May 12th
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Roccasecca, Italy; Feast day March 7th
"God with patience and mercy awaits the sinner until his death in order to have pity upon him, should he, even in this last moment, regret his evil ways and turn toward Him. For the Lord who is merciful does not rejoice in the loss of the living. But we, in our impatience, before the grave is even dug for the sinner, cursing him and crying out for justice, would like to see him swallowed up at that very instant. We reproach God for bearing so long with the evil that the wicked cause the just to suffer, and we do not wish to consider the good that His wisdom expects to draw even from the malice of the impious.... it demonstrates God's tremendous mercy to take pity on and spare the sinner."
"God forgives immediately the gravest and most numerous offenses, if we make a firm resolution to turn from them and truly to amend. Even more, God forgets those offenses in return for a single lamentation of a contrite heart...nor does He contemplate reproaching us with them in order to dismay us, nor charging us with them in order to love us less, nor driving us away from Him by withdrawing His intimacy....[I]t is with difficulty that we agree from the heart to forgive a single small offense of one who implores our forgiveness! If it happens that we do forgive, we almost never forget; we rejoice in the embarrassment of our debtor; we have small pity for him in adversity; or else we love him less than we did before. If we do not reproach him it is certain, however, that we exclude him from our intimacy, and that even in times of trial we refuse him our counsel and our support."
St John Chrysostom (347-407), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Antioch; Feast day September 13th
"Nothing makes us more like God than to allow ourselves to be easily appeased and to be pitiful to the wayward and to those who harm us. For the height of perfection is to love our enemies, and to pray for them as did the Lord Jesus."
"God wishes that all should become holy and that none should neglect the practice of virtue. You make a great mistake if you think that anything different is required from people in the world than from monks. The one difference is that the one takes a wife and the other does not. In all other things the same reckoning will be demanded from each."
Sunday, May 12, 2013
May 11th
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"All animals are born with weapons for combat. The bull has horns; the boar has tusks; the bird has a beak and claws; the bee has a sting, and even the tiny fly or other insect has power to bite. But man, destined to live at peace with his fellow creatures, comes into the world naked and unarmed. Reflect, then, how contrary to your rightful nature it is to seek to be revenged upon one of your kind, to return evil for evil, particularly by making use of weapons which nature has denied you."
"If you overcome your passion, you gain a more glorious victory than he who conquers a city. Our noblest triumph is won by subduing ourselves, by subjecting our passions to the empire of reason."
"If anger urges that our enemy does not deserve forgiveness, ask yourself how far you have merited God's pardon. Will you have God exercise only mercy toward you, when you pursue your neighbor with implacable hatred? And if it be true that your enemy does not deserve pardon from you, it will be equally true that you do not deserve pardon from God. Remember that the pardon which man has not merited for himself, Christ has superabundantly merited for him. For love of Him, therefore, forgive all who have offended you."
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"We gain no merit from good works if we have not learned to endure injuries with patience."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"All animals are born with weapons for combat. The bull has horns; the boar has tusks; the bird has a beak and claws; the bee has a sting, and even the tiny fly or other insect has power to bite. But man, destined to live at peace with his fellow creatures, comes into the world naked and unarmed. Reflect, then, how contrary to your rightful nature it is to seek to be revenged upon one of your kind, to return evil for evil, particularly by making use of weapons which nature has denied you."
"If you overcome your passion, you gain a more glorious victory than he who conquers a city. Our noblest triumph is won by subduing ourselves, by subjecting our passions to the empire of reason."
"If anger urges that our enemy does not deserve forgiveness, ask yourself how far you have merited God's pardon. Will you have God exercise only mercy toward you, when you pursue your neighbor with implacable hatred? And if it be true that your enemy does not deserve pardon from you, it will be equally true that you do not deserve pardon from God. Remember that the pardon which man has not merited for himself, Christ has superabundantly merited for him. For love of Him, therefore, forgive all who have offended you."
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"We gain no merit from good works if we have not learned to endure injuries with patience."
Friday, May 10, 2013
May 10th
St Antoninus (1389-1459), Bishop, Confessor; Florence, Italy; Feast day May 10th
"To enjoy interior peace, we must always reserve in our hearts amidst all affairs, as it were, a secret closet, where we are to keep retired within ourselves, and where no business of the world can ever enter."
Bl Ivan Merz (1896-1928), Confessor; Bosnia; Feast day May 10th
"One can't express what one feels when Christ unites with us in Holy Communion. There is a wish for more and more, for the whole Christ, for Light, for God, the Creator."
"Don't let us forget Christ's immeasurable love and let's pay more attention to the little white Host which waits for us lonely, in small chilly churches."
"To educate and lead people to Jesus is more important than art, and in this work, art, as well as everything created, has to help people to draw closer to Jesus."
St Antoninus (1389-1459), Bishop, Confessor; Florence, Italy; Feast day May 10th
"To enjoy interior peace, we must always reserve in our hearts amidst all affairs, as it were, a secret closet, where we are to keep retired within ourselves, and where no business of the world can ever enter."
