Quote for the Night

[Shin]

'Those who will not taste how sweet is the Lord, and who love darkness rather than light, being unwilling to fulfill the law of God, are cursed; for the prophet, speaking of them, says: "Cursed are they that decline from Thy commandments." But, on the contrary, how blessed and happy are they who adore Him (as they ought) in spirit and in truth. Let us praise and beseech Him day and night, saying: "Our Father, Who art in heaven," etc., for we ought always to pray, and not to faint.'

St. Francis of Assisi

[Shin]

'The virtues generate good thoughts; the commandments lead us to the virtues; the practice of the virtues depends on our own will and resolution.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

[Shin]

'It often happens that Satan will insidiously commune with you in your heart and say: "Think of the evil you have done; your soul is full of lawlessness, you are weighed down by many grievous sins." Do not let him deceive you when he does this and do not be led to despair on the pretext that you are being humble. After gaining admission through the fall evil has the power to commune at all times with the soul, as man to man, and so to suggest sinful actions to it. You should answer it: "I have God's written assurance, for He says: 'I desire, not the sinner's death, but that he should return through repentance and live'" (cf. Ezek. 33:11). What was the purpose of His descent to earth except to save sinners, to bring light to those in darkness and life to the dead?'

St. Symeon Metaphrastis

[Shin]

'But all those who "call their lands by their own names," and have wood, and hay, and stubble (1 Cor 3:12) in their thoughts; such as these, since they are strangers to difficulties, become aliens from the kingdom of heaven. Had they however known that "tribulation perfects patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope makes not ashamed," they would have exercised themselves, after the example of Paul, who said, "I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."'

St. Athanasius

[Shin]

'When our soul begins to lose its appetite for earthly beauties, a spirit of listlessness is apt to steal into it. This prevents us from taking pleasure in study and teaching, and from feeling any strong desire for the blessings prepared for us in the life to come; it also leads us to disparage this transient life excessively, as not possessing anything of value. It even depreciates spiritual knowledge itself, either on the grounds that many others have already acquired it or because it cannot teach us anything perfect. To avoid this passion, which dejects and enervates us, we must confine the mind within very narrow limits, devoting ourselves solely to the remembrance of God. Only in this way will the intellect be able to regain its original fervor and escape this senseless dissipation.'

St. Diadochos of Photiki

[Shin]

'He who has disciplined his body and dwells in a state of spiritual knowledge finds that through this knowledge he is purified still further.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

[Shin]

'Every time that some unexpected event befalls us, be it affliction, or be it spiritual or corporal consolation, we should endeavor to receive it with equanimity of spirit, since all comes from the hand of God.'

St. Vincent de Paul

[Shin]

'A diligent charity in ministering to the sick, is a compendious way to the acquisition of perfect virtue.'

St. Philip Neri

[Shin]

'In order the better to gain souls, in visiting the sick, we ought to imagine that what we do for the sick man we are doing for Christ Himself; we shall thus perform this work of mercy with more love and greater spiritual profit.'

St. Philip Neri

[Shin]

'. . . most men turn their backs upon crosses, and fly before them. They more they run, the more the cross pursues them, the more it strikes and crushes them with burdens. . . If you were wise, you would go to meet it like St. Andrew, who said, when he saw the cross prepared for him and raised up into the air, "Hail, O good cross! O admirable cross! O desirable cross! receive me into thy arms, withdraw me from among men, and restore me to my Master, who redeemed me through thee."'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

[Shin]

'I know that after my death some men will come to you, bringing new doctrines, new constitutions, new ceremonies. Do not believe them. If an angel from heaven should so come, let him be anathema.'

St. John of Capistrano

[Shin]

'Think no more of what people say, but of pleasing the Heart of Jesus alone, according to the lights He will give you. He loves you and He will never allow you to perish, as long as you trust in Him.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[Shin]

'O my brethren, so long as ye have breath in your bodies strive for your redemption; and before there cometh the hour wherein we shall have to weep for our souls let us cultivate spiritual excellence with a ready mind. And I say unto you that, if ye knew what good things were in heaven, and the glory which is laid up for the saints, and how those who have fallen are punished by God, and the tortures which are laid up for those who have been neglectful, and especially for those who having known the truth have not, as was right, guided themselves hereby, instead of inheriting the blessedness which is reserved for the saints, [ye would do so].'

St. Pachomius

[Shin]

'But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.'

Matthew 12:36