"This sacrament was appropriately instituted at the supper, when Christ conversed with His disciples for the last time. First of all, because of what is contained in the sacrament: for Christ is Himself contained in the Eucharist sacramentally. Consequently, when Christ was going to leave His disciples in His proper species, He left Himself with [...]
"Technologically advanced societies must not confuse their own technological development with a presumed cultural superiority, but they must rather rediscover within themselves the oft-forgotten virtues which made it possible for them to flourish throughout their history." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, CARITAS IN VERITATE (Charity in Truth), 6/29/2009
"That many do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of God, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue." Source: Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence [...]
"In the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a 'thing,' but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives us the totality of his life and reveals the ultimate origin of this love." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (Sacrament of Charity), 2/22/2007
"Do you think that you can stand and live if you withdraw from the Church, building for yourself other homes and a different dwelling, when it is said to Rahab, in whom was prefigured the Church, 'Your father, and your mother, and your brethren, and all the house of your father, you shall gather unto [...]
Joy is significantly different from pleasure. Pleasure is a feeling reflecting that instant. It mimics joy but it is not joy. Joy is persistent and lasting. A person who is joyful does not fall out of joy because prosperity ends and adversity starts. The joy persists. Pleasure is fleeting. When a pleasurable activity ends, so does [...]
"Meekness is not, then, a natural virtue, and one attains it not by his own strength, nor by merely saying. 'I want to be meek.' It is a virtue proper to Jesus Christ, entirely supernatural. For us to practise it, His grace, a powerful grace, is necessary. It is the question of simply vanquishing one's [...]
"Were it your wedding day before you, would you not have disregarded all else, and set about the preparation for the feast? And on the eve of consecrating your soul to the heavenly Bridegroom, will you not cease from carnal things, that you may win spiritual?" Source: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures [...]
"Let us foster all our virtues, my daughter, because they are pleasing to God, the Chief Aim of all we do." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"How must we draw inspiration from Our Lord, and how obey Him in all that we do? By recalling His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament and by praying for His guidance. Do not go to seek Our Lord in heaven, for He is nearer to you than that. It is well; doubtless, to rise toward [...]