{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_33649/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_33649","id":"gutenberg_33649","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33649","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Christian saints -- Quotations","Devotional calendars"],"text":"Produced by Michael Gray, Diocese of San Jose\n\n\n\n\n  Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year\n\n\n  Being a Collection of Quotations From\n\n  ST. ALPHONSUS\n  ST. ANSELM\n  ST. ANTONINUS\n  ST. BENEDICT\n  ST. BERNARD\n  ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA\n  ST. GREGORY THE GREAT\n  ST. IGNATIUS\n  ST. MECHTILDIS\n  ST. TERESA\n  ST. THOMAS AQUINAS\n  ST. VINCENT DE PAUL\n  ST. VINCENT FERRER\n  BL. ALBERT THE GREAT\n  BL. HENRY SUSO\n  BL. JORDAN OF SAXONY\n  VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS\n  VEN. JOHN TAULER\n  VEN. JULIENNE MOREL\n  VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS\n  VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA\n\n\n  Collected by Rev. Bonaventure Hammer, O.F.M.\n\n\n  JANUARY\n  FEBRUARY\n  MARCH\n  APRIL\n  MAY\n  JUNE\n  JULY\n  AUGUST\n  SEPTEMBER\n  OCTOBER\n  NOVEMBER\n  DECEMBER\n\n\nThoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year\n\n\"Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever\" (_Ps._\ncxliv. 2).\n\n\nJanuary\n\n1\n\nTHERE are two guarantees of a wise rule of conduct: the thought before\naction, and self-command afterward.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n2\n\nWhen we receive with an entire and perfect resignation the afflictions\nwhich God sends us they become for us favors and benefits; because\nconformity to the will of God is a gain far superior to all temporal\nadvantages.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n3\n\nAll perfection consists in the love of God; and the perfection of divine\nlove consists in the union of our will with that of God.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n4\n\nLeave to every one the care of what belongs to him, and disturb not\nthyself with what is said or done in the world.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n5\n\nPlace before your eyes as models for imitation, not the weak and\ncowardly, but the fervent and courageous.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n6\n\nPrayer is a pasturage, a field, wherein all the virtues find their\nnourishment, growth, and strength.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n7\n\nA single act of resignation to the divine will in what it ordains\ncontrary to our desires, is of more value than a hundred thousand\nsuccesses conformable to our will and taste.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n8\n\nThe shortest, yea, the only way to reach sanctity, is to conceive a\nhorror for all that the world loves and values.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n9\n\nAs long as we are in this mortal life, nothing is more necessary for us\nthan humility.--ST. TERESA.\n\n10\n\nLearning without humility has always been pernicious to the Church; and\nas pride precipitated the rebellious angels from heaven, it frequently\ncauses the loss of learned men.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n11\n\nWhy remain sad and idle? Why exhaust thyself in the anguish of\nmelancholy? Have courage, do violence to thyself; meditate on the\npassion of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt overcome thy sorrow.--BL. HENRY\nSUSO.\n\n12\n\nHere is the difference between the joys of the world and the cross of\nJesus Christ: after having tasted the first, one is disgusted with them;\nand on the contrary, the more one partakes of the cross, the greater the\nthirst for it.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n13\n\nWhen the sky is free from clouds we can see more clearly the brightness\nof the sun. In like manner, when the soul is free from sin and the gloom\nof passion, it participates in the divine light.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n14\n\nOur works are of no value if they be not united to the merits of Jesus\nChrist.--ST. TERESA.\n\n15\n\nIf we are very determined to mortify ourselves and not to be too much\noccupied with our corporal health, we will soon, by the grace of God,\nbecome masters of our bodies.--ST. TERESA.\n\n16\n\nIn every creature, however small it be, we may see a striking image of\ndivine wisdom, power, and goodness.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS.\n\n17\n\nTime is but a period. It passes like the lightning flash. Suffering\npasses with time; suffering, then, is very short.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n18\n\nIn order to bear our afflictions with patience, it is very useful to\nread the lives and legends of the saints who endured great torments for\nJesus Christ.--ST. TERESA.\n\n19\n\nOpen thine ears to the voices of nature, and thou shalt hear them in\nconcert inviting thee to the love of God.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n20\n\nOn the feasts of the saints consider their virtues, and beseech God to\ndeign to adorn you with them.--ST. TERESA.\n\n21\n\nWhen faith grows weak, all virtues are weakened. When faith is lost, all\nvirtues are lost--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n22\n\nA precious crown is reserved in heaven for those who perform all their\nactions with all the diligence of which they are capable; for it is not\nsufficient to do our part well; it must be done more than well.--ST.\nIGNATIUS.\n\n23\n\nNothing created has ever been able to fill the heart of man. God alone\ncan fill it infinitely.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n24\n\nWe should only make use of life to grow in the love of God.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n25\n\nIn vain men try. They can never find in creatures sincere affection,\nperfect joy, or true peace.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n26\n\nGod is supreme strength, fortifying those who place their trust and\nconfidence in Him.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n27\n\nGod gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will,\nand to do it fully.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n28\n\nShun useless conversation. We lose by it both time and the spirit of\ndevotion.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n29\n\nThe upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life and\nmakes them good.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n30\n\nThe truth of faith alone, deeply graven in the soul, is sufficient to\nencourage us to very perfect works; for it strengthens man and increases\nhis charity.--ST. TERESA.\n\n31\n\nIt is folly not to think of death. It is greater folly to think of it,\nand not prepare for it.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n\n\nFebruary\n\n1\n\nTHE most perfect and meritorious intention is that by which, in all our\nactions, we have in view only the good pleasure of God and the\naccomplishment of His holy will.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n2\n\nMary's sorrow was less when she saw her only Son crucified, than it is\nnow at the sight of men offending Him by sin.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n3\n\nThere is nothing more unreasonable than to estimate our worth by the\nopinion of others. Today they laud us to the skies, to-morrow they will\ncover us with ignominy.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n4\n\nAct as if every day were the last of your life, and each action the last\nyou perform.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n5\n\nPerfection consists in renouncing ourselves, in carrying our cross, and\nin following Jesus Christ. Now, he who renounces himself most perfectly\ncarries his cross the best and follows nearest to Jesus Christ is he who\nnever does his own will, but always that of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n6\n\nThat which would have easily been remedied at first, becomes incurable\nby time and habit--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n7\n\nAmong the gifts of grace which the soul receives in holy communion there\nis one that must be numbered among the highest. It is, that holy\ncommunion does not permit the soul to remain long in sin, nor to\nobstinately persevere in it.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n8\n\nBe assured that one great means to find favor when we appear before God\nis to have pardoned the injuries we have received here below.--VEN.\nLOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n9\n\nWoe to him who neglects to recommend himself to Mary, and thus closes\nthe channel of grace!--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n10\n\nIt is folly to leave your goods where you can never return, and to send\nnothing to that place where you must remain for ever.--VEN. LOUIS OF\nGRANADA.\n\n11\n\nDiscretion is necessary in spiritual life. It is its part to restrain\nthe exercises in the way of perfection, so as to keep us between the two\nextremes.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n12\n\nBy denying our self-love and our inclinations in little things, we\ngradually acquire mortification and victory over ourselves.--ST. TERESA.\n\n13\n\nShould we fall a thousand times in a day, a thousand times we must rise\nagain, always animated with unbounded confidence in the infinite\ngoodness of God.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n14\n\nGod's way in dealing with those whom He intends to admit soonest after\nthis life into the possession of His everlasting glory, is to purify\nthem in this world by the greatest afflictions and trials.--ST.\nIGNATIUS.\n\n15\n\nAfter the flower comes the fruit: we receive, as the reward of our\nfatigues, an increase of grace in this world, and in the next the\neternal vision of God.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n16\n\nGod refuses no one the gift of prayer. By it we obtain the help that we\nneed to overcome disorderly desires and temptations of all kinds.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n17\n\nTo establish ourselves in a virtue it is necessary to form good and\npractical resolutions to perform certain and determined acts of that\nvirtue, and we must, moreover, be faithful in executing them.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n18\n\nLove ought to consist of deeds more than of words.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n19\n\nThere are many things which seem to us misfortunes and which we call\nsuch; but if we understood the designs of God we would call them\ngraces.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n20\n\nLet us abandon everything to the merciful providence of God.--BL. ALBERT\nTHE GREAT.\n\n21\n\nJesus Christ, our great Model, suffered much for us; let us bear our\nafflictions cheerfully, seeing that through them we have the happiness\nof resembling Him.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n22\n\nRemember that virtue is a very high and rugged mountain, difficult to\nascend, and requiring much fatigue and exertion before we arrive at the\nsummit to rest.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n23\n\nLabor to conquer yourself. This victory will assure you a brighter crown\nin heaven than they gain whose disposition is more amiable.--ST.\nIGNATIUS.\n\n24\n\nWe should not examine articles of faith with a curious and subtle\nspirit. It is sufficient for us to know that the Church proposes them.\nWe can never be deceived in believing them.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n25\n\nWe should guard against jealousy, and even the slightest sentiment\nthereof. This vice is absolutely opposed to a pure and sincere zeal for\nthe glory of God, and is a certain proof of secret and subtle pride.--\nST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n26\n\nCharity requires us always to have compassion on human infirmity.--ST.\nCATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n27\n\nWhen one does not love prayer, it is morally impossible for him to\nresist his passions.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n28\n\nDocility and easy acquiescence with good advice are the signs of a\nhumble heart.--VEN. JULIENNE MOREL.\n\n29\n\nThere is nothing richer, nothing surer, nothing more agreeable than a\ngood conscience.--BL. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS.\n\n\n\nMarch\n\n1\n\nIT SEEMS as if God granted to other saints to free us from some\nparticular needfulness; but I know by experience that the glorious St.\nJoseph assists us generally in all our necessities.--ST. TERESA.\n\n2\n\nA most powerful and efficacious remedy for all evils, a means of\ncorrecting all imperfections, of triumphing over temptation, and\npreserving our hearts in an undisturbed peace, is conformity with the\nwill of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n3\n\nIt often happens that when we take less care of our body, we have better\nhealth than when we bestow upon it too much care.--ST. TERESA.\n\n4\n\nDo nothing, say nothing before considering if that which you are about\nto say or do is pleasing to God, profitable to yourself, and edifying to\nyour neighbor.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n5\n\nSometimes God leaves us for a long time unable to effect any good, that\nwe may learn to humble ourselves, and never to glory in our efforts.--\nST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n6\n\nWe easily lose peace of mind, because we make it depend, not on the\ntestimony of a good conscience, but on the judgment of men.--BL.\nBARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS.\n\n7\n\nYou may fast regularly, give alms, and pray without ceasing, but as long\nas you hate your brother, you will not be numbered among the children of\nGod.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n8\n\nHe who at the hour of death finds himself protected by St. Joseph, will\ncertainly experience great consolation.--ST. TERESA.\n\n9\n\nTake care that the worldling does not pursue with greater zeal and\nanxiety the perishable goods of this world than you do the eternal.--ST.\nIGNATIUS.\n\n10\n\nWe should consider our departed brethren as living members of Jesus\nChrist, animated by His grace, and certain of participating one day of\nHis glory. We should therefore love, serve, and assist them as far as is\nin our power.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n11\n\nControl thy senses, guard thy mouth, bridle thy tongue, subjugate thy\nheart, bear all provocation with charity, and thou shalt perfectly\nfulfil the will of God.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n12\n\nOur perfection consists in uniting our will so intimately with God's\nwill, that we will only desire what He wills. He who conforms most\nperfectly to the will of God will be the most perfect Christian.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n13\n\nHumility, modesty, sobriety, purity, piety, and prudence, with meekness,\nornament the soul, and make us live on earth a truly angelic life.--BL.\nJORDAN OF SAXONY.\n\n14\n\nIn recalling to mind the life and actions of the saints, walk in their\nfootsteps as much as possible, and humble thyself if thou canst not\nattain to their perfection.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n15\n\nWhen the devil again tempts you to sin, telling you that God is\nmerciful, remember that the Lord showeth mercy to them that fear Him,\nbut not to them who despise Him.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n16\n\nIn prayer we should particularly combat our predominant passion or evil\ninclination. We should devote continual attention to it, because when it\nis once conquered we will easily obtain the victory over all our other\nfaults.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n17\n\nI will carefully consider how, on the day of judgment, I would wish to\nhave discharged my office or my duty; and the way I would wish to have\ndone it then I shall do now.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n18\n\nIt is well to deny ourselves that which is permitted, in order to avoid\nmore easily that which is not.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n19\n\nI have noticed that all persons who have true devotion to St. Joseph and\ntender him special honor, are very much advanced in virtue, for he takes\ngreat care of souls who recommend themselves to him; and I have never\nasked of him anything which he did not obtain for me.--ST. TERESA.\n\n20\n\nHe who forgets himself in the service of God may be assured that God\nwill not forget Him.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n21\n\nLet all our actions be directed to the end that God may be glorified in\nall things.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n22\n\nHe who suffers in patience, suffers less and saves his soul. He who\nsuffers impatiently, suffers more and loses his soul.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n23\n\nWhen we remember or hear that the enemies of the Church burn and destroy\nGod's temples, we should grieve therefor; but we should also rejoice\nmuch when we see new ones built, and we should co-operate in their\nerection as much as we possibly can.