Category: QUOTES on SANCTITY

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 22 January – The Memorial of St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304) – Deacon and Martyr – The Protomartyr of Spain

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Thought for the Day – 22 January – The Memorial of St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304) – Deacon and Martyr – The Protomartyr of Spain

From a sermon by Saint Augustine  (354-430)

Father & Doctor of the Church

“To you has been granted in Christ’s behalf not only that you should believe in Him but also that you should suffer for Him.   Vincent had received both these gifts and held them as his own.   For how could he have them if he had not received them?   And he displayed his faith in what he said, his endurance in what he suffered.   No one ought to be confident in his own strength when he undergoes temptation.   For whenever we endure evils courageously, our long-suffering comes from Him,Christ.   He once said to His disciples: “In this world you will suffer persecution,” and then, to allay their fears, He added, “but rest assured, I have conquered the world.”

There is no need to wonder then, my dearly beloved brothers, that Vincent conquered in Him who conquered the world.   It offers temptation to lead us astray;  it strikes terror into us to break out spirit.    Hence if our personal pleasures do not hold us captive and if we are not frightened by brutality, then the world is overcome.   At both of these approaches Christ rushes to our aid and the Christian is not conquered.”

St Vincent of Saragossa, pray for us!

Prayer of St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304)

Everlasting God,
to whom all hidden things
are revealed,
who sent into the world
Your Only Begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
conceived through the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
that He might take on Himself
the punishment of our sins
and by His resurrection,
snatch us from the gates of hell,
grant to our hearts
such steadfastness of faith
that confessing Christ, Your Son,
we may not perish
but may be joined to Him
in the confession
of Your Holy Name.
Amen.everlasting god to whom all hidden things - st vincent of saragossa - 22 jan 2018st vincent of saragossa - pray for us - 22 jan 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

One Minute Reflection – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

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One Minute Reflection – 20 January – The Memorial of St Sebastian, Martyr (Died C 288)

What will separate us from the love of Christ?   Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?   …No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us   For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.…Romans 8:35,37-39romans 8-35,37-39

REFLECTION – “From the very beginning of the life of the Church, Christians have always believed that the blood of martyrs is a seed for Christians, as Tertullian said.   Today too, in a dramatic way, the blood of a great number of Christian martyrs continues to be shed on the field of the world,with the certain hope that will bear fruit in a rich harvest of holiness, justice, reconciliation and love of God.   But we must remember that one is not born a martyr.   Archbishop Romero remarked, ‘We must be willing to die for our faith, even if the Lord does not grant us this honour. … Giving life does not only mean being assassinated;  giving life, having the spirit of martyrdom, means offering it in silence, in prayer, in the honest fulfillment of one’s duty;  in this silence of everyday life, giving life a little at a time.’”...Pope Francis 30 October 2015but we must remember that one - pope francis - 20 jan 2018

PRAYER – Grant us, Lord, the spirit of fortitude.   Teach us, by the example of St Sebastian, to render obedience, to you rather than to men and by his prayer, may we gain courage in the face of evil.   We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.st sebastian - pray for us - 20 jan 2018

sebastian-2-pray for us 2017

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The illusions of this world soon vanish,
especially if a man arms himself with
the Sign of the Cross.
The devils tremble
at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord,
by which He triumphed over
and disarmed them.”the illusions of this world - st anthony abbot - 17 jan 2018

“The days are coming when men will go mad;
and, when they meet a man who has kept his senses,
they will rise up against him, saying,
“You are mad, because you are not like us.”the days are coming - st anthony abbot - 17 jan 2018

“I saw the snares that the enemy
spreads out over the world
and I said groaning,
“What can get through from such snares?”
Then I heard a voice saying to me, “Humility.”

“Reject pride and consider everyone
more righteous than yourself.”

St Anthony Abboti saw the snares - st anthony - 17 jan 2018

St Anthony told his monks:
For the presence, either of the good or evil,
by the help of God, can easily be distinguished.
The vision of the holy ones, is not fraught with distraction:
‘For they will not strive, nor cry,
nor shall anyone hear their voice’ (Matthew 12:19; Isaiah 42:2).
But it comes quietly and gently.
that an immediate joy, gladness and courage, arise in the soul.
For the Lord, who is our joy, is with them
and the power of God the Father.

