God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever. God’s purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth, so that we may attain our goal of everlasting happiness with him in heaven.
If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He certainly intends to make you a saint.
Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words.
The glory of God is humankind fully alive.
Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.
Sin is unwillingness to trust that what God wants for me is only my deepest happiness.
Discouragement is not from God.
Stand firm and immovable as an anvil when it is beaten upon.
Let me look at the foulness and ugliness of my body. Let me see myself as an ulcerous sore running with every horrible and disgusting poison.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES whereby to conquer oneself, and order one’s life, without being influenced in one’s decision by any inordinate affection.
You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and grace. That is enough for me.
Among the many signs of a lively faith and hope we have in eternal life, one of the surest is not being overly sad at the death of those whom we dearly love in our Lord.
The servant of God earns half a doctorate through illness.
Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.
To conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.
One must wage war against his predominant passion and not retreat until, with God’s help, he has been victorious.
Laugh and grow strong.
A person with imprecise ideas can understand little and be of less help to others.
Let your modesty be a sufficient incitement, yea, an exhortation to everyone to be at peace on their merely looking at you.
We should always be disposed to believe that that which appears white is really black, if the hierarchy of the Church so decides.