--ST. TERESA.\n\n24\n\nWe should carefully beware of giving ourselves so completely to any\nemployment as to forget to have recourse to God from time to time.--ST.\nTERESA.\n\n25\n\nOur Lady, deign to intercede for us sinners with thy divine Son, our\nLord, and obtain of Him a blessing for us in our trials and\ntribulations!--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n26\n\nWhoever would follow Jesus Christ, must walk in His footsteps, if he\nwould not go astray.--ST. TERESA.\n\n27\n\nLet us thank God for having called us to His holy faith. It is a great\ngift, and the number of those who thank God for it is small.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n28\n\nThe trials of life cease to oppress us if we accept them for the love of\nGod.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n29\n\nIf you wish to take up your abode in the tabernacle of the heavenly\nkingdom, you must reach there through your good works, without which you\ncan not hope to enter.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n30\n\nIt is a great folly to be willing to violate the friendship of God,\nrather than the law of human friendship.--ST. TERESA.\n\n31\n\nWhen the afflictions of this life overcome us, let us encourage\nourselves to bear them patiently by the hope of heaven.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n\n\nApril\n\n1\n\nTO PUT into practice the teachings of our holy faith, it is not enough\nto convince ourselves that they are true; we must love them. Love united\nto faith makes us practise our religion.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n2\n\nUnite all your works to the merits of Jesus Christ, and then offer them\nup to the eternal Father if you desire to make them pleasing to Him.--\nST. TERESA.\n\n3\n\nGod pardons sin; but He will not pardon the will to sin.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n4\n\nIt is a fault, not a virtue, to wish your humility recognized and\napplauded.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n5\n\nBefore engaging in your private devotions, perform those which obedience\nand your duty toward your neighbor impose upon you in such a manner as\nto make an abnegation of self.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n6\n\nThe world is full of inconstancy; its friendship ceases the moment there\nis no advantage to be expected from us.--BL. JOHN TAULER.\n\n7\n\nThere is nothing better to display the truth in an excellent light, than\na clear and simple statement of facts.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n8\n\nBe careful and do not lightly condemn the actions of others. We must\nconsider the intention of our neighbor, which is often good and pure,\nalthough the act itself seems blameworthy.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n9\n\nHe who does not overcome his predominant passion is in great danger of\nbeing lost. He who does overcome it will easily conquer all the rest.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n10\n\nTo conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.--ST.\nIGNATIUS.\n\n11\n\nA soul which does not practise the exercise of prayer is very like a\nparalyzed body which, though possessing feet and hands, makes no use of\nthem.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n12\n\nWhen you do a good action, have the intention of first pleasing God, and\nthen of giving good example to your neighbor.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n13\n\nThe grace of perseverance is the most important of all; it crowns all\nother graces.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n14\n\nPrayer is the only channel through which God's great graces and favors\nmay flow into the soul; and if this be once closed, I know no other way\nHe can communicate them.--ST. TERESA.\n\n15\n\nTo acquire courage it is very useful to read the lives of the saints,\nespecially of those who, after living in sin, attained great sanctity.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n16\n\nThe truly humble reject all praise for themselves, and refer it all to\nGod.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n17\n\nPrayer should be effective and practical, since it has for its end the\nacquisition of solid virtue and the mortification of the passions.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n18\n\nWe do not keep an account of the graces which God has given us, but God\nour Lord keeps an account of them. He has fixed the measure thereof.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n19\n\nThe more guilty we are, the greater must be our confidence in Mary.\nTherefore, courage, timid soul; let Mary know all thy misery, and hasten\nwith joy to the throne of mercy.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n20\n\nEvil is often more hurtful to the doer than to the one against whom it\nis done.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n21\n\nDuring life despise that which will avail you nothing at the hour of\ndeath.--ST. ANSELM.\n\n22\n\nHe who fails to reflect before acting, walks with his eyes shut and\nadvances with danger. He also falls very often, because the eye of\nreflection does not enable him to see whither his footsteps lead.--ST.\nGREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n23\n\nSanctity and perfection consist not in fine words, but in good\nactions.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n24\n\nAs patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations\nthe path that leads to humility.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n25\n\nDo not disturb yourself with vain curiosity concerning the affairs of\nothers, nor how they conduct themselves, unless your position makes it\nyour duty to do so.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n26\n\nThe deceitful charms of prosperity destroy more souls than all the\nscourges of adversity.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n27\n\nThe first degree of humility is the fear of God, which we should\nconstantly have before our eyes.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n28\n\nHe who cheerfully endures contempt and is happy under crosses and\naffliction, partakes of the humility and sufferings of Our Lord.--ST.\nMECHTILDIS.\n\n29\n\nHe who is resigned to the divine will shall always surmount the\ndifficulties he meets with in the service of God. The Lord will\naccomplish His designs concerning him.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n30\n\nConsent to suffer a slight temporary pain, that so thou mayst avoid the\neternal pains which sin deserves.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n\n\nMay\n\n1\n\nMARY was the most perfect among the saints only because she was always\nperfectly united to the will of God.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n2\n\nAfter the love which we owe Jesus Christ, we must give the chief place\nin our heart to the love of His Mother Mary.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n3\n\nWhen we feel our cross weighing upon us, let us have recourse to Mary,\nwhom the Church calls the \"Consoler of the Afflicted.\"--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n4\n\nThe devotions we practise in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary, however\ntrifling they be, are very pleasing to her divine Son, and He rewards\nthem with eternal glory.--ST. TERESA.\n\n5\n\nThere is nothing which is more profitable and more consoling to the mind\nthan to frequently remember the Blessed Virgin.--ST. TERESA.\n\n6\n\nBlessed are the actions enclosed between two Hail Marys.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n7\n\nLet us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy\napostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus\nChrist were the most afflicted.--ST. TERESA.\n\n8\n\nThe servants of Mary who are in purgatory receive visits and\nconsolations from her.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n9\n\nIf you persevere until death in true devotion to Mary, your salvation is\ncertain.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n10\n\nHe who remembers having invoked the name of Mary in an impure\ntemptation, may be sure that he did not yield to it.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n11\n\nMary being destined to negotiate peace between God and man, it was not\nproper that she should be an accomplice in the disobedience of\nAdam.