Bl Ivan Merz (1896-1928), Confessor; Bosnia; Feast day May 10th
"One can't express what one feels when Christ unites with us in Holy Communion. There is a wish for more and more, for the whole Christ, for Light, for God, the Creator."
"Don't let us forget Christ's immeasurable love and let's pay more attention to the little white Host which waits for us lonely, in small chilly churches."
"To educate and lead people to Jesus is more important than art, and in this work, art, as well as everything created, has to help people to draw closer to Jesus."
Thursday, May 9, 2013
May 9th
St Gregory the Theologian (329-389), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Cappadocia; Feast day May 9 (Nazianzus)
"I have given all I have to Him from whom I received it, and have taken Him alone for my whole possession. I have consecrated to Him my goods, my glory, my health, my tongue and talents. all the fruit I have received from these advantages has been the happiness of despising them for Christ's sake."
"Let us never esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to heaven, esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good but virtue, which unites us to God."
"Let us offer ourselves entire to God that in Him we may find ourselves again entire. It is truly great riches to be destitute of earthly goods for His sake who was pleased to suffer poverty for the love of us."
"Admire the excess of God's goodness. He vouchsafes to accept our desires as if they were a thing of great value. He burns with an ardent desire that we vehemently desire and love Him; and He receives the petition we put up for His benefits as if this were a benefit to Himself, and a favor we did Him: He gives with greater joy than it can be to us to receive what He gives. Let us only be careful not to be too indifferent in our requests, or to set too narrow bounds to our desires and pretensions; and let us never ask frivolous things which it would be unworthy of His magnificence to petition Him for. There is nothing so great before God which the least among men is not able to offer Him, as well as the greatest prince or most profound scholar: give but yourself to Him with the most pure and perfect love."
Bl Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger (1797-1879), Virgin, Foundress; Bavaria; Feast day May 9th
"Let us never forget the love of Jesus for children, whom He took upon His lap and blessed."
St Gregory the Theologian (329-389), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Cappadocia; Feast day May 9 (Nazianzus)
"I have given all I have to Him from whom I received it, and have taken Him alone for my whole possession. I have consecrated to Him my goods, my glory, my health, my tongue and talents. all the fruit I have received from these advantages has been the happiness of despising them for Christ's sake."
"Let us never esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to heaven, esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good but virtue, which unites us to God."
"Let us offer ourselves entire to God that in Him we may find ourselves again entire. It is truly great riches to be destitute of earthly goods for His sake who was pleased to suffer poverty for the love of us."
"Admire the excess of God's goodness. He vouchsafes to accept our desires as if they were a thing of great value. He burns with an ardent desire that we vehemently desire and love Him; and He receives the petition we put up for His benefits as if this were a benefit to Himself, and a favor we did Him: He gives with greater joy than it can be to us to receive what He gives. Let us only be careful not to be too indifferent in our requests, or to set too narrow bounds to our desires and pretensions; and let us never ask frivolous things which it would be unworthy of His magnificence to petition Him for. There is nothing so great before God which the least among men is not able to offer Him, as well as the greatest prince or most profound scholar: give but yourself to Him with the most pure and perfect love."
Bl Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger (1797-1879), Virgin, Foundress; Bavaria; Feast day May 9th
"Let us never forget the love of Jesus for children, whom He took upon His lap and blessed."
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
May 8th
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"There is no creature so small and abject, that it represents not the goodness of God."
"Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ."
"You should stand for a time next to the Virgin Mother and learn from her, whose bitter tears are capable of penetrating the depths of your heart, what it is to lament...Next to the Cross, she maintains her constancy, exhibits her patience, manifests her loyalty, proves her love -- fearless of those who threaten her with death and ignoring those who shower her with curses. She endures all this with equal calm and by remaining silent before her abusive enemies, she imitates her humble Son.
"No discourteous words fall from her hips, nor does she show any indignation in her gestures. She only utters deep sighs, weeps profoundly, and intimately shares in her Son's pain...She expresses no anger against those crucifying her Son, but prays for them, evil though they be...and by this example of her loving patience, she is a model to all who are troubled by trials and tribulation."
"If you seek rest in this life, how will you then attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not yourself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace -- not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone."
"When the time of tribulation comes upon you, be meek as well as courageous. And when something you especially love is taken from you, or when something you deem necessary is denied you, neither be disturbed nor yield to despair. For Jesus' dearest friends are often tried by such severe struggles. If God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up to such unspeakable suffering for our benefit, why are you hankering for the joys of this world?"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"There is no creature so small and abject, that it represents not the goodness of God."
"Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ."
"You should stand for a time next to the Virgin Mother and learn from her, whose bitter tears are capable of penetrating the depths of your heart, what it is to lament...Next to the Cross, she maintains her constancy, exhibits her patience, manifests her loyalty, proves her love -- fearless of those who threaten her with death and ignoring those who shower her with curses. She endures all this with equal calm and by remaining silent before her abusive enemies, she imitates her humble Son.
"No discourteous words fall from her hips, nor does she show any indignation in her gestures. She only utters deep sighs, weeps profoundly, and intimately shares in her Son's pain...She expresses no anger against those crucifying her Son, but prays for them, evil though they be...and by this example of her loving patience, she is a model to all who are troubled by trials and tribulation."
