Which Saint said this?

[flameburns623]

Hi folks:

Probably don’t have this quote close to correct but I believe that some Saint or t’other said something to the effect of:

“Lord: I am not worthy of Thy Heaven so only let me go to hell that there might be one there to praise Thee”.

Please correct the quote if you can identify for me who actually said it. Thanks!

 

[eelpis]

Hi folks:

Probably don’t have this quote close to correct but I believe that some Saint or t’other said something to the effect of:

“Lord: I am not worthy of Thy Heaven so only let me go to hell that there might be one there to praise Thee”.

Please correct the quote if you can identify for me who actually said it. Thanks!

I think it was St Francis de Sales. He was in his younger years prone to despair.
Through the intercession of Our Lady he overcame despair, and moved further on the road to perfection.

newadvent.org/cathen/06220a.htm

“After a terrible and prolonged temptation to despair, caused by the discussions of the theologians of the day on the question of predestination, from which he was suddenly freed as he knelt before a miraculous image of Our Lady at St. Etienne-des-Grès, he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

 

[flameburns623]

Thanks! Do you have an exact quote? The only thing I’m really sure of was that this was a prayer to go to Hell that someone there might praise God… My rendition was a loose characterization of what I recollect.

Thanks again!

 

[eelpis]

St Francis despaired of salvation.

In Butler’s lives of the Saints it reads.

“Lord, if I am never to see thee in Heaven, this at least grant me, that I may never curse or blaspheme thy holy name. If I may not love thee in the other world-for in hell none praise thee-let me at least every instant of my brief existance here love thee as much as I can.”

After praying a Memorare in front of the statue of Our Lady, all his former fears suddenly dissapeared.

This might not be what you were looking for. I remembered the plight of Saint Francis and his despair of salvation, because I’ve suffered from the same temptation.Recourse to Our Lady is the most efficient remedy to despair.

 

[water]

In Butler’s lives of the Saints it reads.

“Lord, if I am never to see thee in Heaven, this at least grant me, that I may never curse or blaspheme thy holy name. If I may not love thee in the other world-for in hell none praise thee-let me at least every instant of my brief existance here love thee as much as I can.”

This quote makes more sense than the one in the original post for no one can really praise God in Hell, and certainly the Saint wouldn’t say that.