St Ambrose: (340-397) Life of Saint Anthonyfor the presence either of the good or evil - st anthony - 17 jan 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 January – The Memorial of St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Church

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One Minute Reflection – 13 January – The Memorial of St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Church

Then he said, ‘In truth I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven…Matthew 18:3matthew 18 3

REFLECTION – “Little children follow and obey their father.  They love their mother. They know nothing of covetousness, ill-will, bad temper, arrogance and lying.   This state of mind opens the road to heaven.   To imitate our Lord’s own humility, we must return to the simplicity of God’s little ones. – St Hilarylittle children follow and obey their father - st hilary - 13 jan 2018

PRAYER – Give us the grace, almighty God, to become as innocent and obedient to You as little children. Teach us neither to question, nor fear, for it is our total trust of You that we will reach our heavenly home.   Grant that the intercession of St Hilary we may achieve such innocence, through Christ our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.st hilary of poitiers pray for us

Posted in franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Memorial of Sts André Bessette C.S.C. (1845-1937) and St Charles of Sezze O.F.M. (1613-1670)

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Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Memorial of Sts André Bessette C.S.C. (1845-1937) and St Charles of Sezze O.F.M. (1613-1670)

Both the Saints whose Memorials we celebrate today, lived their lives as simple porters, gardeners and the like.   But they both lived their lives in total charity and love of God.    And they are both saints.   They fulfilled their tasks with love and utter commitment to God their Father.   And through their faithfulness to these little things, God rewarded them with great things.

Since God through the Holy Spirit is the giver of charity and since true charity is beyond the capacity of human nature left to its own devices, God can give it without reference to natural gifts like intelligence.   And this seems true in the case of the uncharitable:  there are plenty of examples of intelligent people who lack charity—the “evil genius” is a standard literary character for a reason.   (Br. Bonaventure Chapman, OP)  But today also offers us a positive example of two men graced with charity which is love and is not love both question and answer and the new commandment given us.   What more is needed by the grace of God?

St André Bessette and St Charles of Sezze, Pray for us!st andre bessette pray for us -6 jan 2018st charles of sezze pray for us - 6 jan 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, ON the SAINTS, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 4 January – The Memorial of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) – “What is a Saint?”

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Thought for the Day – 4 January – The Memorial of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)  “What is a Saint?”

Excerpt from HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER BLESSED PAUL VI – 14 September 1975, on the Canonisation of St Elizabeth Ann Setonst e a seton- pray for us no 2 - 4 jan 2018

Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Saint!   We rejoice and we are deeply moved that our apostolic ministry authorises us to make this solemn declaration before all of you here present, before the holy Catholic Church, before our other Christian brethren in the world, before the entire American people and before all humanity. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a Saint!

She is the first daughter of the United States of America to be glorified with this incomparable attribute!    But what do we mean when we say:   «She is a Saint»?   We all have some idea of the meaning of this highest title;  but it is still difficult for us to make an exact analysis of it.   Being a Saint means being perfect, with a perfection that attains the highest level that a human being can reach.   A Saint is a human creature fully conformed to the will of God.   A Saint is a person in whom all sin-the principle of death-is cancelled out and replaced by the living splendour of divine grace.   The analysis of the concept of sanctity brings us to recognise in a soul the mingling of two elements that are entirely different but which come together to produce a single effect:  SANCTITY.   One of these elements is the human and moral element, raised to the degree of heroism:  heroic virtues are always required by the Church for the recognition of a person’s sanctity.   The second element is the mystical element, which express the measure and form of divine action in the person chosen by God to realise in herself-always in an original way-the image of Christ (Cfr. Rom. 8, 29).

The Church has made this study of the life, that is, the interior and exterior history, of Elizabeth Ann Seton.   And the Church has exulted with admiration and jo, and has today heard her own charism of truth poured out in the exclamation that we send up to God and announce to the world:  she is a Saint!

May the dynamism and authenticity of her life be an example in our day-and for generations to come-of what women can and must accomplish, in the fulfilment of their role, for the good of humanity.

St Elizabeth Ann Seton – Pray for us that we may all travel safely this path of sanctity and join you in Heaven in the halls of Sanctity!st e a seton- pray for us no 3 - 4 jan 2018

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 4 January – The Memorial of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)

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Quote/s of the Day – 4 January – The Memorial of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)

“Faith lifts the soul,
Hope supports it,
Experience says it must
and Love says…let it be!”faith lifts the soul - st e a seton - 4 jan 2018

“God is everywhere, in the very air I breathe,
yes everywhere
but in His Sacrament of the Altar
He is as present actually and really
as my soul within my body;
in His Sacrifice daily offered
as really as once offered on the Cross!”

