The Saintly Quotes: The Wisdom of the Saints

[Lorenzo]

This thread will focus on the quotes of the Saints of the Roman Catholic Church.

[Lorenzo]

On Bad Company...




If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate . . . Much harm may result from bad company, and we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse than what is better.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

[Lorenzo]

Spiritual Aridity


One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.

St.  Francis de Sales

[Lorenzo]

Believe..



We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.

St. Thomas Aquinas

[Lorenzo]

On Contemplation


Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.

St. Thomas Aquinas



Contemplation is nothing else than a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.

St. John of the Cross

[Lorenzo]

On Suffering,


Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.

St. Teresa of Avila

[Lorenzo]

Trusting In God



Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, Who does not change.

St. Teresa of Avila

[Lorenzo]

Beware of Bad Company



Nothing can be more dangerous than keeping wicked companions. They communicate the infection of their vices to all who associate with them.

St. John Baptiste de la Salle

[Lorenzo]

Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in the practice. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.

-- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux from a sermon

[Lorenzo]

When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can?

-- St. Jane Frances de Chantal

[Lorenzo]

It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world.

-- St. Aloysius Gonzaga

[Lorenzo]

Christ said, "I am the Truth"; he did not say "I am the custom."

-- St. Toribio

[Lorenzo]

Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections.
--Saint Francis de Sales

[Lorenzo]

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

--Saint Francis de Sales

[Lorenzo]

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.
Saint Augustine

[Lorenzo]

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.
Saint Augustine

[Lorenzo]

A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently.
Saint Augustine

[Lorenzo]

Don't you believe that there is in man a deep so profound as to be hidden even to him in whom it is?
Saint Augustine

[Lorenzo]

Right reason, that is, reason rightly exercised, leads the mind to the Catholic faith, and plants it there, and teaches it in all its religious speculations to act under its guidance.

-- St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

[Lorenzo]

O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the  darkness of the world will be made less. Amen.

-- Saint Columba of Ireland