Quotes

Faith, Sacred Heart, Spirituality

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints

 

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It is celebrated on Friday, 19 days after Pentecost.  Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very popular…it touches our hearts in many ways.

When I ponder on the mystery of the Sacred Heart, I see the image and marvel at the wounds of Jesus.  He suffered and died for our many sins.  The art shows Jesus’ heart on fire for His love of all of us.  It shows His heart wounded by the crown of thorns and the lance that pierced His side.  I see the rays of light coming forth from His heart, showing that He is the Light of the World!  The suffering of the world (the cross) is supported by His heart…His love for us.    The wounded heart of Jesus supports each of us if we turn to Him for mercy and love.

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.  (John 3:16)

The following quotes from the saints are inspirational and helpful for meditating on the Mystery of the Sacred Heart.

Love overcomes, Love delights, those who love the Sacred heart rejoice!

St. Bernadette Sorbirous

Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection hasten to my Sacred Heart.

St. Gertrude

Consider often that it is only the humble of Heart that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him.

St. Margaret Mary

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me an entire forgetfulness of myself, since that is the only way one can find entrance into You.

St. Claude La Columbiere

Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing.

St. Margaret Mary

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love.  You are my refuge and my sanctuary.

St. Gertrude

No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Alphonsas

Oh, how good and pleasing a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jeus!  Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded?  Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving?

St. Bernard

Most merciful Heart, pitying heart, loving heart of my Father and Savior, refuse not your help to my needy heart.

St. Margaret Mary

To suffer without complaining, to bring comfort to others and to drown my own sufferings in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Faustina

 

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!!!

 

 

 

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

 

14 Helpers, Faith, Martyr

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Barbara, Feast Day Dec. 4

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Barbara, Feast Day Dec. 4

The feast day of St. Barbara is celebrated on December 4.  She is one of the Holy Helpers who are known for the healing power of prayer. She is invoked to prevent sudden death.

St. Barbara was a virgin and a martyr. She lived in Sicily in the third century.  Her father was a wealthy Syrian.  When his wife died he devoted himself to his only daughter.  Because Barbara was so beautiful, her father (Dioscorus) decided he needed to protect her from strangers and built her a tower.  She was educated by pagan tutors.

From the tower, Barbara had a wonderful view of the meadows, hills and river.  She developed a spirituality which focused on the beauty of creation by our creator.  She also decided to devote herself to God and to remain a virgin.  Because of her beauty she had many suitors, but she refused to marry.

Barbara’s father wanted her to marry, so he decided to let her come down from the tower and socialize.  Barbara became friends with some Christians. While her father was away she was baptized after being instructed in the faith by a priest.

At the time, a bathhouse was being built on their property.  It had two windows.  Barbara requested a third window to create a trinity of light.  Barbara traced the sign of the cross on one of the walls and it left an imprint on the marble.  The water in the bathhouse  became known for its healing power.

When her father returned from his traveling, he was furious to learn Barbara had converted to Christianity.  He became enraged and almost struck her with a sword.  Barbara fled into the hills and hid in a cave.  She was eventually found and severely beaten.  She was then turned over to the city prefect.  Barbara was then tortured and had her wounds rubbed with a hair cloth.  During the night, after praying for relief, Jesus appeared to her and healed them.  The next day she was beaten again.  A woman in the crown named Juliana denounced the torturers and she was also seized and tortured.

Barbara and Juliana were both tortured and paraded through town naked.  An angel appeared after hearing Barbara’s prayers and gave them splendid robes.  Both Barbara and Juliana were beheaded.   St. Barbara was beheaded by her own father.  Immediately, after the execution, he was struck by lightning.

The relics of St. Barbara were moved in the sixth century to Constantinople.  Six hundred years later they were moved to Kiev.

St. Barbara is known for protecting against sudden death.

 

“Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.”

Quote of St. Francis of Assisi   Feast Day Oct. 4

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

 

Dominican Saints, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas, Feast Day January 28

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




 

St. Thomas Aquinas

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas,

Feast Day January 28

The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas is celebrated on Jan. 28.  He is the patron saint of students and universities and a Doctor of the Church.    He was ordained as a Dominican Priest.

St. Thomas was born in Roccasecca, Sicily in 1225. His parents were from Italian nobility. St. Thomas was well educated. He was raised in a Benedictine monastery at Monte Casino. He finished his studies at Naples.

Against his families wishes he joined the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers and was ordained a priest.  His brothers followed careers in the military. In an attempt to end his desires to become a Dominican, his brothers hired a prostitute to seduce him. According to legend, two angels appeared to Thomas to strengthen him and increase his determination to remain celibate. He thus became known as the “Angelic Doctor”.

While he was still a student, St. Thomas was given the nickname “the dumb ox” due to his large size and silent nature. However, he was actually quite gifted and intelligent. He is considered one of the most influential theologians in the history of the Church.

After he was ordained a priest, Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach. St. Thomas turned down an offer from Pope Clement IV to be the Archbishop of Naples.

St. Thomas published many books. He also wrote many hymns which are still sung today. One of St. Thomas most famous works, Summas Theologica was never completed. He fell ill and died before he could finish it in 1274.

