'I say we have been given a guide. I mean the only-begotten incarnate Word, God's Son, who shows us how to walk along this road that is so well lighted. He says, you know "I am the way and truth and life. Whoever walks in me walks not in darkness but in light." He is Truth, and there is no falsehood in him. And what road has this gentlest of teachers built? He has built a road of hatred and of love. He so hated and despised sin that he avenged it on his own body with great pain, derision, torture, and reproach, his passion and death--and not for himself (for the poison of sin was not in him) but only as a service to us, to satisfy for our sins. He gives us back the light of grace and relieves us of the darkness that had entered our soul because of sin.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Dearest daughter in Christ sweet Jesus: I Catherine, thy poor unworthy mother, want thee to attain that perfection for which God has chosen thee.
It seems to me that one wishing so to attain should walk with and not without moderation. And yet every work of ours ought to be done both without and with moderation: it befits us to love God without moderation, putting to that love neither limit nor measure nor rule, but loving Him immeasurably. And if thou wish to reach the perfection of love, it befits thee to set thy life in order.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Let thy first rule be to flee the conversation of every human being, in so far as it is simply conversation, except as deeds of charity may demand; but to love people very much, and talk with few of them.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'And know how to talk in moderation even with those whom thou lovest with spiritual love; reflect that if thou didst not do this, thou wouldst place a limit before perceiving it to that limitless love which thou oughtest to bear to God, by placing the finite creature between you: for the love which thou shouldst place in God thou wouldst place in the creature, loving it without moderation; and this would hinder thy perfection. Therefore thou shouldst love it spiritually, in a disciplined way.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Be a vase, which thou fillest at the source and at the source dost drink from.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Let us open our eyes, dearest brother, for we have two wills -- one of the senses, which seeks the things of sense, and the other the self-will of the spirit, which, under aspect and colour of virtue, holds firm to its own way. And this is clear when it wants to choose places and seasons and consolations to suit itself, and says: "Thus I wish in order to possess God more fully." This is a great cheat, and an illusion of the devil; for not being able to deceive the servants of God through their first will -- since the servants of God have already mortified it so far as the things of sense go -- the devil catches their second will on the sly with things of the spirit.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Frequently men lose time in longing for time to suit themselves, for they do not employ what they have otherwise than in suffering and gloominess.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Dearest daughter in Christ sweet Jesus: I Catherine, thy poor unworthy mother, want thee to attain that perfection for which God has chosen thee.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Let thy first rule be to flee the conversation of every human being, in so far as it is simply conversation, except as deeds of charity may demand; but to love people very much, and talk with few of them. And know how to talk in moderation even with those whom thou lovest with spiritual love. . .'
St. Catherine of Siena
'What way is there, then, to make the imperfect perfect? This way: to correct and chastise the movements of thy heart with true self-knowledge, and with hatred and distaste for thy imperfection. . .'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Make two homes for thyself, my daughter. One actual home in thy cell, that thou go not running about into many places, unless for necessity, or for obedience to the prioress, or for charity's sake; and another spiritual home, which thou art to carry with thee always -- the cell of true self-knowledge, where thou shalt find within thyself knowledge of the goodness of God.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'For from self-knowledge thou wilt gain hatred of thine own fleshliness, and through hate thou wilt become a judge, and sit upon the seat of thy conscience, and pass judgment; and thou wilt not let a fault go without giving sentence on it.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'In the knowledge of God thou shalt find the fire of divine charity.'
St. Catherine of Siena
'Reflect that Job lost his possessions and his sons and his health: his wife remained to him for a perpetual scourge; and then, when God had tested his patience, He restored everything to him double, and at the end eternal life.'
St. Catherine of Siena
Inspirational Quotes from the Saints
Saints' Discussion Forums
Author