“Our Lord Himself I saw in this venerable Sacrament . . .
I felt as if my chains fell, as those of St Peter,
at the touch of the Divine messenger.”

“How sweet, the presence of Jesus
to the longing, harassed soul!
It is instant peace and balm to every wound.”god is everywhere - st e a seton - 4 jan 2018

“We must pray without ceasing,
in every occurrence and employment
of our lives – that prayer which is rather
a habit of lifting up the heart to God
as in a constant communication with Him.”we must pray - seton - 4 jan 2018

“What was the first rule of our dear Saviour’s life?
You know it was to do his Father’s will.
Well, then, the first purpose of our daily work
is to do the will of God;
secondly, to do it in the manner He wills;
and thirdly, to do it because it is His will.
We know certainly that our God
calls us to a holy life.
We know that He gives us every grace,
every abundant grace
and though we are so weak of ourselves,
this grace is able to carry us through
every obstacle and difficulty.”what was the first rule - st e a seton - 4 jan 2018

“Afflictions are the steps to heaven.”

“Can you expect to go to heaven for nothing?
Did not our Saviour track the whole way to it
with His tears and blood?
And yet you stop at every little pain?”

“The gate of heaven is very low;
only the humble can enter it.”

St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)AFFLICTIONS ARE THE STEPS TO HEAVEN - ST SETON 4 JAN 2018

Posted in ADVENT, DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote/s of the Day – 21 December – The Memorial of St Peter Canisius (1521-1597) Doctor of the Church

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 December – The Memorial of St Peter Canisius (1521-1597) Doctor of the Church

“Such should be the shepherd
in the Church who, like Paul,
becomes all things to all men,
so that the sick may find healing in him;
the sad, joy;
the desperate, hope;
the ignorant, instruction;
those in doubt, advice;
the penitent, forgiveness and comfort
and finally, everyone,
whatever is necessary, for salvation.
And so Christ, when He wished
to appoint the chief teachers
of the world and of the Church,
did not limit Himself to saying to his disciples:
‘You are the light of the world’;
but also added these words:
‘A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle
and put it under a measure but upon a candlestick,
that it may shine to all who are in the house.’
Those churchmen err, who imagine,
that it is by brilliant preaching,
rather than by holiness of and all-embracing love,
they fulfil their office.“such should be - st peter canisius - 21 dec 2017

“If you have too much to do, with God’s help, you will find time to do it all.”

St Peter Canisius (1521-1597) Doctor of the Churchif you have too much to do - st peter canisius - 21 dec

“Among the Jesuit saints, it is Peter Canisius
that brought me into the Society of Jesus…
as we go on, you will see, what influence
St Peter has had on this sinner. “

“(St Peter Canisius had) an extraordinary devotion
to the Holy Eucharist – his devotion to the Holy Sacrifice
were such that people would come from great distances
to watch him offer Mass, so devoutly did he celebrate.
He was one of the people that urged frequent Communion
at the Council of Trent and was one of those who got
the Council of Trent to pass a little known decree,
little known because it took almost three hundred years
for that decree to really come to life.
The Council of Trent, mind you, sixteenth century,
encouraged daily Communion – you would never guess it, would you?
Peter Canisius was one of those who, under instructions from Ignatius,
made sure that the Council passed that decree
and he spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament.”

Ven Servant of God Fr John A Hardon S.J. (1914-2000)st peter canisus had an - fr john a hardon - 21 dec 2017

Posted in CARMELITES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 November – The Memorial of St Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)

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One Minute Reflection – 8 November – The Memorial of St Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)

“Father, I will that where I am, they also whom you have given me may be with me….” John 17:24john 17 24

REFLECTION – “Jesus’ desire is for us to be with Him in communion.   This is what He aches for, His deepest desire that He prays for.   This is what Jesus was doing the night before He died.” …St Elizabeth of the Trinityjesus' desire - st elizabeth of the trinity - 8 nov 2017

PRAYER – My Lord and my God, You have prayed that I may be in You and You in me.   This is the guiding consolation of my life and the source of my prayer.   Lead me to Yourself, guide me and teach me that I may never stray from You.   Holy St Elizabeth of the Trinity, in your young life you followed the way of the Lord, the way of the Cross, doing all for God by the love of the Holy Spirit.   Please pray for us, amen.st elizabeth pray for us

