

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Agustine of Hippo

Twenty Five Quotes From the Saints about Prayer

Prayer is important in our faith journey.   There are many prayer styles.  Spending time with God is important whether it be alone, with nature, or with a group of many.  We pray in our actions and in silence.   We also make a joyful noise in praise and thanksgiving.

The following quotes help us to discover the prayer styles of the saints.

1.   Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.

St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney
Public Domain Image
2.  I pray like little children who do not know how to read.  I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences and He always understands me.  

St. Terese of Lisieux

St. Terese of Lisieux
3.  Pray, Love, and don’t worry.

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image
4. Prayer is the place of refugefor ev for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom
5.  Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition ofand of love, embracing both trial and joy.  

St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux…The Little Flower
6.   Joy is prayer!    Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

St. Theresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp
Public Domain Image
7.  Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image
8.  We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi
Public Domain Image
9.  He prays best who does not know that he is praying.

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua
10.  Those who pray from the heart do not think about the prayer they are saying, but about the God to whom they pray.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales
11. Without prayer, it is impossible to resist temptations and to keep the commandment.

St. Alphonsas Liguori

St. Alphonsus Liguori
Public Domain Image
12.    Be Good.  Love the Lord.  Pray for those who do not know Him.  What agreat grace it is to know God!  

St. Josephine Bakhita

St. Josephine Bakhita
13.  He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.

St. Benedict

St. Benedict
Public Domain Image
14.  Prayer is the wing, wherewith the soul flies to heaven, and meditation the eye wherewith we see God.

St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose
15.  Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom Icon
Public Domain Image
16.  The test of sincerity of one’s prayer is the willingness to labor on its behalf.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom Icon
Public Domain Image
17.  For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila
Public Domain Image
18.  Prayer is an act of love.  Words are not needed.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila
Public Domain Image
19.  I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn, I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.

St. Patrick

St. Patrick
20.  I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa
Public Domain Image
21.  Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart.  You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart.  In fact on certain occasions, you should only speak to Him with your heart.  

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio
Public Domain Image
22.  To sing is to pray twice.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo
Public Domain Image
23.  Prayer is to the spiritual life, what the beating of the pulse and the drawing of the breath are to the life of the body.

 St. John Henry Newman

St. John Henry Newman
24.  Prayer begins by talking to God but it ends by listening to Him.  In the face of Absolute Truth, silence is the soul’s language.

Ven. Fulton Sheen

 
Venerable Bishop Fulton 25.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.Sheen
25.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

St. Rita

St. Rita De Cascia
Public Domain Image

Twenty Five Quotes From the Saints about Hate

Since the beginning of time, we have struggled with resentments and hate. When we refuse to hate, we refuse to be filled with this negative emotion. We turn it over to
God and let Him be the judge and jury.

The following 25 quotes help us to understand what the saints believed about hate.

1. You must oppose every form of hatred with the invincible power of Christ’s love.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

2. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.

St. Justin Martyr

St. Justin Marty
by Theophanes the Cretan

3. Anger is a tree; hate is a tree.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo

4. Put aside your hatred and animosity. Take pains to refrain from sharp words. If they escape your lips, do not be ashamed to let your lips produce the remedy, since they have caused the wounds. Parden one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurture our sin and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight.

St. Francis of Paola

St. Francis Paola

5. Hate what the world seeks and seek what the world avoids.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius Loyola

6. Hatred is not a creative force. Only Love is.

St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe

7. There are only two ways: either we love – and love in action is service – or we put hatred into action and destroy.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp

8. Darkness can only be scattered by light; hatred can only be conquered by Love.

St. John Paul II, Pope

St. John Paul II, Pope

9. Sin is loving what God hates and hating what God loves.

St. Peter Chrysologus

St. Peter Chrysologus

10. Hate no one. God never comes where there is no love for our neighbors.

St. Philip Neri

St. Philip Neri

11. People hate the truth for the sake of whatever it is that they love more than the truth. They love truth when it shines warmly on them, and hate it when it rebukes them.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo

12. Whosever loves Jesus Christ with true love, let him greatly rejoice when he sees himself treated by the world as Jesus Christ was treated. He was hated, scorned, and persecuted by the world. The world is altogether against Jesus Christ; and therefore, hating Jesus Christ, it hates all His servants.

St. Paul of the Cross

St. Pul of the Cross

13. The saints have no hatred, no bitterness, they forgive everything, and they think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.

St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney

14. Love forgives many mistakes, while hatred imagines mistakes even where they do not exist.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom Icon

15. Truth is intolerant of error; Love is intolerant of hate.

Venerable Fulton Sheen

Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen

16. Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile – smile five times a day at someone you don’t really want to smile at – at all – do it for peace. So let us radiate peace…and extinguish in the World and in the hearts of all men all hatred and love for power.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp

17. Thank God that I am deemed worthy to be hated by the world.

St. Jerome

St. Jerome

18. As God illumines all people equally with the light of the sun, so do those who desire to imitate God let shine an equal ray of love on all people. For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is Love, then hatred is the devil. Therefore, as one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the devil within himself.

St. Basil

St. Basil the Great

19. Even as in heaven there will be most perfect charity, so in hell there will be the most perfect hate.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas

20. That your enemies have been created is God’s doing; that they hate you and wish to ruin you is their own doing. What should you say about them in your mind? “Lord, be merciful to them, forgive them their sins, put the fear of God in them, change them!” You are loving in them not what they are, but what you would have them to become.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo

21. What does God hate or punish except self-will? Let self-will cease, and there will be no hell. On what does that fire feed except on self-will?

St. Bernard of Clairveax

St. Bernard Clairvaux

22. No man hates God without first hating himself.

Venerable Fulton Sheen

Ven. Fulton Sheen

23. Lord make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light.

St. Francis of Alssisi

St. Francis of Assisi

24. 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 yuou become happy. I obey Christ,. After Christ’s example, I forgive my persectors. 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.

St. Paul Miki

St. Paul Miki and Companions

25. Looking at His disciples, he (Jesus) said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.


Gospel of Luke 6:20 Jesus Christ- Sermon on the Plain

Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke the Evangelist