Friday, February 1, 2013

Just Curious: Favorite Saint Quote!

There is no end to the love, beauty, and wisdom of the saints. Male, female, young, old, rich, poor, from every era, every nation, every walk of life, every circumstance, all transcendent in Christ -- we can never exhaust the treasures they have left us.


So, I'm just curious, and asking the impossible...



Of all the millions of words of truth, goodness, comfort, solidarity, charity, and grace that they have given: 

What is your favorite quote from a saint? 

My current favorite (just stumbled upon recently) is from St. Therese the Little Flower, and I find myself repeating it to myself and others, often:




Today, I am drawn to profound simplicity. Tomorrow, who knows?

I am almost giddy to hear what quotes you love. Go!






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And, an important PS:

A new Catholic site is born, co-founded by our own Stacy Trasancos. I am a contributor, as is JoAnna Wahlund and others who may be familiar to you. Please be sure to check out Catholic Stand!






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49 comments:

  1. "She is not the sun, dazzling our weak sight by the brightness of its rays. Rather, she is fair and gentle as the moon, which receives its light from the sun and softens it and adapts it to our limited perception." - St. Louis De Montfort

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  2. I have the below quote on an e-sticky note on my desktop. It is just a great quote to look back at whenever I am worried or troubled. It relaxes me and brings my heart peace.

    Let nothing trouble you,
    let nothing frighten you.
    All things are passing;
    God never changes.
    Patience obtains all things.
    He who possesses God lacks nothing:
    God alone suffices.

    St. Teresa of Avila

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    1. This quote got me thru some TOUGH times!!!

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    2. Me too. I had that quote hanging on my wall for years.

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  3. Well, you know my current obsession with Padre Pio. So my fave right now is his: "It is by means of trials that God binds to Him the souls he loves." (I think that's right...can't find it)

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  4. Hey wait, did you steal that quote from my FB page?

    I like that one. And that image of the Little Flower. And I pray the St. Teresa of Avila quote listed above. I 'll have to go think about what my 3rd favorite quote is and get back to you.

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  5. I LOVE that St. Therese quote! How have I not heard it before?

    My favorite is also from St. Therese. "Grant that I may love You, and be my only reward of this love-to love You always, more and more."

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  6. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee" St Agustine
    I just printed the little flowers quote..so true.

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  7. I'm at Catholic Stand, too, Leila! My first post publishes tomorrow morning.

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  8. Your timing is impeccable! I'm in the process of starting a new line of clay plaques of famous saint quotes! I just made my first one yesterday---anyway, this was all supposed to be kept a secret until I got them out in the store, but oh well.

    I have way too many "favorites", but I will tell you the one that I used for my first clay plaque; it' by Venerable Anne Guigne: "Y 'Yes' is the nicest word we can say to Jesus." By the way, she was only seven years old when she said that--and died when she was eleven.

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  9. “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”
    ― St. Francis of Assisi

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    1. Hi Chris! In the interest of clarity truth (you know I love that, ha ha!), I need to put a caveat on this.

      A few months ago I learned that St. Francis never actually said it. There is quite a buzz around the quote, and here is one such discussion:

      http://www.catholicstudentministry.com/usewords/

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    2. PS: I should also add, I loved that quote, too, and it reminds me make sure that my words are backed up by Christian actions! :)

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  10. Hope everyone knows that that extra "y" is a typo. :-) Leila, I emailed you with a question, just get back to me when you can!

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  11. She's not a saint yet, but I'm counting on (and praying for) it!! ;)

    “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
    ― Blessed Mother Teresa

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  12. Kara swiped my #1. "my past, O Lord, to your mercy; My present to your love; my future to your providence"
    St. Pio

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  13. Sorry Chris. Lol. It's a good one. ;)

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  14. A few of my faves have already been mentioned, but this one helps put on smile on my face on days I need it: "Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them."

    - St. Teresa of Avila

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  15. I like this one. It reminds me to keep my thoughts charitable (which I always need help with). :)
    'Never belittle the significance of your thoughts, for not one escapes God's notice.'
    St Mark.

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  16. "For the Lord, the past does not exist; the future does not exist. Everything is an eternal present... even now I can pray for the happy death of my great-grandfather!" ~ Padre Pio

    Hugely consoling! And great apologetics too! :)

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  17. I have lots and lots of favorites...but here are some of the cream of the crop - for me at least.

    "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew." - St. Francis de Sales

    "Worry is a weakness from which very few of us are entirely free. We must be on guard against this most insidious enemy of our peace of soul. Instead let us foster confidence in God, and thank Him ahead of time for whatever he chooses to sends us". - Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey (from Wisconsin!!)

    "Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love." -Mother Teresa

    "Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk." - St. Therese of Lisieux

    Oh, and this Priest is not a Saint, but I love this prayer and try to pray it daily!
    "Jesus, repair what I have done badly, and supply for what I have left undone" - Fr. Jean C J d'Elbee





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  18. from dear St Augustine:

    I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful;
    but I have never read in either of them:
    Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.

