Quote for the Night

[Shin]

'I am the Lord who search the heart and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.

Jeremias 17:10

[Shin]

'I must work with all my strength to destroy self-love and self-interest.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

[Shin]

'Look upon yourself as a tree planted beside the water, which bears its fruit in due season; the more it is shaken by the wind, the deeper it strikes its roots into the ground.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'Love Him with all your strength, think always of Him, let Him do with you, in you and for you, whatever He wills, and do not be anxious about anything else.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'As you are of good will, I am sure that if you are faithful, the Sacred Heart will help you to make this sacrifice which will draw upon you many blessings. But you must not think this can be done all at once and without a struggle; there must be many a battle. To gain the victory you must persevere.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'Just as long and persistent staring at the sun in its noonday brilliance will bring no good to weak eyes, so imagination about the awesome and transubstantial prayer in spirit and in truth will bring no good to a passionate and impure mind. On the contrary, the Godhead will rise against it in wrath.'

St. Nilus of Sinai

[Shin]

'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

[Shin]

'Just as men take pride in having others wear their livery, so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her servants wear Her Scapular as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to Her service, and are members of the Family of the Mother of God.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

[Shin]

'The devil belittles small sins; otherwise he cannot lead us into greater ones.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

[Shin]

'Oh how happy should we be, did we but take as much pains to gain heaven and please God, as worldlings do to heap up riches and perishable goods! By land they venture among thieves and robbers; at sea they expose themselves to the fury of winds and storms; they suffer shipwrecks, and all perils; they attempt all, try all, hazard all but we, in serving so great a master, for so immense a good, are afraid of every contradiction.'

St. Syncletica

[Shin]

'The Lord revealed to St. Gertrude that our confidence so constrains him that he cannot possibly refuse to hear us in everything we seek of him. The same thing was said by St. Climacus: "Prayer exerts a holy violence upon God." Every prayer offered with confidence, as it were, forces God; but this force is acceptable and pleasing to him. Therefore, St. Bernard writes that the divine mercy is like a vast fountain, from which whoso ever brings a larger vessel of confidence carries away a larger abundance of graces. And this is according to what the Psalmist wrote, Let Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, according as we have put our trust in Thee?'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

[Shin]

'Do not be double-tongued, saying one thing when your conscience says another. For Scripture places such people under a curse (cf. Ecclus. 28:13).'

St. Mark the Ascetic

[Shin]

'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'

Psalm 26:8

[Shin]

'Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated with the spirit of penitence will never be able to tell lies.'

St. John Climacus

[Shin]

'When we experience dryness, desolation, abandonment in prayer, we must greatly humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our demerits, imploring the aid of His grace, and suffering in humble resignation whatever affliction He may be pleased to send us.'

St. Paul of the Cross

[Shin]

'When God wishes, He becomes fire, burning up every coarse passion that has taken root in the soul. "For our God is a consuming fire" (Dt. 4:24; Heb. 12:29). When He wishes, He becomes an inexpressible and mysterious rest so that the soul may find rest in God's rest. When He wishes, he becomes joy and peace, cherishing and protecting the soul.'

St. Macarius the Great