May 24th
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th

"Slight faults are sometimes more dangerous than greater ones, for the latter, when we behold their hideousness, awaken remorse and resolutions of amendment; but the former make less impression on us, and thus, by easily relapsing into them, we soon contract a strong habit."

St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th

"Do not despise venial sins because they appear trifling, but fear them because they are numerous.  Small animals in large numbers can kill a man.  Grains of sand are very small, yet, if accumulated, they can sink a ship.  Drops of water are very small, yet how often they become a mighty river, a raging torrent, sweeping everything before them!"