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  19. and I simply can't leave this one out:

    Do not look forward in fear
    to the changes of life;
    rather, look to them with full hope
    that as they arise,
    God, whose very own you are,
    will lead you safely through all things;
    and when you cannot stand it,
    God will carry you in His arms.
    Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
    the same everlasting Father who cared
    for you today will take care of you then and every day.
    He will either shield you from suffering,
    or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
    Be at peace and put aside
    all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

    --St Francis de Sales

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  20. These are all beautiful quotes that have been shared. I can't say that I have a favorite - the saints just say too many great things to choose even a few as favorites. One that I came across recently on FB is this one:


    'When you invoke St Joseph, you don’t have to say much. Say, ‘If you were in my place, St Joseph, what would you do? Well, pray for this on my behalf.’ “

    ~St. André Bessette ~

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  21. ...one of many from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta...

    "God desires faithfulness, not success."

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  22. “Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears— of everything that concerns you. Converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him.” ~ St. Alphonsus Liguori

    “Would that mortal men might know how wonderful is divine grace, how beautiful, how precious; what riches are hidden therein, what treasures, what joys, what delights. If they but knew, surely they would direct their energy with all care and diligence to procuring sufferings and afflictions for themselves. Instead of good fortune all men everywhere would seek out troubles, illness and suffering that they might obtain the inestimable treasure of grace. This is the final profit to be gained from patient endurance. No one would complain about the cross or about hardships coming seemingly by chance upon him, if he realized in what balance they are weighed before being distributed to men.” ~ St. Rose of Lima

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  23. “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”


    ― St. Francis of Assisi

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  24. "I must decrease and He must increase." - St. John the Baptist

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  25. These are all so beautiful. Is there a book of quotes from all different saints? There should be!
    My favorite quote right now....

    "I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than His heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist." St. Bernadette

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  26. Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.
    St. Augustine

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  27. "The Essential Wisdom of the Saints," edited by Carol Kelly-Gangi, Fall River Press.

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  28. Mine would definitely be this part of St. Patrick's Breastplate:

    "I arise today
    Through God’s strength to pilot me:
    God’s might to uphold me,
    God’s wisdom to guide me,
    God’s eye to look before me,
    God’s ear to hear me,
    God’s word to speak for me,
    God’s hand to guard me,
    God’s way to lie before me,
    God’s shield to protect me,
    God’s host to save me
    From snares of devils,
    From temptations of vices,
    From everyone who shall wish me ill,
    Afar and anear,
    Alone and in multitude."

    (I have the whole thing at http://grace-filled.net/?p=3617)

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  29. Christ said, "I am the Truth"; he did not say "I am the custom." -- St. Toribio

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  30. I love all of these! And Maureen, that one made me laugh! So true...

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  31. "Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you: let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?" (Words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Juan Diego)

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  32. If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze! -st Catherine of Siena

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  33. "Prayer is the mortar of our household." -St. Teresa de Avila

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  34. Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father Who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings. - St. Francis de Sales

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  35. Here's my offering from among the myriads of beautiful quotes from the Saints.

    "Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk."
    ~St. Therese of Lisieux

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  36. "I am just a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is writing a love letter to the world."
    -Mother Teresa
    (not a saint yet, but on her way)

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  37. My current favorite is by St Augustine (already mentioned before): "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."

    I am enjoying reading the other quotes. :) Great idea Leila.

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  38. I found this quote in Reader’s Digest many years ago. A friend copied it calligraphically for me, and it hangs framed on my staircase. They are not the words of a saint, but they are words any man might choose to live by. I did.

    It is not enough merely to exist. It’s not enough to say, “I’m earning enough to support my family. I do my work well. I’m a good father, husband, churchgoer.”

    That’s all very well. But you must do something more. Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for those who need help. Something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
    Albert Schweitzer

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  39. These are all great! Here is one more I want to add:

    "Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

    - St. Augustine

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  40. One of my favorites:

    "Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."

    With all the ridiculous politics these days, this one keeps coming back to me again and again!

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    1. Forgot to mention the one above is from Blessed John Paul II.

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  41. Here is a passage from Fr. Ciszek's book "He Leadeth Me." A bit of a cheat as he's not a saint but a passage that has had a tremendous impact on my interior life because he hit the nail on the head with something I was struggling with and it was comforting to know that I'm not the only one :) An awesome read if you get the chance and full of lots of excellent food for thought in addition to his story.

    "There remains deep down in each of us a little nagging doubt, a little knot of fear which we refuse to face or admit even to ourselves, that says, "Suppose it isn't so." We are afraid to abandon ourselves totally into God's hands for fear He will not catch us if we fall. It is the ultimate criterion, the final test of all faith and all belief, and it is present in each of us, lurking unsurfaced in a closet of our mind we are afraid to open. It is not really a question of trust in God at all, for we want very much to trust him; it is really a question of our ultimate belief in his existence and providence, and it demands the purest act of faith."

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  42. Mell, I have heard He Leadeth Me recommended so many times now that I have to have it!! Thank you, these are excellent quotes.

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  43. "The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest"
    ~~St. Thomas Moore

    I have this one on a bookmark in my young reader's phonics book. It makes me smile everytime I see it (and gives me courage to stay the course and do yet another day of phonics)!

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  44. "How could I bear a crown of gold when the Lord bears a crown of thorns? And bears it for me!" ~St. Elizabeth of Hungary

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