"If you seek rest in this life, how will you then attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not yourself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace -- not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone."
"When the time of tribulation comes upon you, be meek as well as courageous. And when something you especially love is taken from you, or when something you deem necessary is denied you, neither be disturbed nor yield to despair. For Jesus' dearest friends are often tried by such severe struggles. If God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up to such unspeakable suffering for our benefit, why are you hankering for the joys of this world?"
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
May 7th
St Anselm (1033-1109), Confessor, Bishop; Aosta, Burgundy; Feast day April 21st
"Many things were revealed to the Apostles by Mary."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"How can you gain Heaven by the path of gross and sensual pleasures?..Consider how often the Sacred Host has rested upon your tongue, and do not permit death to enter by that gate through which life is conveyed to your soul....What incomprehensible folly to flatter with such delicate care a body which is destined to be the food of worms! For this miserable body you neglect your soul, which will appear before the tribunal of God as poor in virtues as its earthly companion is rich in sensual pleasures."
St Anselm (1033-1109), Confessor, Bishop; Aosta, Burgundy; Feast day April 21st
"Many things were revealed to the Apostles by Mary."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"How can you gain Heaven by the path of gross and sensual pleasures?..Consider how often the Sacred Host has rested upon your tongue, and do not permit death to enter by that gate through which life is conveyed to your soul....What incomprehensible folly to flatter with such delicate care a body which is destined to be the food of worms! For this miserable body you neglect your soul, which will appear before the tribunal of God as poor in virtues as its earthly companion is rich in sensual pleasures."
Monday, May 6, 2013
May 6th
St John Damascen (676-749), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Damascus, Syria; Feast day May 6th
"Conscious to myself of my own baseness and unworthiness, I ought rather to condemn myself to an eternal silence, weeping, and confessing my sins before God. But seeing the Church, which is founded on a rock, assailed by a furious storm, I think I ought no longer to remain silent, because I fear God more than an emperor of the earth."
"Without assiduous prayer, reasoning is a great dissipation of the mind, and learning often extinguishes the humble interior spirit of prayer, as wind does a candle."
"Suffer not yourself to be bewitched with the enchantment of geometry. Nothing will sooner dry up in you the interior spirit of recollection and devotion."
Bl Edmund Rice (1762-1844), Founder, Confessor; Callan, Co. Kilkenney, Ireland; Feast day May 6th
"But let us do ever so little for God, we will be sure He will never forget it, nor let it pass unrewarded."
"Were we to know the merit and value of only going from one street to another to serve a neighbor for the love of God, we should prize it more than silver and gold."
"One thing you may be sure of, that whilst you work for God, whether you succeed or not, he will amply reward you."
"The will of God be done in this and every thing we undertake."
"Have courage; the good seed will grow up in the children's hearts later on."
"O God, did we even now rightly begin to serve you, your loving heart would take us all to its final embrace."
"Be intent on prayer and whatever may happen will turn to our good."
"Cast all your cares into the arms of divine Providence."
"Give to the poor in handfuls."
"If you only acquire this virtue (humility), it will always guide you safely let your paths be ever so cross or difficult."
"Never allow vain notions of your own sense, abilities, or other natural or acquired qualifications to take root in your mind, but always beseech God to make known to you, your sins and imperfections."
St John Damascen (676-749), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Damascus, Syria; Feast day May 6th
"Conscious to myself of my own baseness and unworthiness, I ought rather to condemn myself to an eternal silence, weeping, and confessing my sins before God. But seeing the Church, which is founded on a rock, assailed by a furious storm, I think I ought no longer to remain silent, because I fear God more than an emperor of the earth."
"Without assiduous prayer, reasoning is a great dissipation of the mind, and learning often extinguishes the humble interior spirit of prayer, as wind does a candle."
"Suffer not yourself to be bewitched with the enchantment of geometry. Nothing will sooner dry up in you the interior spirit of recollection and devotion."
Bl Edmund Rice (1762-1844), Founder, Confessor; Callan, Co. Kilkenney, Ireland; Feast day May 6th
"But let us do ever so little for God, we will be sure He will never forget it, nor let it pass unrewarded."
"Were we to know the merit and value of only going from one street to another to serve a neighbor for the love of God, we should prize it more than silver and gold."
"One thing you may be sure of, that whilst you work for God, whether you succeed or not, he will amply reward you."
"The will of God be done in this and every thing we undertake."
"Have courage; the good seed will grow up in the children's hearts later on."
"O God, did we even now rightly begin to serve you, your loving heart would take us all to its final embrace."
"Be intent on prayer and whatever may happen will turn to our good."
"Cast all your cares into the arms of divine Providence."
"Give to the poor in handfuls."
"If you only acquire this virtue (humility), it will always guide you safely let your paths be ever so cross or difficult."
"Never allow vain notions of your own sense, abilities, or other natural or acquired qualifications to take root in your mind, but always beseech God to make known to you, your sins and imperfections."
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