March 18th
St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386), Confessor, Bishop, Doctor of the Church; Palestine

"Do not look upon the bread and wine as bare and common elements, for they are the Body and Blood of Christ, as our Lord assures us.  Although thy sense suggest this to thee, let faith make thee firm and sure.  Judge not of the thing by the taste, but be certain from faith that thou hast been honored with the gift of Christ's Body and Blood.  When he has pronounced and said of the bread: 'This is my body,' who will, after this, dare to doubt?  and when he has assured and said, 'This is my blood,' who can ever hesitate, saying it is not his blood?"

Padre Pio (1887-1968), Confessor, Stigmatic; Pietrelcina, Italy; Feast day September 23rd

"It is to your advantage to commit yourself to the sufferings that Jesus will send to you.  Jesus cannot tolerate seeing you afflicted and He will come to you and comfort you, blessing you with many graces for your soul."

St Lawrence Giustiniani (1381-1486), Bishop, Confessor; Venezia, Italy; Feast day September 5th

"No human tongue can enumerate the favors that trace back to the Sacrifice of the Mass.  The sinner is reconciled with God; the just man becomes more upright; sins are wiped away; vices are uprooted; virtue and merit increase; and devil's schemes are frustrated."