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n12\n\nMary having co-operated in our redemption with so much glory to God and\nso much love for us, Our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain\nsalvation except through her intercession.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n13\n\nHe who wishes to find Jesus will do so only by having recourse to\nMary.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n14\n\nMary having always lived wholly detached from earthly things and united\nwith God, death, which united her more closely to Him, was extremely\nsweet and agreeable to her.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n15\n\nMary being in heaven nearer to God and more united to Him, knows our\nmiseries better, compassionates them more, and can more efficaciously\nassist us.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n16\n\nThe Virgin Mother, all pure and all white, will make her servants pure\nand white.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n17\n\nTo assure our salvation it does not suffice to call ourselves children\nof Mary, therefore let us always have the fear of God.--ST. TERESA.\n\n18\n\nLet us offer ourselves without delay and without reserve to Mary, and\nbeg her to offer us herself to God.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n19\n\nSuch is the compassion, such the love which Mary bears us, that she is\nnever tired of praying for us.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n20\n\nO Queen of heaven and earth! The universe would perish before thou\ncouldst refuse aid to one who invokes thee from the depth of his\nheart.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n21\n\nO most blessed Virgin, who declarest in thy Canticle that it is owing to\nthy humility that God hath done great things in thee, obtain for me the\ngrace to imitate thee, that is, to be obedient; because to obey is to\npractise humility.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n22\n\nMay the two names so sweet and so powerful, of Jesus and Mary, be always\nin our hearts and on our lips!--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n23\n\nWhatsoever we do, we can never be true children of Mary, unless we are\nhumble.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n24\n\nLet us highly esteem devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and let us lose no\nopportunity of inspiring others with it.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n25\n\nAs a mother feels no disgust in dressing the sores of her child, so\nMary, the heavenly infirmarian, never refuses to care for sinners who\nhave recourse to her.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n26\n\nEach of our days is marked with the protection of Mary, who is\nexceedingly anxious to be our Mother, when we desire to be her\nchildren.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n27\n\nWhen the devil wishes to make himself master of a soul, he seeks to make\nit give up devotion to Mary.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n28\n\nLet us have recourse to Mary; for of all creatures she is the highest,\nthe purest, the most beautiful, and the most loving.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n29\n\nLet the name of Mary be ever on your lips, let it be indelibly engraven\non your heart. If you are under her protection, you have nothing to\nfear; if she is propitious, you will arrive at the port of salvation.--\nST. BERNARD.\n\n30\n\nKnow that of all devotions the most pleasing to Mary is to have frequent\nrecourse to her, asking for favors.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n31\n\nLet the servants of Mary perform every day, and especially on Saturday,\nsome work of charity for her sake.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n\n\nJune\n\n1\n\nCAN WE, amongst all hearts, find one more amiable than that of Jesus? It\nis on His Heart that God looks with special complacency--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n2\n\nOne must wage war against his predominant passion, and not retreat,\nuntil, with God's help, he has been victorious.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n3\n\nAn act of perfect conformity to the will of God unites us more to Him\nthan a hundred other acts of virtue.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n4\n\nThe love of God inspires the love of our neighbor, and the love of our\nneighbor serves to keep alive the love of God.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n5\n\nLive always in the certainty that whatever happens to you is the result\nof divine Providence; because nothing hard or laborious falls to your\nlot without the Lord permitting it.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n6\n\nWhatsoever good work you undertake, pray earnestly to God that He will\nenable you to bring it to a successful termination.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n7\n\nWhat is a fruitless repentance, defiled almost immediately by new\nfaults?--ST. BERNARD.\n\n8\n\nYou propose to give up everything to God; be sure, then, to include\nyourself among the things to be given up.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n9\n\nIf you can find a place where God is not, go there and sin with\nimpunity.--ST. ANSELM.\n\n10\n\nHe can not err who is constantly with the visible Head which Jesus\nChrist has left to His Church, as its foundation, rule, teacher, and\ndefender of the Faith.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n11\n\nThe more numerous the gifts we have received from God, the greater the\naccount we must render to Him.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n12\n\nTrue penance consists in regretting without ceasing the faults of the\npast, and in firmly resolving to never again commit that which is so\ndeplorable.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n[Illustration: The Sacred Heart of Mary.]\n\n13\n\nWe are not raised the first day to the summit of perfection. It is by\nclimbing, not by flying, that we arrive there.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n14\n\nWhat we do for ourselves during life is more certain than all the good\nwe expect others to do for us after death.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n15\n\nIdleness begets a discontented life. It develops self-love, which is the\ncause of all our misery, and renders us unworthy to receive the favors\nof divine love.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n16\n\nHave death always before your eyes as a salutary means of returning to\nGod.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n17\n\nIf the devil tempts me by the thought of divine justice, I think of\nGod's mercy; if he tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of\nHis mercy, I think of His justice.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n18\n\nIn time of temptation continue the good thou hast begun before\ntemptation.--ST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n19\n\nIn the eyes of the sovereign Judge the merit of our actions depends on\nthe motives which prompted them.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n20\n\nThe benefits to be derived from spiritual reading do not merely consist\nin impressing on the memory the precepts set forth, but in opening the\nheart to them, that they may bear fruit.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n21\n\nAs clouds obscure the sun, so bad thoughts darken and destroy the\nbrightness of the soul.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n22\n\nTo judge rightly of the goodness and perfection of any one's prayer, it\nis sufficient to know the disposition he takes to it, and the fruits he\nreaps from it.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n23\n\nTo commence many things and not to finish them is no small fault; we\nmust persevere in whatever we undertake with upright intention and\naccording to God's will.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n24\n\nThe perfect champion is he who establishes complete control over his\nmind by overcoming temptations and the inclination of his nature to\nsin.--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n25\n\nIf the love of God is in your heart, you will understand that to suffer\nfor God is a joy to which all earthly pleasures are not to be\ncompared.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n26\n\nThe world around us is, as it were, a book written by the finger of God;\nevery creature is a word on the page. We should apply ourselves well to\nunderstand the signification of the volume.