Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude

30 April 2024

Prudence teaches us to act prudently and wisely in everything we must do and think, seeking the advice of those who are older, because they know more than we do. Justice means being just and allotting to each person what is his: give to God everything that is of God and to the world what is of the world. Justice means being just and allotting to each person what is his: give to God everything that is of God and to the world what is of the world. Temperance teaches us to use moderation and sobriety in our use of food, drink, clothing and all the other things needed for the care of the human body. Fortitude means that we must be strong and constant in serving God, greeting trial, tribulation and sickness with the same smiling face as if they were prosperity and joy, and offering our thanks to Jesus Christ for them all alike.

        Saint John of God

Receive the Word

29 April 2024

You receive the Body of the Lord with special care, lest even a tiny crumb of the consecrated gift fall to the floor. You should receive the Word of the Lord with equal care and reverence, lest the tiniest word of it fall to the floor.

        Origen of Alexandria

On Parenting

28 April 2024

Do not ever permit the children of this world to show greater care and solicitude for the things of time than you show for those of eternity. It should bring blush to your cheek to see them run to death more unhesidently than to you for life.

        Saint Ignatius of Loyola

True Patience

27 April 2024

True patience is to suffer the wrongs done to us by others in an unruffled spirit and without feeling resentment. Patience bears with others because it loves them; to bear with them and yet to hate them is not the virtue of patience but a smokescreen for anger.

        Saint Gregory the Great

On Hell

26 April 2024

Corrupters of families will not inherit the kingdom of God. And if they who do these things according to the flesh suffer death, how much more if a man corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God for the sake of which Jesus Christ was crucified? A man become so foul will depart into unquenchable fire: and so will anyone who listens to him.

          St. Ignatius of Antioch

Virtues

25 April 2024

The three most important virtues are humility, humility, and humility.

        Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

On Prayer

24 April 2024

Prayer is a sovereign remedy, it lifts the mind to God, Who is our only Joy and Consolation.

        Saint Francis de Sales

Poetical View

23 April 2024

With Christians, a poetical view of things is a duty. We are bid to color all things with hues of faith, to see a divine meaning in every event.

        Blessed John Henry Newman

The Holy Eucharist

22 April 2024

In the holy Lord’s Supper, we do not just receive bread and wine. Rather, by means of the blessed bread we simultaneously receive the true body, and by means of the blessed wine, the true blood of Christ—as is to be concluded from the words of institution. But then Christ’s body and blood is personally united with His Godhead. It is the holy Temple in which the entire fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.

        Johann Gerhard

Eternal Life

20 April 2024

Christ has conquered death. Why then, are we afraid? The death of the body is for us a beginning of life eternal through Jesus Christ.

        Johannes Bugenhagen

On Prayer

18 April 2024

You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!” you can be sure you have already begun.

        Saint  Josemaria Escriva

Live Humbly, Amiably and Sweetly

16 April 2024

Live humbly before God, amiably with your neighbor, and sweetly with yourself.

        Saint Francis de Sales

On Prayer

15 April 2024

Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart.

        Saint Pio

Prayer and Sin

14 April 2024

Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.

        J.C. Ryle

Seeking God's Assistance

12 April 2024

We ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speak to Him frankly and plainly, and implore His assistance in our affairs.

        Brother Lawrence

Thanksgiving

11 April 2024

Give thanks to Jesus Christ as soon as you get up in the morning for the blessings and graces he gives us continually, having created you to his own image and likeness, and having given us the grace of being Christian.

        Saint John of God

In Times of Affliction

10 April 2024

In times of affliction, unceasingly call out to the merciful God in prayer. The unceasing invocation of the name of God in prayer is a treatment for the soul which kills not only the passions, but even their very operation. As a doctor finds the necessary medicine, and it works in such a way that the sick person does not understand, in just the same way the name of God, when you call upon it, kills all the passions, although we don’t know how this happens.

      Saint Barsanuphius the Great

On Prayer

9 April 2024

A little lifting of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, one act of inward worship are prayers which, however short, are nevertheless acceptable to God.

        Brother Lawrence

Hold Fast to God

8 April 2024

God is not accustomed to refusing a good gift to those who ask for one.  Since God is good, and especially to those who are faithful to him, let us hold fast to him with all our soul, our heart, our strength, and so enjoy his light and see his glory and possess the grace of supernatural joy.

        Saint Ambrose of Milan

Without Expecting Praise

6 April 2024

Do everything you do without expecting praise: but let everything you do be such as cannot justly be blamed.

        Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Righteous Before God

5 April 2024

Surely the man who said “My sin is too great to merit pardon” was wrong. He was speaking as though he were not a member of Christ and had no share in his merits, so that he could claim them as his own, as a member of the body can claim what belongs to the head. As for me, what can I appropriate that I lack from the heart of the Lord who abounds in mercy? They pierced his hands and feet and opened his side with a spear. Through the openings of these wounds I may drink honey from the rock and oil from the hardest stone: that is, I may taste and see that the Lord is sweet. He was thinking thoughts of peace, and I did not know it, for who knows the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? But the piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, that I may see the good will of the Lord. And what can I see as I look through the hole? Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The sword pierced his soul and came close to his heart, so that he might be able to feel compassion for me in my weaknesses. Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of his heart, the great mystery of love, the sincerity of his mercy with which he visited us from on high. Where have your love, your mercy, your compassion shone out more luminously than in your wounds, sweet, gentle Lord of mercy? More mercy than this no one has than that he lay down his life for those who are doomed to death. My merit comes from his mercy; for I do not lack merit so long as he does not lack pity. And if the Lord’s mercies are many, then I am rich in merits. For even if I am aware of many sins, what does it matter? Where sin abounded grace has overflowed. And if the Lord’s mercies are from all ages forever, I too will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. Will I not sing of my own righteousness? No, Lord, I shall be mindful only of your justice. Yet that too is my own; for God has made you my righteousness.

        Bernard of Clairvaux

On Prayer

4 April 2024

Prayer unites the soul to God. Although the soul is like God in nature, it is often different from Him in condition because of a person’s sin. Prayer then acts as a witness that the soul wills as God wills. It eases the conscience and prepares us for grace.

        Saint Julian of Norwich