St. Thomas was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V.   He is the patron saint of students and universities.

 

O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest,
poor without discouragement, chaste without regret,
patient without complaint, humble without posturing,
cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom,
and quick witted without flippancy.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas

January is the Month of the Holy Name.

 

 

Save

 

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Michal Kozal, Feast Day January 26

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Bl. Michal Kozal

The feast day of Bl. Michal Kozal is celebrated on Jan. 26.

Bl. Michal Kozal was born in Nowy Folwark, Poland on Sept. 25, 1893. He came from a large family. They were poor but religious. Michal was ordained a priest on Feb. 23, 1918. He was appointed rector of the seminary where he served for ten years. In 1939 he became the auxiliary bishop of Wloclawek.

Soon after becoming Bishop the Nazi troops invaded Poland. For the next 22 months he served as pastor to the people during war. The Catholic press was suppressed, church buildings were seized and clergy arrested. Bishop Kozal protested in vain. Eventually Bishop Kozal was also arrested. Along with other clergy who had been arrested he was transferred to the Salesian a Lad where he was put under house arrest.

Secretly, Bishop Kozal made contact with the diocese. All except seven of the clergy arrested were sent to concentration camps. In 1941 the remaining priests and Bishop Kozal were transferred to camp Dachau. He was assigned the number 24544.

Father Kozal died in Camp Dachau on June 30, 1943. The total number of priests who died at Camp Dachau was 220.

Bl. Michal Kozal was beatified by Pope John Paul II.

The virtuous soul that is alone

and without a master,

is like a lone burning coal…

it will grow colder

rather than hotter.

Quote of St. John of the Cross; Feast day December 14

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

Save

 

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis de Sales, Feast Day January 24

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Francis de Sales

 

The feast day of St. Francis de Sales is celebrated on Jan. 24. St. Francis was born in Savoy, France in 1567. His father wanted him to be a lawyer which led to his studies in Padua. After he received his doctorate, he told his parents he wanted to become a priest. Although his father initially opposed the idea, he eventually consented. He was ordained in the Diocese of Geneva.

Geneva was surrounded by Calvinist Protestants whom he tried persistently to convert. After three years without a single convert, Francis began writing pamphlets explaining the faith. He would slip his writings under doorways hoping they would be read.

St. Francis is also the author of several books and many sermons.
His writing was addressed to the lay people of the time.The most well known of his books are:

  • Introduction to the Devout Life
  • A Treatise on the Love of God.

Eventually, Francis met St. Jane Frances de Chantel and became her spiritual director. He helped her to establish the Sisters of the Visitation.

Francis designed a sign language to enable him to teach a deaf man. For this reason, he is also the patron of the deaf.

In 1602, he became the Bishop of the Diocese of Geneva. He had a great devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, helping to spread the devotion. Francis was well known for his excellent preaching and remembered for both his wit and his writing.

St. Francis died after having a stroke in Dec. 1622. He was buried on Jan. 24 which is his feast day.

We shall steer safely through every storm

so long as our heart is right,

our intention fervent, our courage steadfast,

and our trust fixed on God.

If at times we are somewhat stunned

by the tempest, never fear.

Let us take breath, and go afresh.

Quote of St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

Faith, Feast Days, Spirituality

Celebrating Conversion on the Feast Day of the Conversion of St. Paul

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Conversion of St. Paul
Michelangelo

St. Paul was not one of the original apostles. While persecuting Christians after the death of Jesus, he was thrown to the ground by a bright light. He heard a voice asking him;

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

He responded with;

“Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus answered him,

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

But get up and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.”

 

Paul was blinded by the light for three days after which scales fell from his eyes. He then joined the apostles, becoming known as “The Apostle of the Gentiles”. He wrote many of the epistles in the Bible. He is the patron saint of writers, the press, and missionaries.

St. Paul was not Jewish like the other Apostles. He convinced St. Peter that Gentiles did not need to become Jewish in order to follow Jesus. They then decided that it was not necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised in order to be Christian.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul on Jan. 25. We should all be able to relate in a personal way to the conversion of St. Paul.

We are all sinners.

Sometimes it feels as if ‘the scales have fallen from our eyes’. One day we are blindly acting like hypocrites and then we awaken to a new day. We know without a doubt that our behavior must change. This is a conversion experience. Conversion can be frightening at first. It is God asking us to change our lifestyle and behavior. Hopefully, we can respond like St. Paul did…with tireless zeal and love. If we do let God direct our lives, we will be filled with an indescribable joy. This joy that is also known as the Peace of Christ.

This is what happened to St. Paul. After his conversion experience, he felt the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. This forgiveness filled him with inner joy.

As we celebrate the feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul, let us ask ourselves the following questions.

  • Do we want to live as lukewarm Christians or follow Jesus now and experience his forgiveness and love?
  • What does it really mean to be a Christian?
  • Do people know I am a Christian by my actions?
  • Which behaviors in my life need to come to an end to make me a true follower of Christ?
  • What is Jesus asking me to do with my life?
Conversion of St. Paul

 

Save