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF\nMARTYRS.\n\n27\n\nA man of prayer is capable of everything. He can say with St. Paul, \"I\ncan do all things in Him who strengthened me.\"--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n28\n\nWhilst here below our actions can never be entirely free from\nnegligence, frailty, or defect; but we must not throw away the wheat\nbecause of the chaff.--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n29\n\nStrive always to preserve freedom of spirit, so that you need do nothing\nwith the view of pleasing the world, and that no fear of displeasing it\nwill have power to shake your good resolutions.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n30\n\nWo to us poor sinners if we had not the Divine Sacrifice to appease the\nLord!--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n\n\nJuly\n\n1\n\nHOW few there are who avail themselves of the precious blood of Jesus to\npurchase their salvation!--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n2\n\nO Queen of heaven and earth! Thou art the gate of mercy ever open, never\nclosed. The universe must perish before he who invokes thee from his\nheart is refused assistance.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n3\n\nOur Faith will never be true unless it is united to that of St. Peter\nand the Pontiff, his successors.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n4\n\nShort pleasures and long sufferings are all the world can give.--VEN.\nJOHN TAULER.\n\n5\n\nLearn to be silent sometimes for the edification of others, that you may\nlearn how to speak sometimes.--ST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n6\n\nGratitude for graces received is a most efficacious means of obtaining\nnew ones.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n7\n\nTo a useless question we should answer only by silence.--ST. VINCENT\nFERRER.\n\n8\n\nWe should not judge things by their exterior or appearance, but consider\nwhat they are in the sight of God, and whether they be according to His\ngood pleasure.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n9\n\nPreserve purity of conscience with care, and never do anything to sully\nit or render it less agreeable to God.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n10\n\nGive not thyself too much to any one. He who gives himself too freely is\ngenerally the least acceptable.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n11\n\nAffliction strengthens the vigor of our soul, whereas happiness weakens\nit.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n12\n\nTo acquire purity of the soul, it is necessary to guard against passing\njudgment on our neighbor, or useless remarks on his conduct.--ST.\nCATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n13\n\nTurn away the eyes of thy body and those of thy mind from seeing others,\nthat thou mayest be able to contemplate thyself.--ST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n14\n\nThe brightest ornaments in the crown of the blessed in heaven are the\nsufferings which they have borne patiently on earth.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n15\n\nWe are not innocent before God if we punish that which we should pardon,\nor pardon that which we should punish.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n16\n\nIs there any one in the world who has invoked thee, O Mary, without\nhaving felt the benefit of thy protection, which is promised to those\nwho invoke thy mercy?--ST. BERNARD.\n\n17\n\nIt is the key of obedience that opens the door of paradise. Jesus Christ\nhas confided that key to His vicar, the Pope, Christ on earth, whom all\nare obliged to obey even unto death.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n18\n\nIt is true that God promises forgiveness if we repent, but what\nassurance have we of obtaining it to-morrow?--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n19\n\nWe should offer ourselves and all we have to God, that He may dispose of\nus according to His holy will, so that we may be ever ready to leave all\nand embrace the afflictions that come upon us.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n20\n\nNo one has a right to mercy who can not himself show mercy.--VEN. LOUIS\nDE GRANADA.\n\n21\n\nWe should reflect on all our actions, exterior and interior, and before\nwe commence, examine well if we are able to finish them.--VEN. JOHN\nTAULER.\n\n22\n\nThe reason why the lukewarm run so great a risk of being lost is because\ntepidity conceals from the soul the immense evil which it causes.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n23\n\nWe should learn of Jesus Christ to be meek and humble of heart, and ask\nHim unceasingly for these two virtues. We ought, particularly, to avoid\nthe two contrary vices which would cause us to destroy with one hand\nwhat we seek to raise with the other.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n24\n\nThe sufferings endured for God are the greatest proof of our love for\nHim.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n25\n\nIt is in vain that we cut off the branches of evil, if we leave intact\nthe root, which continually produces new ones.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n26\n\nHow little is required to be a saint! It suffices to do in all things\nthe will of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n27\n\nWouldst thou know what thou art? Thou art that to which thy heart turns\nthe most frequently.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS.\n\n28\n\nWhen you covet that which delights you, think not only of the sweet\nmoments of enjoyment, but of the long season of regret which must\nfollow.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n29\n\nThey who voluntarily commit sin show a contempt for life eternal, since\nthey willingly risk the loss of their soul.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n30\n\nIt suffices not to perform good works; we must do them well, in\nimitation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it is written, \"He doeth all\nthings well.\"--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n31\n\nPut not off till to-morrow what you can do today.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n\n\nAugust\n\n1\n\nCHRIST Himself guides the bark of Peter. For this reason it can not\nperish, although He sometimes seems to sleep.--ST. ANTONINUS.\n\n2\n\nPrayer teaches us the need of laying before God all our necessities, of\ncorresponding with His grace, of banishing vice from our heart and of\nestablishing virtue in it.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n3\n\nTake this to heart: Owe no man anything. So shalt thou secure a peaceful\nsleep, an easy conscience, a life without inquietude, and a death\nwithout alarm.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n4\n\nIf you would know whether you have made a good confession, ask yourself\nif you have resolved to abandon your sins.--ST. BERNARD.\n\n5\n\nHe who does that which is displeasing to himself has discovered the\nsecret of pleasing God.--ST. ANSELM.\n\n6\n\nAn ordinary action, performed through obedience and love of God, is more\nmeritorious than extraordinary works done on your own authority--VEN.\nLOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n7\n\nVigilance is rendered necessary and indispensable, not only by the\ndangers that surround us, but by the delicacy, the extreme difficulty of\nthe work we all have to engage in the work of our salvation.--VEN. LOUIS\nDE GRANADA.\n\n8\n\nAmong the different means that we have of pleasing God in all that we\ndo, one of the most efficacious is to perform each of our actions as\nthough it were to be the last of our life.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n9\n\nI have to seek only the glory of God, my own sanctification, and the\nsalvation of my neighbor. I should therefore devote myself to these\nthings, if necessary, at the peril of my life.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n10\n\nIdleness is hell's fishhook for catching souls.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n11\n\nWhoever imagines himself without defect has an excess of pride. God\nalone is perfect.--ST. ANTONINUS.\n\n12\n\nAs we take the bitterest medicine to recover or preserve the health of\nthe body, we should cheerfully endure sufferings, however repugnant to\nnature, and consider them efficacious remedies which God employs to\npurify the soul and conduct it to the perfection to which He called\nit.