"That to arrive at such resignation as God requires, we should watch attentively over all passions which mingle as well in spiritual things as in those of a grosser nature; that God would give light concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him." Source: Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence [...]
"The first (method for meditation) starts from the knowledge of our nothingness, our sins, our temptations, in a word, our misery. The soul that starts from this truth, that begins her meditation by it, always has, enough to occupy her. She has always a familiar point upon which to plant her foot, and from it [...]
"Jealousy never arises where love is built up on true virtue, and therefore it is a sure sign of an earthly, sensual love, in which mistrust and inconstancy is soon infused. It is a sorry kind of friendship which seeks to strengthen itself by jealously; for though jealousy may be a sign of strong, hot [...]
"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 [...]