Daily quotes on developing virtue from Saints, Popes and others.
"The increasing prominence of a relativistic understanding of that nature presents serious problems for education, especially moral education, jeopardizing its universal extension. Yielding to this kind of relativism makes everyone poorer and has a negative impact on the effectiveness of aid to the most needy populations, who lack not only economic and technical means, but [...]
"Giving is really a divinely appointed way of acknowledging the mercies of God. We have indeed nothing to offer anyway that we have not received, and yet He is pleased to accept our offerings as tokens of our gratitude. Egotism makes the self the center; altruism and charity make the neighbor the center." Source: [...]
"You must seek earnestly the grace of devotion, ask for it fervently, await it patiently and hopefully, receive it gratefully, guard it humbly, cooperate with it carefully and leave to God, when it comes, the length and manner of the heavenly visitation. When you feel little or no inward devotion, you should especially humiliate yourself, [...]
"You must be meek toward the neighbor. The principle of meekness toward the neighbor lies in charity. You will be meek toward him, if you see in him the gifts of God, if you love God in him. To love men for themselves is time and trouble lost. Men are sacks full of holes. He [...]
"Very often demons manage to persuade us either to omit confession, or else to confess as though the sins were committed by someone else or else to blame others as responsible for our own sins." Source: St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent
"Let all vain ornament be banished, and every hurtful glance, and all wanton gait, and every flowing robe, and perfume enticing to pleasure. But in all for perfume let there be the prayer of sweet odour, and the practice of good works, and the sanctification of our bodies: that the Virgin-born Lord may say even [...]
"You will ask how to put away anger. My child, when you feel its first movements, collect yourself gently and seriously, not hastily or with impetuosity." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
"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 [...]
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 [...]