Tuesday, August 30, 2011

St. Augustine

The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

St. Paul of the Cross

By habitually thinking of the presence of God, we succeed in praying twenty-four hours a day.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

St. John Chrysostom

It was clear through unlearned men that the cross was persuasive, in fact, it persuaded the whole world. Their discourse was not of unimportant matters but of God and true religion, of the Gospel way of life and future judgement, yet it turned plain, uneducated men into philosophers. How the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and his weakness stronger than men!

In what way is it stronger? It made its way throughout the world and overcame all men; countless men sought to eradicate the very name of the Crucified, but that name flourished and grew ever mightier. Its enemies lost out and perished; the living who waged a war on a dead man proved helpless. Therefore, when a Greek tells me I am dead, he shows only that he is foolish indeed, for I, whom he thinks a fool, turn out to be wiser than those reputed wise. So too, in calling me weak, he but shows that he is weaker still. For the good deeds which tax-collectors and fishermen were able to accomplish by God’s grace, the philosophers, the rulers, the countless multitudes cannot even imagine.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

St. Rose of Lima

Our Lord and Savior lifted up His voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven."

Sunday, August 21, 2011

St. Toribio

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

Saturday, August 20, 2011

St. Bernard

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 its practice. I love because I love, I love that I may love. Love is a great thing so long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. 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.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Prayer from the Divine Office

Lord God,
you have prepared for those who love you
what no eye has seen, no ear has heard.
Fill our hearts with your love,
so that, loving you above all and in all,
we may attain your promises
which the heart of man has not conceived.
[We make our prayer] through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

St. Faustina

After Holy Communion, I heard these words: - You see what you are of yourself, but do not be frightened at this. If I were to reveal to you the whole misery that you are, you would die of terror. However, be aware of what you are. Because you are such great misery, I have revealed to you the whole ocean of My mercy. I seek and desire souls like yours, but they are few. Your great trust in Me forces Me to continuously grant you graces. You have great and incomprehensible rights over My Heart, for you are a daughter of complete trust. You would not have been able to bear the magnitude of love which I have for you if I had revealed it to you fully here on earth. I often give you a glimpse of it, but know that this is only an exceptional grace from Me. My love and mercy knows no bounds.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fatima Offering

O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

St. Catherine of Sienna

Everything comes from love,
all is ordained for the salvation of man,
God does nothing without this goal in mind.

Monday, August 15, 2011

St. Louis de Montfort

Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

St. John Climacus

A servant of the Lord stands bodily before men, but mentally he is knocking at the gates of heaven with prayer.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Blessed Mother Teresa

I always say I am a little pencil in God's hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more. Be a little instrument in His hands so that He can use you any time, anywhere. We have only to say "yes" to God.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

O Jesus Living in Mary

O Jesus living in Mary
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the communion of Thy mysteries,
Subdue every hostile power
In Thy spirit, for the glory of the Father.  Amen

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

St. Teresa of Avila

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.

Monday, August 8, 2011

St. Teresa of Avila

From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

St. Dominic Savio

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.

Friday, August 5, 2011

A Prayer

Deliver me, Lord Jesus Christ, from all my iniquities and from every evil; make me ever hold fast to Thy commandments and never allow me to be separated from Thee.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

St. Therese of Lisieux

I picture my soul as a patch of bare ground and I beg the Blessed Virgin to clear it from all rubbish (my imperfections) and then build there a vast pavilion fit for heaven and adorn it with her own jewels.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Benedict XVI

If you follow the will of God, you know that in spite of all the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge. You know that the foundation of the world is love, so that even when no human being can or will help you, you may go on, trusting in the One who loves you.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

St. Patrick

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.

Monday, August 1, 2011

St. Alphonsus Liguori

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our Redeemer and our supreme good. It is part of the love of God to acquire and to nurture all the virtues which make a man perfect.

Has not God in fact won for himself a claim on all our love? From all eternity he has loved us. And it is in this vein that he speaks to us: “O man, consider carefully that I first loved you. You had not yet appeared in the light of day, nor did the world yet exist, but already I loved you. From all eternity I have loved you.”