June 18th
St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682), Priest, Confessor; Saint-Symphorien-d'Ozon, France; Feast day February 15th

"Even if the Holy Spirit had not called blessed those who suffer, if every page of Scripture did not proclaim aloud the necessity of adversity, if we did not see that suffering is the normal destiny of those who are friends of God, we should still be convinced that it is of untold advantage to us.  It is enough to know that the God who chose to suffer all the most horrible tortures the rage of man can invent rather than see us condemned to the slightest pain in the next life is the same God who prepares and offers us the chalice of bitterness we must drink in this world.  A God who has so suffered to prevent us from suffering would not make us suffer today to give Himself cruel and pointless pleasure."

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), Bishop, Confessor, Founder; Marianella, Italy; Feast day August 2nd

"Let us then abandon everything to God's good pleasure, because being infinitely wise, He knows what is best for us; and being all-good and all-loving -- having given His life for us -- He wills what is best for us."