Talk about the Saints that inspire you, share some of your favorite quotes

[Saint_wannabe]

“May he make a little heavenly dew to descend into the hearts of those afflicted souls! … God has plunged their intellects into darkness, placed their will in aridity, their memories in emptiness, their hearts in bitterness, despondency and a great desolation. And all of this is most enviable, because it all helps our hearts to dispose and prepare themselves to receive the true Spirit, which is nothing other than the union of love.”

Padre Pio

 

[onmyknees]

Saints, oh I love reading about the saints! I devoured lots good Catholic books when I first reverted back to Catholicism. What a great thread!
I chose St. Augustine as my patron saint when I was reading “TheConfessions”. I had just come back to the Church after 27 years of living a sinful life and I could really identifiy with him.
I also read St. Catherine of Sienna and was very much in awe of her intelligence, fearlessness and perseverance!
I read Blessed Margaret Castello. She had so much suffering that it made me realize how very fortunate I am just to be able to do everyday things.

When I read the Diaries of St. Faustina I was inspired to go to Adoration and now love it so much that I go as often as I can. I also identified and laughed with her when she was fed up with her confessors. None of them, except one would believe her when she told them of her visions and conversations with Jesus. At the time I was struggling with my confessor who I felt did not believe I was really contrite or sincerely trying to amend my life. I have prayed for St.Faustina’s and St. Augustine’s intercession so many times!

I also loved the book called “The Fulfillment of All Desire” with all kinds of quotes from saints, including John of the Cross, Theresa of Avilla, St. Therese, and many others. It inspired me to want to grow in holiness so that we can become more and more like Jesus.

St. Marie Louis De Monfort is another great one! “True Devotion to Mary” was such a good way to understand Mary’s huge role in our salvation!

Unfortunately, I cannot curl up with a great Catholic book anymore because I have a spinal disease. My neck has spinal stenosis, bone spurs, and a discectomy. I haven’t been able to read a book for 3 yrs. now but at least I have my computer monitor up high now and I stand up when I am using it.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Saints, oh I love reading about the saints! I devoured lots good Catholic books when I first reverted back to Catholicism. What a great thread!
I chose St. Augustine as my patron saint when I was reading “TheConfessions”. I had just come back to the Church after 27 years of living a sinful life and I could really identifiy with him.
I also read St. Catherine of Sienna and was very much in awe of her intelligence, fearlessness and perseverance!
I read Blessed Margaret Castello. She had so much suffering that it made me realize how very fortunate I am just to be able to do everyday things.

When I read the Diaries of St. Faustina I was inspired to go to Adoration and now love it so much that I go as often as I can. I also identified and laughed with her when she was fed up with her confessors. None of them, except one would believe her when she told them of her visions and conversations with Jesus. At the time I was struggling with my confessor who I felt did not believe I was really contrite or sincerely trying to amend my life. I have prayed for St.Faustina’s and St. Augustine’s intercession so many times!

I also loved the book called “The Fulfillment of All Desire” with all kinds of quotes from saints, including John of the Cross, Theresa of Avilla, St. Therese, and many others. It inspired me to want to grow in holiness so that we can become more and more like Jesus.

St. Marie Louis De Monfort is another great one! “True Devotion to Mary” was such a good way to understand Mary’s huge role in our salvation!

Unfortunately, I cannot curl up with a great Catholic book anymore because I have a spinal disease. My neck has spinal stenosis, bone spurs, and a discectomy. I haven’t been able to read a book for 3 yrs. now but at least I have my computer monitor up high now and I stand up when I am using it.

Thank you so much for sharing all of that here. I hope this thread keeps going strong, so you have a place to come and read. I am inspired by you to add even more quotes to this thread. Please feel free to add any quotes that you know of that you don’t see here already.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

“Nothing is more unworthy of a Christian, whose life should be an imitation of a God who is the soul of Honor and Truth itself, than to think one thing and say another.”

John Vianney

“It is not hypocritical if one’s deeds fail to match one’s words. Good gracious! Where should we be if it were? I should have to hold my tongue to avoid playing the hypocrite, since it would follow that were I to speak of perfection I should assume I was perfect. Certainly not, my dear child. I no more believe I am because I talk about perfection than I should believe myself Italian because I speak Italian.”

Francis DE Sales

 

[benny_f]

I love St Joseph, especially this story - [www.salvemariaregina.info/Martyrologies/Stairs of St. Joseph.html](www.salvemariaregina.info/Martyrologies/Stairs of St. Joseph.html)

“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?”