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Quote/s of the Day – 7 November “On Achieving Sanctity”

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 November “On Achieving Sanctity”

“Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on.
We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world
which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven.
Let us long for those who are longing for us,
hasten to those who are waiting for us
and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us.
We should not only want to be with the saints,
we should also hope to possess their happiness.
While we desire to be in their company,
we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory.
Do not imagine that there is anything harmful
in such an ambition as this;
there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Churchcome brothers - st bernard - 7 nov 2017

“Holiness does not consist of doing more difficult things every day
but doing things with greater love every day.
Our great desires for holiness have to be expressed
by persevering in small things.
This has to be your ambition:
to persevere in the exact fulfilment of your present obligations,
because that work – humble, monotonous, small –
is prayer expressed in deeds.
And it prepares us to receive the grace for that other work –
great, broad and deep – about which we dream:
to place Christ at the summit of all human activities.”

St Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)holiness does not consist - st josemaria - 7 nov 2017

“Many little things done with love and for love
comprise our treasure for this or that day,
which we will carry with us into eternity.
Our interior life is normally nourished
by little things carried out with love and attention.”

St John Paul (1920-2005)many little things - st john paul - 7 nov 2017

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – On Achieving Sanctity!

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – On Achieving Sanctity!

“We must have a real living determination to reach holiness.
‘I will be a saint’ – means I will despoil myself of all that is not God;
I will strip my heart of all created things;
I will live in poverty and detachment;
I will renounce my will,
my inclinations,
my whims and fancies
and make myself a willing slave to the will of God.”

St Mother Teresa (1910-1997)we must have a real living determination - st mother teresa - 6 nov 2017

“God’s invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few.
Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all.
In what does it consist?
In a lot of activity? No.
In doing extraordinary things?
No, this could not be for everybody and at all times.
Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good
and in doing this good in whatever condition
and place God has placed us.
Nothing more, nothing outside of this.”

Blessed Louis Tezza (1841-1923)god's invitation - bl louis tezza - 6 nov 2017

“If God gives you an abundant harvest of trials,
it is a sign of great holiness which He desires you to attain.
Do you want to become a great saint?
Ask God to send you many sufferings.
The flame of Divine Love never rises higher.
than when fed with the wood of the Cross,
which the infinite charity of the Saviour used to finish His sacrifice.
All the pleasures of the world are nothing,
compared with the sweetness found in the gall and vinegar
offered to Jesus Christ. That is:
hard and painful things endured for Jesus Christ
and with Jesus Christ!”

St Ignatius Loyolaif god give you an abundant - st ignatius loyola - 6 nov 2017

 

Posted in LENT, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Lenten Preparation Novena

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REFLECTION – “Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

“These are thoughts, I need hardly say, especially suited to this season. From the earliest times down to this day, these weeks before Easter have been set apart every year, for the particular remembrance and confession of our sins. From the first age downward, not a year has passed but Christians have been exhorted to reflect how far they have let go their birthright, as a preparation for their claiming the blessing. At Christmas we are born again with Christ; at Easter we keep the Eucharistic Feast. In Lent, by penance, we join the two great sacraments together. Are you, my brethren, prepared to say,—is there any single Christian alive who will dare to profess,—that he has not in greater or less degree sinned against God’s free mercies as bestowed on him in Baptism without, or rather against his deserts? Who will say that he has so improved his birthright that the blessing is his fit reward, without either sin to confess, or wrath to deprecate? See, then, the Church offers you this season for the purpose. “Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.” Now it is that, God being your helper, you are to attempt to throw off from you the heavy burden of past transgression, to reconcile yourselves to Him who has once already imparted to you His atoning merits and you have profaned them.” (Blessed John Henry Newman)

are-you-my-brethren-bl-j-h-newman

Lenten Preparation Novena

DAY SIX

O gracious Father,
infuse in our hearts
the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom
and open the eyes of our mind
that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel.
Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments,
so that having curbed all carnal desires,
we may lead a spiritual life,
both thinking and doing everything to please You.
Help us to see,
in our ordinary difficulties and duties,
in the trials and temptations of every day,
the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities.
United with Your Son, who makes His way to Calvary,
I offer You my intention
(Mention your intention)
For You, our God,
are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies;
and to You we render glory,
together with Your Suffering Son,
and with Your all holy,
life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and forever. Amen

day-six-lentprepnovena