Quote for the Night

[Shin]

'We may ask a spiritual alms even corporally, by going first to the church of one Saint, and then to the church of another, to make our petition.'

St. Philip Neri

[Shin]

'I desire with ardor and more than ardor, if I may thus express myself, that the true love of God may become perfect in you, and that you may consecrate your strength to the service and glory of God our Master, so that I may be able to love and serve you more and more.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

[Shin]

'If you saw a blind man about to fall into a pit or over a cliff, would not you warn him? That is just what I am doing and must do in conscience: warn sinners and make them see the precipice of hell that they are about to fall into. Woe is me if I do not, for they could hold me responsible for their damnation. [I Cor. 9 :16.]'

St. Anthony Mary Claret

[Shin]

'When you praise yourself, you become an object of horror and contempt before God and His angels. When you wish to make excuses, say to yourself: "Jesus Who was innocent kept silent when He was accused, and shall I who am guilty justify myself?" Keep silence then, and suffer out of love.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'The bride saw the Queen of Heaven, the Mother of God, wearing a priceless and inestimable crown on her head, with her wonderfully beautiful hair hanging down over her shoulders, a golden tunic gleaming indescribably bright, and a mantle of the color of azure or of a calm sky. While the bride was all full of wonder at this lovely vision and in her wonderment was standing there as if caught up in helpless amazement with in herself, just then, Blessed John the Baptist appeared to her and said: "Pay close attention to what all this signifies. The crown signifies that she is the Queen and Lady and Mother of the King of angels. Her hair hanging down signifies that she is a pure and immaculate virgin; the sky-colored mantle that she was dead to temporal things. The golden tunic signifies that she was ardent and burning with the love of God both inwardly and outwardly. Her Son placed seven lilies in the crown, and between the lilies he placed seven gems. The first lily is her humility; the second, fear; the third, obedience; the fourth, patience; the fifth, steadfastness; the sixth, kindness, for she kindly gives to all who ask; the seventh is mercy in necessities, for in whatever necessity a person may find himself, if he invokes her with all his heart, he will be rescued.'

St. Bridget of Sweden

[Shin]

'O my Mother, offer me to Jesus. Take my heart and unite it with the heart of my Jesus.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

[Shin]

'There is nothing good in this world: Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas.'

St. Philip Neri

[Shin]

'He who truly loves God prays entirely without distraction, and he who prays entirely without distraction loves God truly. But he whose intellect is fixed on any worldly thing does not pray without distraction, and consequently he does not love God.'

St. Maximos the Confessor

[Shin]

'Deny your desires and you will find what your heart longs for. For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God?'

St. John of the Cross

[Shin]

'The lord of this world is a rod of chastisement and a scourge to beginners in the spiritual life. Yet, as has been said, he brings them great glory and added honor because of the afflictions and trials they endure. In this way he helps them to attain the state of perfection, while he prepares even greater and harsher punishment for himself. In short, something most beneficial is brought about through him: as has been said, evil, while intending what is not good, contributes to the good. For, in souls whose intention is sound, even that which appears harmful results in something good. As St. Paul says: 'All things work together for good to them that love God.' (Rom. 8:28)

It is on this account that the rod of chastisement was permitted, so that through it, as in a furnace, the vessels might be more rigorously fired; but those unequal to the test, being easily broken, are rejected as faulty, since they cannot endure the heat of the fire. Being a servant and the Lord's creation, the devil tests and afflicts people, not as he thinks fit or desires, but to the extent that his Master allows him. Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it.' (1 Cor. 10:13)'

St. Symeon Metaphrastis

[Shin]

'Divine love is a jealous love; one spark of irregular affection for any creature is sufficient to ruin all.'

St. Paul of the Cross

[Shin]

'If Moses was forbidden to approach the earthly burning bush until he had loosed his sandals from off his feet [Exodus 3:5], how can you not cast away from yourself every passionate thought when you wish to see Him, Who is above all feeling and thought, and to converse with Him?'

St. Nilus of Sinai

[Shin]

'The upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life and makes them good.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

[Shin]

'We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable. When one asks, "Why should I love God?" he may mean, "What is lovely in God?" or "What shall I gain by loving God?" In either case, the same sufficient cause of love exists, namely, God Himself.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

[Shin]

'The intellect energized by divine love cultivates good thoughts about God; but when impelled by self-love it produces diabolic thoughts.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

[Shin]

'Trust to the goodness of our Lord in the crosses which He sends you; He will never abandon you, for He knows how to draw good from our ills and His glory from our trials.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque