"The Synod speaks further of the Eucharist as the 'heart of priestly existence.' This means that the presbyter, desiring to be and remain personally and profoundly attached to Christ, finds him first in the Eucharist, the sacrament which brings about this intimate union, open to a growth which can reach the heights of mystical identification. [...]
"The two actions must be joined and never separated, filling our soul with love by prayer, and purifying ourselves exteriorly by mortification. It is easy to say, 'I love God,' but if this word is not followed by mortification, it is vain and unfounded. Self-love has quickly taken the place of the love of God." [...]
"If you would dance or play rightly, it must be done as a recreation, not as a pursuit, for a brief space of time, not so as to make you unfit for other things, and even then but seldom. If it is a constant habit, recreation becomes an occupation." Source: St. Francis de Sales, [...]
"In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love." Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1385
"What a source of grace there is in spiritual communion! Practice it frequently and you'll have greater presence of God and closer union with Him in all your actions." Source: St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way: The Essential Classic of Opus Dei's Founder, Image, 2006
"From God’s standpoint, faith liberates reason from its blind spots and therefore helps it to be ever more fully itself. Faith enables reason to do its work more effectively and to see its proper object more clearly." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love: Deus Caritas Est, Ignatius Press, 2006.
"Begrudge the stomach and your heart will be humbled; please the stomach and your mind will turn proud." Source: St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent
"It is sweet to every one to be in the company of a dear friend: and shall we not find it sweet, in this valley of tears, to remain in the company of the best Friend we have, and who can do us every kind of good; who loves us with the most tender affection, [...]
"It is not the eucharistic food that is changed into us, but rather we who are mysteriously transformed by it. Christ nourishes us by uniting us to himself; 'he draws us into himself.'" Source: Pope Benedict XVI, SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (Sacrament of Charity), 2/22/2007
"When I became aware of God’s great plans for me, I was frightened at their greatness and felt myself quite incapable of fulfilling them, and I began to avoid interior conversations with Him, filling up the time with vocal prayer. I did this out of humility, but I soon recognized it was not true humility, [...]