April 11th
St Leo the Great (400-461), Pope, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Tuscany, Italy; Feast day April 11th

"Our Saviour, dearly-beloved, was born today: let us be glad.  For there is no proper place for sadness, when we keep the birthday of the Life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings to us the joy of promised eternity.  No one is kept from sharing in this happiness.  There is for all one common measure of joy, because as our Lord, the destroyer of sin and death, finds none free from charge, so is He come to free us all.  Let the saint exult in that he draws near to victory.  Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon.  Let the gentile take courage in that he is called to life."

"For what is the fruit of our partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, but that we may pass into that which we receive; and that in Whom we are dead, and buried, and raised again (in the newness of our spirit and life) we may bear Him both in spirit and in our flesh through all things."

St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903), Virgin; Camiliagno, Italy; Feast day April 11th

"I felt an inward sorrow for my sins, but so intense that I have never felt the like again...My will made me detest them all, and promise willingly to suffer everything as expiation for them.  Then the thoughts crowded thickly within me, and they were thoughts of sorrow, love, fear, hope and comfort."

"Is it possible that there are souls who do not understand what the Blessed Eucharist is?  Who are insensible to the Divine Presence...to the mysterious and fervent effusions of the Sacred Heart of my Jesus?  O Heart of Jesus!  Heart of love!"

"...Gemma alone can do nothing.  But together, Gemma and Jesus can do all things!"