March 7th

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274); Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Roccasecca, Italy; Patron of  academics, against storms and lightning, apologists, book sellers, Catholic academies, schools and universities, chastity, learning, pencil makers, philosophers, publishers, scholars, students, theologians.

"The things that we love tell us what we are."

"Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.  Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know You, diligence to seek You, wisdom to find You, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

"We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it."

"Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients.  Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church."

"Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need."

"Law: an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community."

"A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational."

"Beware of the person of one book."

"Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you."

March 6th

Sts Perpetua and Felicity (died 203); Martyrs; Carthage; Patronesses of mothers.

"We lie not in our own power but in the power of God."

March 5th

St Basil the Great (329-379); Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Caesarea, Cappadocia; Patron of liturgists.

"In truth, to know oneself seems to be the hardest of all things. Not only our eye, which observes external objects, does not use the sense of sight upon itself, but even our mind, which contemplates intently another's sin, is slow in the recognition of its own defects."

"I know the laws of allegory, though less by myself than from the works of others. There are those, truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature, who see in a plant, in a fish, what their fancy wishes, who change the nature of reptiles and of wild beasts to suit their allegories, like the interpreters of dreams who explain visions in sleep to make them serve their own end."

March 4th

St Casimir of Poland (1458-1484), Confessor; Krakow, Poland; Patron of Lithuania.

"Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due:
All her feasts, her actions honor
With the heart's devotion true.

Lost in wond'ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed:
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.

She is mighty in her pleading,
Tender in her loving care;
Ever watchful, understanding,
All our sorrows she will share.

Advocate and loving mother,
Mediatrix of all grace:
Heaven's blessings she dispenses
On our sinful human race.

All our graces flow through Mary;
All then join her praise to sing:
Fairest work of all creation,
Mother of creation's King.

Sing in songs of peace unending,
Call upon her lovingly:
Seat of wisdom, Gate of heaven,
Morning star upon the sea.."

March 3rd

St Katharine Drexel (1858-1955), Foundress; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Feast day, March 3rd; Patroness of racial justice and philanthropists.

“It is a lesson we all need – to let alone the things that do not concern us. He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path.”

September 18

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555), Bishop, Confessor; Fuentellana, Spain; Feast day September 18

"O man, look on that cross, on those torments, and that cruel death, which Jesus Christ has suffered for you:  after so great and so many tokens of his love, you can no longer entertain a doubt that he loves you, and loves you exceedingly."

August 30

St Rose of Lima (1586-1617); Virgin; Lima, Peru; Feast day August 30

"Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

Abbot Macarius, as quoted by St Alphonsus:

"When you are tempted in times of dryness to give up praying because you seem to be wasting your time, say:  Since I cannot pray, I will be satisfied just to remain on watch here in my cell for the love of Jesus Christ!"

St John of Avila (1500-1569); Priest, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Almodovar del Campo, Spain; Feast day May 10.

"O nails, leave those innocent hands of my Lord, and come and pierce my heart with compassion and love!  For you, my Jesus, did die, as St Paul says, in order to gain dominion over the living and the dead, not by means of chastisements, but by love."