April 13th
St Hermenegild (AD 586), Martyr; Spain; Feast day April 13th

"I confess your goodness to me has been extreme.  I will preserve to my dying breath the respect, duty, and tenderness which I owe you; but is it possible that you should desire me to prefer worldly greatness to my salvation?  I value the crown as nothing; I am ready to lose sceptre and life too, rather than abandon the divine truth."

Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany

"Who of us can now despair about not having his sins forgiven,when they, who crucified the Dispenser of pardon, experienced such abounding kindness?  My soul, though you may be guilty of many crimes, do not despair.  You may be caught in the web of your evil passions and may be subject to many severe temptations, nevertheless, disheartened one, you still have the hope of life.  The bowels of mercy are available to you, and the Cross, nails, lance, and Jesus' many blood-covered wounds are witnesses of that mercy.

"Penetrate deeply into the five sacred wounds of the Crucified, kiss His other wounds, cling to the tree of life with loving arms, and hold fast to Jesus hanging on His Cross, for He is the certain pledge of our salvation.  Worship Him devoutly, commit yourself to Him with full faith, and abandon yourself completely into His hands.  Since He had shown Himself to be good and merciful to His enemies, then He will certainly be more gracious to one who sorrows over his sins."