"Do not long after things afar off; such, I mean, as cannot happen till a distant time… these useless wishes take the place of such as I ought to have – namely, to be patient, resigned, self-denying, obedient, gentle under suffering – which are what God requires of me under the circumstances." Source: St. [...]
"Tell me not that the body is a cause of sin. For if the body is a cause of sin, why does not a dead body sin? Put a sword in the right hand of one just dead, and no murder takes place. Let beauties of every kind pass before a youth just dead, and [...]
"There are two goals, vice and virtue, and both require perseverance. If you would reach life, you must persevere in virtue, and if you would reach eternal death, persevere in vice." Source: St. Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue, Paulist Press, 1980 The Dialogue was dictated by Catherine over a period of five days. Three [...]
"The only ones who can instruct the brethren are those who are merciful, those who are meek or humble. In other words, one cannot really be merciful if he is not humble." Source: St. Bernard of Clairvaux, The Steps of Humility and Pride (Note: This quote was incorrectly attributed to St. Augustine when it [...]
"The anti-culture of death, which finds expression for example in drug use, is thus countered by an unselfish love which shows itself to be a culture of life by the very willingness to “lose itself” for others." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love: Deus Caritas Est, Ignatius Press, 2006.
"There are two kinds of swords: one that swings outward, and the other, which is thrust inward. One is to harm the neighbor, such as the sword of Peter that hacked off the ear of the high priest’s servant. It was this kind of sword the Divine Master bade be put back into its scabbard. [...]
"What do kings and lords matter to me if I have no desire to possess their money, or to please them, if by so doing I should cause the least displeasure to God? And what do their honours mean to me if I have realized that the chief honour of a poor man consists in [...]
"For every one, the absolute and necessary price of heaven, is fidelity to his own grace, to his particular grace. God does not demand from all an equal measure of merits and virtues; but there is, nevertheless, one measure strictly required, one condition essential for all, and that is the state of grace. One must [...]
"The humility of love. That is the royal virtue, which puts in practice the gift and the sacrifice of personality. It is from it that all your other virtues ought to draw their strength. If you have it not, although possessing the others, you are laying up in a perforated sack. It is the characteristic [...]
"Be sure then often to examine your dealing with your neighbor, whether your heart is right toward him, as you would have his toward you, were things reversed – this is the true test of reason." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.