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n13\n\nTo give up prayer because we are often distracted at it is to allow the\ndevil to gain his cause.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n14\n\nCurb the desire of display, and do nothing from human respect.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n15\n\nO Mary, vessel of purest gold, ornamented with pearls and sapphires,\nfilled with grace and virtue, thou art the dearest of all creatures to\nthe eyes of eternal Wisdom.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n16\n\nWe must be careful not to omit our prayers, confession, communion, and\nother exercises of piety, even when we find no consolation in them.--ST.\nVINCENT FERRER.\n\n17\n\nLet us leave to God and to truth the care of our justification, without\ntrying to excuse ourselves, and peace will truly spring up within us.--\nVEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n18\n\nRead good and useful books, and abstain from reading those that only\ngratify curiosity.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n19\n\nSo great is the goodness of God in your regard, that when you ask\nthrough ignorance for that which is not beneficial, He does not grant\nyour prayer in this matter, but gives you something better instead.--ST.\nBERNARD.\n\n20\n\nMen can use no better arms to drive away the devil, than prayer and the\nsign of the cross.--ST. TERESA.\n\n21\n\nHe who knows well how to practise the exercise of the presence of God,\nand who is faithful in following the attraction of this divine virtue,\nwill soon attain a very high degree of perfection.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n22\n\nOne of the most admirable effects of holy communion is to preserve the\nsoul from sin, and to help those who fall through weakness to rise\nagain. It is much more profitable, then, to approach this divine\nSacrament with love, respect, and confidence, than to remain away\nthrough an excess of fear and scrupulosity.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n23\n\nLet us remember that every act of mortification is a work for heaven.\nThis thought will make all suffering and weariness sweet.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n24\n\nCorrection should be given calmly and with discernment, at seasonable\ntimes, according to the dictates of reason, and not at the impulse of\nanger.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n25\n\nThere is nothing more certain, nothing more agreeable, nothing richer\nthan a good conscience.--VEN. BARTHOLOMEW OF MARTYRS.\n\n26\n\nGod, to procure His glory, sometimes permits that we should be\ndishonored and persecuted without reason. He wishes thereby to render us\nconformable to His Son, who was calumniated and treated as a seducer, as\nan ambitious man, and as one possessed.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n27\n\nAll that God gives us and all that He permits in this world have no\nother end than to sanctify us in Him.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n28\n\nIf you can not mortify your body by actual penance, abstain at least\nfrom some lawful pleasure.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n29\n\nOne whose heart is embittered can do nothing but contend and contradict,\nfinding something to oppose in every remark.--VEN. JULIENNE MOREL.\n\n30\n\nWithout prayer we have neither light nor strength to advance in the way\nwhich leads to God.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n31\n\nI have never gone out to mingle with the world without losing something\nof myself.--BL. ALBERT THE GREAT.\n\n\n\nSeptember\n\n1\n\nHE who perseveres with constancy and fervor will, without fail, raise\nhimself to a high degree of perfection.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n2\n\nAn upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life, and\nmakes them good.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n3\n\nYou wish to reform the world: reform yourself, otherwise your efforts\nwill be in vain.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n4\n\nLet all thy care be to possess thy soul in peace and tranquillity. Let\nno accident be to thee a cause of ill-humor.--ST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n5\n\nHumility is a fortified town; it repels all attacks. The sight of it\nobliges the enemy to turn and flee.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n6\n\nThe world is deceitful and inconstant. When fortune forsakes us,\nfriendship takes flight.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n7\n\nPerform all your actions in union with the pure intention and perfect\nlove with which Our Lord did all things for the glory of God and the\nsalvation of the world.--ST. MECHTILDIS.\n\n8\n\nAn air of meekness and a modest speech are pleasing alike to God and\nmen.--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n9\n\nThe saints owed to their confidence in God that unalterable tranquillity\nof soul, which procured their perpetual joy and peace, even in the midst\nof adversities.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n10\n\nLook not to the qualities thou mayest possess, which are wanting to\nothers; but look to those which others possess and which are wanting to\nthee, that thou mayest acquire them.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n11\n\nYour heart is not so narrow that the world can satisfy it entirely;\nnothing but God can fill it.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n12\n\nIf you wish to raise a lofty edifice of perfection, take humility for a\nfoundation.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n13\n\nIt ordinarily happens that God permits those who judge others, to fall\ninto the same or even greater faults.--ST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n14\n\nRaise thy heart and thy love toward the sweet and most holy cross, which\nsoothes every pain!--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n15\n\nOften read spiritual books; then, like a sheep, ruminate the food thou\nhast taken, by meditation and a desire to practise the holy doctrine\nfound therein.--ST. ANTONINUS.\n\n16\n\nLove others much, but visit them seldom.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n17\n\nGod sends us trials and afflictions to exercise us in patience and teach\nus sympathy with the sorrows of others.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n18\n\nArmed with prayer, the saints sustained a glorious warfare and\nvanquished all their enemies. By prayer, also, they appeased the wrath\nof God, and obtained from Him all they desired.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n19\n\nAll souls in hell are there because they did not pray. All the saints\nsanctified themselves by prayer.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n20\n\nThe thought of the presence of God renders us familiar with the practice\nof doing in all things His holy will.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n21\n\nIf we consider the number and excellence of the virtues practised by the\nsaints, we must feel the inefficiency and imperfection of our actions.--\nST. VINCENT FERRER.\n\n22\n\nPrayer without fervor has not sufficient strength to rise to heaven.--\nST. BERNARD.\n\n23\n\nThe path of virtue is painful to nature when left to itself; but nature,\nassisted by grace, finds it easy and agreeable.--VEN. LOUIS OF GRANADA.\n\n24\n\nAlways give the preference to actions which appear to you the most\nagreeable to God, and most contrary to self-love.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n25\n\nAs the branch separated from the roots soon loses all life and verdure,\nso it is with good works which are not united with charity.--ST. GREGORY\nTHE GREAT.\n\n26\n\nWe should constantly thank the Lord for having granted us the gift of\nthe true faith, by associating us with the children of the holy Catholic\nChurch.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n27\n\nWe should not spare expense, fatigue, nor even our life, when there is a\nquestion of accomplishing the holy will of God.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n28\n\nSome are unable to fast or give alms; there are none who can not pray.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n29\n\nWe meet with contradictions everywhere. If only two persons are together\nthey mutually afford each other opportunities of exercising patience,\nand even when one is alone there will still be a necessity for this\nvirtue, so true it is that our miserable life is full of crosses.