"Someone who had asked me once about stillness told me that talkativeness invariably results from one of the following causes: from a bad or relaxed life-style ('the tongue,' he said, 'is a member of the body, like the rest, and therefore needs to be trained in its habits'); or it comes from vainglory, a particular [...]
"Many say: 'I have labored for years for others and even for God, and what did I get out of it? I am still nothing.' The answer is, they have gained something; they have gained the truth of their own littleness – and of course, great merit in the next life." Source: Ven. Fulton [...]
"The devil makes us believe that we have some virtue – patience, let us say – because we have determination and make continual resolutions to suffer a great deal for God’s sake. We really and truly believe that we would suffer all this, and the devil encourages us in the belief, and so we are [...]
"Slander is a kind of murder; for we all have three lives – a spiritual life, which depends upon the Grace of God; a bodily life, depending on the soul; and a civil life, consisting in a good reputation. Sin deprives us of the first, death of the second, and slander of the third." [...]
" Daughter, words could never describe the suffering of these wretched little souls. There are three principal vices: The first is selfishness, which in turn gives birth to the second, self-conceit. From this conceit comes the third, pride, with treacherous injustice and cruelty as well as other evil filthy sins generated by these. So also, [...]
"Love is indeed 'ecstasy', not in the sense of a movement of intoxication, but rather as a journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God: 'Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses [...]
" Abide with God that you may learn His kindness. Abide in recollection with yourselves that you may discover your own misery and learn how to despise yourselves. These are the two sources of fraternal charity, and the secret of love for the brethren. Fraternal charity is the well-beloved virtue of Our Lord. It is [...]
"From rash judgments proceed mistrust, contempt for others, pride, and self-sufficiency, and numberless other pernicious results, among which stands forth prominently the sin of slander, which is veritable pest of society." Source: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Random House, Inc., 2002.
“You commanded me to ask for these mortifications, but Mother Superior will not permit them.” Jesus said, “I was here during your conversation with the Superior and know everything. I don’t demand mortification from you, but obedience. By obedience you give great glory to Me and gain merit for yourself.” Source: St. Faustina, Diary: [...]
"Love now becomes concern and care for the other. No longer is it self-seeking, a sinking in the intoxication of happiness; instead it seeks the good of the beloved: it becomes renunciation, and it is readily, and even willing for sacrifice." Source: Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love: Deus Caritas Est, Ignatius Press, 2006. [...]