Daily quotes on developing virtue from Saints, Popes and others.
"Of all his virtues, and he possessed them all, Christ specifically commends one to us, humility. 'Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.'" Source: St. Bernard of Clairvaux, The Steps of Humility and Pride, Cistercian Publications (April 1, 1989)
"On a certain occasion, the Lord said to me, 'I am more deeply wounded by the small imperfections of chosen souls than by the sins of those living in the world.' It made me very sad that chosen souls make Jesus suffer, and Jesus told me, 'These little imperfections are not all. I will reveal [...]
"Purity consists above all in holding back the impulses of sense-desire, which has as its object what is bodily and sexual in man. Purity is a variant of the virtue of temperance." Source: Pope St. John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them, Pauline Books and Media, 2006.
"Consequently, in addition to their necessary professional training, these charity workers need a 'formation of the heart': they need to be led to that encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others. As a result, love of neighbor will no longer be for them a commandment imposed, so [...]
"Avarice is said to be the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), and it is so because it causes hatred, theft, envy, separation, hostility, stormy blasts, remembrance of past wrongs, inhuman acts and even murder. A small fire can burn down an entire forest. But one virtue can help many to escape all the [...]
"There are here two extremes to be avoided: one is to believe that man does everything and God does nothing, which is the Western sin of pride; the other is to believe that God does everything and man does nothing, which is the Oriental sin of fatalism. The golden truth is between the two, as [...]
"In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection from enemies, in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is highest virtue, in the cross is perfect holiness. There is no salvation [...]
"If the rule of poverty is truly kept, both chastity and all the other virtues are fortified much better than by the most sumptuous edifices." Source: Saint Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection, Dover Thrift Editions, 2012.
"When the soul is purged of the evil humors of sin, it experiences a ravenous hunger for spiritual things, and sets to work as one famished at all manner of spiritual exercises: mortification, penitence, humility, charity, prayer. Doubtless such an appetite is a good sign, but it behooves you to reflect whether you are able [...]
"You must be thirsty, then, and you must gather together, as he said, either two or three or more. Why did he say 'two or three'? Because there are not two without three nor three without two… Those who are wrapped up in selfish love of themselves are alone, mere nothings, because they are cut [...]