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n30\n\nWe should bear our sufferings in expiation for our sins, to merit\nheaven, and to please God.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n\n\nOctober\n\n1\n\nALWAYS give good example: teach virtue by word and deed. Example is more\npowerful than discourse.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n2\n\nIf thou wouldst glory, let it be in the Lord, by referring everything to\nHim, and giving to Him all the honor and glory.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n3\n\nThere is nothing more holy, more eminently perfect, than resignation to\nthe will of God, which confirms us in an entire detachment from\nourselves, and a perfect indifference for every condition in which we\nmay be placed.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n4\n\nPrayer consists not in many words, but in the fervor of desire, which\nraises the soul to God by the knowledge of its own nothingness and the\ndivine goodness.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n5\n\nLet us make up for lost time. Let us give to God the time that remains\nto us.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n6\n\nWhen thou feelest thyself excited, shut thy mouth and chain thy\ntongue.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n7\n\nIf it was necessary that Christ should suffer and so enter by the cross\ninto the kingdom of His Father, no friend of God should shrink from\nsuffering.--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n8\n\nWe should grieve to see no account made of time, which is so precious;\nto see it employed so badly, so uselessly, for it can never be\nrecalled.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n9\n\nEvery time that some unexpected event befalls us, be it affliction, or\nbe it spiritual or corporal consolation, we should endeavor to receive\nit with equanimity of spirit, since all comes from the hand of God.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n10\n\nThere are some who sin through frailty, or through the force of some\nviolent passion. They desire to break these chains of death; if their\nprayer is constant they will be heard.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n11\n\n\"Thy will be done!\" This is what the saints had continually on their\nlips and in their hearts.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n12\n\nHe who would be a disciple of Jesus Christ must live in sufferings; for\n\"The servant is not greater than the Master.\"--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n13\n\nHe who submits himself to God in all things is certain that whatever men\nsay or do against him will always turn to his advantage.--ST. VINCENT DE\nPAUL.\n\n14\n\nIf he be blind who refuses to believe in the truths of the Catholic\nfaith, how much blinder is he who believes, and yet lives as if he did\nnot believe!--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n15\n\nThere is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we\nconsider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured\nfor us.--ST. TERESA.\n\n16\n\nOutside of God nothing is durable. We exchange life for death, health\nfor sickness, honor for shame, riches for poverty. All things change and\npass away.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n17\n\nIf you would keep yourself pure, shun dangerous occasions. Do not trust\nyour own strength. In this matter we can not take too much precaution.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n18\n\nAfter knowing the will of God in regard to a work which we undertake, we\nshould continue courageously, however difficult it may be. We should\nfollow it to the end with as much constancy as the obstacles we\nencounter are great.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n19\n\nIn your prayers, if you would quickly and surely draw upon you the grace\nof God, pray in a special manner for our Holy Church and all those\nconnected with it.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n20\n\nPrayer is our principal weapon. By it we obtain of God the victory over\nour evil inclinations, and over all temptations of hell.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n21\n\nWe should never abandon, on account of the difficulties we encounter, an\nenterprise undertaken with due reflection.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n22\n\nBeing all members of the same body, with the same head, who is Christ,\nit is proper that we should have in common the same joys and sorrows.--\nVEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n23\n\nWe should be cordial and affable with the poor, and with persons in\nhumble circumstances. We should not treat them in a supercilious manner.\nHaughtiness makes them revolt. On the contrary, when we are affable with\nthem, they become more docile and derive more benefit from the advice\nthey receive.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n24\n\nLet not confusion for thy fault overwhelm thee with despair, as if there\nwere no longer a remedy.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n25\n\nAs all our wickedness consists in turning away from our Creator, so all\nour goodness consists in uniting ourselves with Him.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n26\n\nThat which we suffer in the accomplishment of a good work, merits for us\nthe necessary graces to insure its success.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n27\n\nWe ought to have a special devotion to those saints who excelled in\nhumility, particularly to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who declares that the\nLord regarded her on account of her humility.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n28\n\nHe who wishes to find Jesus should seek Him, not in the delights and\npleasures of the world, but in mortification of the senses.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n29\n\nLet us not despise, judge, or condemn any one but ourselves; then our\ncross will bloom and bear fruit.--VEN. JOHN TAULER.\n\n30\n\nIt is rarely that we fall into error if we are humble and trust to the\nwisdom of others, in preference to our own judgment.--VEN. LOUIS DE\nBLOIS.\n\n31\n\nThe best of all prayers is that in which we ask that God's holy will be\naccomplished, both in ourselves and in others.--VEN. LOUIS DE BLOIS.\n\n\n\nNovember\n\n1\n\nWE SHOULD honor God in His saints, and beseech Him to make us partakers\nof the graces He poured so abundantly upon them.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n2\n\nWe may have a confident hope of our salvation when we apply ourselves to\nrelieve the souls in purgatory, so afflicted and so dear to God.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n3\n\nThe example of the saints is proposed to every one, so that the great\nactions shown us may encourage us to undertake smaller things.--VEN.\nLOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n4\n\nLet us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which\nthey performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of\nmortifying our flesh.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n5\n\nThe greatest pain which the holy souls suffer in purgatory proceeds from\ntheir desire to possess God. This suffering especially afflicts those\nwho in life had but a feeble desire of heaven.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n6\n\nDeath is welcome to one who has always feared God and faithfully served\nHim.--ST. TERESA.\n\n7\n\nTrue humility consists in being content with all that God is pleased to\nordain for us, believing ourselves unworthy to be called His servants.--\nST. TERESA.\n\n8\n\nThe best preparation for death is a perfect resignation to the will of\nGod, after the example of Jesus Christ, who, in His prayer in Gethsemani\nprepared Himself with these words, \"Father, not as I will, but as Thou\nwilt.\"--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n9\n\nThe errors of others should serve to keep us from adding any of our own\nto them.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n10\n\nThere is more security in self-denial, mortification, and other like\nvirtues, than in an abundance of tears.--ST. TERESA.\n\n11\n\nA resolute will triumphs over everything with the help of God, which is\nnever wanting.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n12\n\nIf humble souls are contradicted, they remain calm; if they are\ncalumniated, they suffer with patience; if they are little esteemed,\nneglected, or forgotten, they consider that their due; if they are\nweighed down with occupations, they perform them cheerfully.