St Maximillian Kolbe

 

[Lief_Erikson]

“But is there anyone like Paul, anyone who does not consent at times to this sensual desire and so submits to sin? Let him who yields to sin take note that he has raised another wall against himself by that wicked and unlawful consent. A man of this kind cannot boast that for him the Bridegroom stands behind the wall, because not one wall but walls now intervene . . . But what if the repetition of sins becomes a habit, or the habit induces contempt, as the Scripture says: “When wickedness comes, contempt comes also”? (Prov. 18:3) If you die like this, will you not be devoured a thousand times by those that roar as they await their food, before you can reach the Bridegroom now shut off from you not merely by one, but a succession of walls? The first is sensual desire; the second, consent; the third, the action; the fourth, habit; the fifth, contempt. Take care then to resist with all your strength the first movements of sensual desire lest they lure you to consent, and then the whole fabric of wickedness will vanish.”

~St. Bernard of Clairvaux

“Of all prayers the Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in graces; of all it is the one which is most pleasing to Mary, the Virgin Most Holy. Therefore love the Rosary and recite it every day with devotion.”

~St. Pius X

“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves defeated in our innermost personal selves?”

St Maximillian Kolbe

Wonderful quote, Benny! What a powerful and true statement. It’s basically another slant on Jesus’ teaching, “What good is it to a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?” I love the wisdom of the saints!

“May he make a little heavenly dew to descend into the hearts of those afflicted souls! … God has plunged their intellects into darkness, placed their will in aridity, their memories in emptiness, their hearts in bitterness, despondency and a great desolation. And all of this is most enviable, because it all helps our hearts to dispose and prepare themselves to receive the true Spirit, which is nothing other than the union of love.”

Padre Pio

I love how in this quote, Padre Pio describes how the aridity of our souls and the presence of deepest affliction, if accepted with humility for God’s sake, can create in us the “union of love.”

 

[onmyknees]

Thanks so much Saint Wannabe for this thread and for getting back to all of us! I am not good at writing or articulating my thoughts so I always feel a little embarrassed when posting. It is so nice when someone responds with such kindness. I think you are already a saint, saint Wannabe!
There are just so many inspiring quotes here to read. I am really enjoying reading all of them. I don’t have my books with the quotes anymore but I do have these two from My favorite author Thomas A. Kempis. Is he a saint?

“He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.”

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be,
since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”

Also I love the psalms! My absolute favorite is psalm 139! Too long to post all of it but here is a part of it.

O Lord thou hast searched me and known me! Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou dost beset me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me;
it is high, I cannot attain it.
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!

 

[Saint_wannabe]

I love St Joseph, especially this story - [www.salvemariaregina.info/Martyrologies/Stairs of St. Joseph.html](www.salvemariaregina.info/Martyrologies/Stairs of St. Joseph.html)

“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?”

St Maximillian Kolbe

I really like this quote, thanks so much for sharing it. I haven’t been able to find many quotes from Max Kolbe, but his life story is really something to behold. If you have any more, please share them.

 

[onmyknees]

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds?
Lay first the foundation of humility.” St. Augustine

“Complete abstinence is easier that perfect moderation.” St. Augustine

“When man seeks himself, he ceases to love.” Thomas A. Kempis

 

[JReducation]

Pope Leo XIII has not been canonized a saint, but I have always been moved by what he said about St. Francis of Assisi.

“He undertook to place before the eyes of the aging world, in his words and deeds, the complete model of Christian perfection.”

Encyclical on St. Francis of Assisi: Parr 9

To undertake to be the complete model of Christian perfection is the call of every human being.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Lief_Erikson]

“Complete abstinence is easier that perfect moderation.” St. Augustine

That is a very interesting ascetic teaching. I’ve encountered this as well while fasting. It’s easier for me to go completely without food than it is to moderate each meal. Also, eating in moderation can be a humbler activity than is complete abstinence, for eating in moderation is expected from an ordinary person living decently, so it goes without much praise. On the other hand, going without any food can be taken as a sign of holiness.

 

[Shin]

That is a very interesting ascetic teaching. I’ve encountered this as well while fasting. It’s easier for me to go completely without food than it is to moderate each meal. Also, eating in moderation can be a humbler activity than is complete abstinence, for eating in moderation is expected from an ordinary person living decently, so it goes without much praise. On the other hand, going without any food can be taken as a sign of holiness.

Yes, I have found this to be the case as well. I will note that in regards to food, since we have to practice perfect moderation in general to conquer gluttony, we really have to work on that goal, as well as the much easier complete fast.

I think this quote is the method.

‘I shall speak first about control of the stomach, the opposite to gluttony, and about how to fast and what and how much to eat. I shall say nothing on my own account, but only what I have received from the Holy Fathers. They have not given us only a single rule for fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has the same strength; age, illness or delicacy of body create differences. But they have given us all a single goal: to avoid over-eating and the filling of our bellies. . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.’

St. John Cassian

 

[magdelaine1173]

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and how Christ visited her to inform her to pray to His Sacred Heart, and that whomever should pray to His Sacred Heart shall be given blessings and graces upon their death and rising to meet the Lord.

I am named for this saint. She is very special to me. So is St. Bernadette, for the pains she suffered in her life and her visitations by our Blessed Mother Mary

 

[JReducation]

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and how Christ visited her to inform her to pray to His Sacred Heart, and that whomever should pray to His Sacred Heart shall be given blessings and graces upon their death and rising to meet the Lord.

I am named for this saint. She is very special to me. So is St. Bernadette, for the pains she suffered in her life and her visitations by our Blessed Mother Mary

My favorite quote from St. Bernadette is one that I use quite often when people want to argue. When she was told to tell the bishop of her visions, he said that he did not believe her story. Bernadette answered, "My task was to tell you the truth, not to make you believe."

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[magdelaine1173]

My favorite quote from St. Bernadette is one that I use quite often when people want to argue. When she was told to tell the bishop of her visions, he said that he did not believe her story. Bernadette answered, "My task was to tell you the truth, not to make you believe."

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Yes this is why I enjoyed the story of Bernadette so much. To speak the truth, in doing so, we imitate Christ and give value to a very good virtue. The Holy Spirit resides in those who are moved to believe. And I believe in God’s goodness and love for all of mankind.
God’s peace be with you Brother JR.
Magdelaine1173

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Yes, I have found this to be the case as well. I will note that in regards to food, since we have to practice perfect moderation in general to conquer gluttony, we really have to work on that goal, as well as the much easier complete fast.

I think this quote is the method.

‘I shall speak first about control of the stomach, the opposite to gluttony, and about how to fast and what and how much to eat. I shall say nothing on my own account, but only what I have received from the Holy Fathers. They have not given us only a single rule for fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has the same strength; age, illness or delicacy of body create differences. But they have given us all a single goal: to avoid over-eating and the filling of our bellies. . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.’

St. John Cassian

I love that teaching. Please pray for me to St. John Cassian that I may follow his advice from this day on and throughout my life, and in that way, among others, unite myself with the Passion of our Lord. St. Arsenius may also help me with this. I’d very much appreciate any prayers you can offer for me on this, for I am accustomed to eating until satisfied and I never stop while still hungry. I yearn for asceticism, though, and this is clearly a profound and holy principle. I want to do this, but I need the strength from our Lord.

Any prayers would be appreciated very much!

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Holy Mary, pray for me, Shin, and all of us, that we might be true ascetics for the Kingdom of God.

 

[Shin]

Amen! I think we could all use those prayers! I know I could!

‘When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.’

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney

It takes a few weeks to build up a habit, that one can stick to. So if a person puts strong will every day, and enough preparatory prayer for the grace for it, to do this is possible however daunting it may seem. With God all things are possible!

 

[JReducation]

I love that teaching. Please pray for me to St. John Cassian that I may follow his advice from this day on and throughout my life, and in that way, among others, unite myself with the Passion of our Lord. St. Arsenius may also help me with this. I’d very much appreciate any prayers you can offer for me on this, for I am accustomed to eating until satisfied and I never stop while still hungry. ** I yearn for asceticism**, though, and this is clearly a profound and holy principle. I want to do this, but I need the strength from our Lord.

Any prayers would be appreciated very much!

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Holy Mary, pray for me, Shin, and all of us, that we might be true ascetics for the Kingdom of God.

The bold is mine.

The road to asceticism begins with doing the little things with great love. We see this message in people like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese, and Bl. Mother Teresa. Sometimes, the smallest things require the most attention, because we tend to do them half-heartedly believing that they are of little value. Little do we know that what may be of little value in our eyes, is of great value to Jesus.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Amen! I think we could all use those prayers! I know I could!

‘When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.’