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n13\n\nWhen we have to reply to some one who speaks harshly to us, we must\nalways do it with gentleness. If we are angry, it is better to keep\nsilence.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n14\n\nThe two principal dispositions which we should bring to holy communion\nare detachment from creatures, and the desire to receive Our Lord with a\nview to loving Him more in the future.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n15\n\nIn doing penance it is necessary to deprive oneself of as many lawful\npleasures as we had the misfortune to indulge in unlawful ones.--ST.\nGREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n16\n\nIn raising human nature to heaven by His ascension, Christ has given us\nthe hope of arriving thither ourselves.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.\n\n17\n\nIt is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his\nirregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.--ST. BENEDICT.\n\n18\n\nNo prayers are so acceptable to God as those which we offer Him after\ncommunion.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n19\n\nIt avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be\ncontrolled by anger.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.\n\n20\n\nWhat is it that renders death terrible? Sin. We must therefore fear sin,\nnot death.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n21\n\nThe Blessed Virgin is of all the works of the Creator the most\nexcellent, and to find anything in nature more grand one must go to the\nAuthor of nature Himself.--ST. PETER DAMIAN.\n\n22\n\nIf we would advance in virtue, we must not neglect little things, for\nthey pave the way to greater.--ST. TERESA.\n\n23\n\nWhen one has fallen into some fault, what better remedy can there be\nthan to have immediate recourse to the Most Blessed Sacrament?--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n24\n\nAfflictions are the most certain proofs that God can give us of His love\nfor us.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n25\n\nIs it not a great cruelty for us Christians, members of the body of the\nHoly Church, to attack one another?--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA.\n\n26\n\nThe Church is the pillar and ground of truth, and her infallibility\nadmits of no doubt.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n27\n\nHe who truly loves his neighbor and can not efficaciously assist him,\nshould strive at least to relieve and help him by his prayers.--ST.\nTERESA.\n\n28\n\nWe should blush for shame to show so much resentment at what is done or\nsaid against us, knowing that so many injuries and affronts have been\noffered to our Redeemer and the saints.--ST. TERESA.\n\n29\n\nThe reason why so many souls who apply themselves to prayer are not\ninflamed with God's love is, that they neglect to carefully prepare\nthemselves for it.--ST. TERESA.\n\n30\n\nIt is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation\nof others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of\nfaith.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n\n\nDecember\n\n1\n\nIF WE consider all that is imperfect and worldly in us, we shall find\nample reason for abasing ourselves before God and man, before ourselves\nand our inferiors.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n2\n\nNo one should think or say anything of another which he would not wish\nthought or said of himself.--ST. TERESA.\n\n3\n\nWe should study the interests of others as our own, and be careful to\nact on all occasions with uprightness and loyalty.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n4\n\nIt is God Himself who receives what we give in charity, and is it not an\nincomparable happiness to give Him what belongs to Him, and what we have\nreceived from His goodness alone?--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n5\n\nLet your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He may do\nwith you what He pleases.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n6\n\nIt is not enough to forbid our own tongue to murmur; we must also refuse\nto listen to murmurers.--VEN. LOUIS DE GRANADA.\n\n7\n\nWe can obtain no reward without merit, and no merit without patience.--\nST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n8\n\nNo harp sends forth such sweet harmonies as are produced in the\nafflicted heart by the holy name of Mary. Let us kneel to reverence this\nholy, this sublime name of Mary!--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n9\n\nThe life of a true Christian should be such that he fears neither death\nnor any event of his life, but endures and submits to all things with a\ngood heart.--ST. TERESA.\n\n10\n\nWe should abandon ourselves entirely into the hands of God, and believe\nthat His providence disposes everything that He wishes or permits to\nhappen to us for our greater good.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n11\n\nRegulate and direct all your actions to God, offering them to Him and\nbeseeching Him to grant that they be for His honor and glory.--ST.\nTERESA.\n\n[Illustration: Hail, Virgin Most Pure!]\n\n12\n\nConformity to the will of God is an easy and certain means of acquiring\na great treasure of graces in this life.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n13\n\nDo not consider what others do, or how they do it; for there are but few\nwho really work for their own sanctification.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n14\n\nTo-day God invites you to do good; do it therefore to-day. To-morrow you\nmay not have time, or God may no longer call you to do it.--ST.\nALPHONSUS.\n\n15\n\nTo advance in the way of perfection it does not suffice to say a number\nof weak prayers; our principal care should be to acquire solid\nvirtues.--ST. TERESA.\n\n16\n\nHumility is the virtue of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of His blessed Mother,\nand of the greatest saints. It embraces all virtues and, where it is\nsincere, introduces them into the soul.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n17\n\nIt will be a great consolation for us at the hour of death to know that\nwe are to be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things during\nlife.--ST. TERESA.\n\n18\n\nHumble submission and obedience to the decrees of the Sovereign Pontiffs\nare good means for distinguishing the loyal from the rebellious children\nof the Church.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n19\n\nThe devil attacks us at the time of prayer more frequently than at other\ntimes. His object is to make us weary of prayer.--BL. HENRY SUSO.\n\n20\n\nIt is an act as rare as it is precious, to transact business with many\npeople, without ever forgetting God or oneself.--ST. IGNATIUS.\n\n21\n\nGod is our light. The farther the soul strays away from God, the deeper\nit goes into darkness.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n22\n\nTrue Christian prudence makes us submit our intellect to the maxims of\nthe Gospel without fear of being deceived. It teaches us to judge things\nas Jesus Christ judged them, and to speak and act as He did.--ST.\nVINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n23\n\nRemember that men change easily, and that you can not place your trust\nin them; therefore attach yourself to God alone.--ST. TERESA.\n\n24\n\nIf we secretly feel a desire to appear greater or better than others, we\nmust repress it at once.--ST. TERESA.\n\n25\n\nThe King of heaven deigned to be born in a stable, because He came to\ndestroy pride, the cause of man's ruin.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n26\n\nTo save our souls we must live according to the maxims of the Gospel,\nand not according to those of the world.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n27\n\nBe gentle and kind with every one, and severe with yourself.--ST.\nTERESA.\n\n28\n\nIf you wish to be pleasing to God and happy here below, be in all things\nunited to His will.--ST. ALPHONSUS.\n\n29\n\nIn proportion as the love of God increases in our soul, so does also the\nlove of suffering.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.\n\n30\n\nHe who keeps steadily on without pausing, will reach the end of his path\nand the summit of perfection.--ST. TERESA.\n\n31\n\nThe past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You\nhave only the present wherein to do good.--ST. ALPHONSUS.","title":"Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":9925}