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney

It takes a few weeks to build up a habit, that one can stick to. So if a person puts strong will every day, and enough preparatory prayer for the grace for it, to do this is possible however daunting it may seem. With God all things are possible!

That’s good advice for implementation. I’m putting in a strong will today, and I look forward through prayer and faith to the time that this will become a habit.

An embarrassing thing is that a few weeks ago, I received the same message you’ve now given me through St. Casinius. I received it from my sister. I took her advice to heart, but not fully, and I decided to practice it on Wednesdays and Fridays. However, my effort failed quickly and I didn’t give it much thought afterward. I wish I had applied it fully, to every meal every day, immediately! That would have been the better response. This leads me to think about how God chooses people who look smaller to us at times to speak to us, for His truth is independent of the messenger. St. Casinius is a glorious witness; God first tried to speak to me through a smaller witness, one that I don’t look up to as I should, just as He gave witness to His Nativity through mere shepherds and gave witness to His resurrection first through women, people whose word was not greatly respected in Jewish society. I didn’t listen as I should have to my sister. I wish I had! But I thank God He is merciful enough to give me multiple chances to follow Him, rather than giving up on me when I ignore Him once.

The bold is mine.

The road to asceticism begins with doing the little things with great love. We see this message in people like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese, and Bl. Mother Teresa. Sometimes, the smallest things require the most attention, because we tend to do them half-heartedly believing that they are of little value. Little do we know that what may be of little value in our eyes, is of great value to Jesus.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Thank-you for that . Your reminder has been very helpful to me this morning, leading me to embrace those little tasks I’ve been asked to do today with love. I also look to the long term, though. How much will I continue to apply this? Will this fade out, as have some of my past pious practices? I entrust it to God that it will not. I’m hopeful that my effort at continual recollection and daily Eucharistic Adoration will help me in this area.

You and Shin have given me great advice, and now it’s up to me, through the power of the Eucharist, to apply it all!

Any prayers you can offer to help me in this asceticism, especially through the saints, will be greatly appreciated. My patron saints I’m most leaning on for this are St. Jerome, St. Arsenius and St. Therese of Lisieux. And I’ve been praying to St. Casinius too, since Shin brought up his teaching on this. I also need prayer for my continued vocational search.

I’m so glad you and Shin are willing to take the time to offer me the wisdom God has given you .

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Seeing as we’re talking about asceticism, both mortifying the will (JReducation) and mortifying the flesh (Shin), I thought I’d bring up a holy quote Shin posted on a thread called, I think, “Mortification of the Flesh,” affirming both practices. Seeing as this is a thread for quotes from the saints, it seems the perfect time and place to submit it! Thanks for providing the following quote on the other thread, Shin .

This is all that is necessary in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ; the denying of ourselves, and the moritfying of self-love. Do we desire to be saved? we must conquer all, to secure all. How wretched is the soul that allows itself to be guided by self-love! Mortification is of two kinds; interior and exterior. By interior mortification the passions are conquered, and particularly that which prevails over us most. He who does not overcome his predominant passion is in great danger of being lost. On the contrary he who does overcome it, will easily conquer all the rest. Some nevertheless suffer themselves to be swayed by some particular vice, and yet think they are good persons, because they are not overcome by the same vices which they witness in others. " But what will this avail ?" says St. Cyril, " a small" chink is sufficient to sink the vessel." It avails nought to say: “I cannot abstain from this vice:” a resolute will overcomes every thing; when it relies on God’s assistance which is never wanting.

Exterior mortification is the conquering of the sensual appetites. Worldlings call the saints cruel, because they deny their bodies all sensual gratifications, and afflict themselves with hair-shirts, disciplines and penances. But St. Bernard says that those are much more cruel towards themselves, who for the sake of the momentary pleasures of this world, condemn themselves to the eternal torments of the next. Others say that the body should be denied all forbidden pleasure, but despise exterior mortifications, saying that interior mortification alone is necessary, that is, the mortification of the will. Yes, it is in the first place necessary to mortify the will, but it is also necessary to mortify the flesh; because if the flesh be not mortified, it will have great difficulty in being obedient to God. St. John of the Cross says, that he who teaches that exterior mortification is not necessary is not to be believed, although he should perform miracles.

But to come to the practice. . .

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church

The part in bold is the part that most leapt out at me right now, and on which I depend for both my new planned mortifications (JR’s and Shin’s) . Praise the Lord!

I’m very grateful for my effort to practice continual recollection. One of my spiritual advisors told me that will be invaluable for this kind of pursuit.