"If we are brought to Christ by force, we believe without wanting to. This is violence, not freedom."
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.) on Freedom
Mini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
One who seeks the Church seeks Christ.
St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397AD) on the Church
Mini-Bio: German; bishop, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
Food ought to be a refreshment to the body, and not a burden.
St. Bonaventure (1221-1274AD) on Food and Drink
Mini-Bio: Italian; cardinal-bishop, Franciscan minister general, philosopher, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Today, faced with the contradictions of the adult world and the rapidity of change, evangelizers could become discouraged and be tempted to limit their missionary effort. We must revive the Master's invitation to the whole world! To all creatures! To the ends of the earth!
Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005AD)
Mini-Bio: pope: (1978 - 2005) Polish; The most traveled pope in history. During his papacy he has issued many letters clarifying and safeguarding the Churches teachings in moral areas. Has consecrated his papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: I dwell in counsel and in learned thoughts. … Counsel and sound judgment are mine; mine are prudence and power. Proverbs 8:12-14
Reflection: When we dedicate ourselves to Mary, we become instruments in her hands just as she is an instrument in God's hands. Let us then be guided by her, for she will provide for the needs of body and soul and overcome all difficulties and anxieties.
St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941AD)Prayer: O Mary, in all my trials and difficulties let me have recourse to Jesus through your intercession. And when I call upon you, please comfort me and lead me to your Divine Son.
Mini-Bio: Polish; Franciscan priest, founder of Knights of Mary Immaculate, martyr
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
We ought to remain in the Church that was founded by the Apostles and continues to this day. If ever you hear of any that are called Christians taking their name not from the Lord Jesus Christ, but from some other, for instance, Marcionites, Valentinians … you may be sure that you have not the Church of Christ there, but the synagogue of Antichrist. For the fact that they took rise after the foundation of the Church is proof that they are those whose coming the Apostle foretold. And let them not flatter themselves if they think they have scriptural authority for their assertions, since the devil himself quoted Scripture, and the essence of the Scriptures is not the letter, but the meaning. Otherwise, if we follow the letter, we too can concoct a new dogma and assert that such persons as wear shoes and have two coats must not be received in the Church.
St. Jerome (342-420AD) on TraditionMini-Bio: Dalmatian; priest, hermit, abbot, biblical scholar and translator, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
We were deceived by the wisdom of the serpent, but we are freed by the foolishness of God.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) on Holy FollyMini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Christian life is a sacrifice. Sacrifice inspired by charity has the merit of bringing us into conformity with the earthly life of Jesus. For He became our brother and died for us in order to assure us of joy and glory forever.
Blessed Pope John XXIII (1881-1963AD)Mini-Bio: pope: (1958-1963) Italian; He advanced cooperation with other faiths and traditions including Protestant and Greek Orthodox. Doubled the number of cardinals, making the college the largest in history and convened Vatican II, on 11 October 1962.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: To you, O men, I call; my appeal is to all mankind. You simple ones, gain prudence; you fools, gain understanding. Proverbs 8:4-5
Reflection: Those who want to prevent their heart from being pervaded by the evils of earth should entrust it to the Blessed Virgin, our Lady and our Mother. They will then regain it in heaven, freed from all evils.
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622AD) Mini-Bio: French; bishop, missionary, cofounder of the Order of the Visitation (Visitandines), Doctor of the ChurchPrayer: O Mary, move me to entrust my heart and affections to you. By your prayers keep me from all evil and firmly attached to your Divine Son forever.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
When you find in Holy Scripture anything you did not believe before, believe it without doubt.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) on Sacred Scripture
Mini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
Inordinate love of the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153AD) on the Flesh
Mini-Bio: French; abbot, mystical writer, theologian, reformer of the Cistercian Order, Doctor of the Church
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Time is a gift from God; it is a question posed by God's love to our free and fateful answer. We must be sparing of time in order to use it well in the intense activity of our life of work, love, and suffering. Idleness or boredom has no place in the life of a Christian.
Pope Paul VI (1897-1978AD)
Mini-Bio: pope: (1963-1978) Italian; Reconvened Vatican II, and implemented many of its reforms. Became the first pope in over 150 years to leave Italy. He enlarged the college of cardinals. Reaffirmed the church's ban on contraception.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: You shall separate three cities. … [where] a person who kills another may take refuge … to save his life when [he] unintentionally kills his neighbor. Deuteronomy 19:2-4
Reflection: Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy. Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner.
St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231AD)Prayer: O Mary, if I am ever so unfortunate as to lose God's grace, move me to take refuge in you. Help me to flee to my city of refuge, for you will lead me to Jesus.
Mini-Bio: Portuguese; Franciscan preacher and reformer, Doctor of the Church
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
To be ignorant of the Scriptures is not to know Christ.
St. Jerome (342-420AD) on Sacred Scripture
Mini-Bio: Dalmatian; priest, hermit, abbot, biblical scholar and translator, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
We who are slaves of Christ make our bodies serve and our minds govern, so that the flesh receives its orders and accompanies our will, which is guided by Christ our Maker.
St. Paulinus of Nola (354-431AD) on the Flesh
Mini-Bio: Gallic; husband and father, bishop, poet
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Do not be afraid of the demands of the love of Christ. On the contrary, be afraid of being fainthearted, of taking things lightly, of seeking your comfort, of being selfish. Be afraid of everything that seeks to silence the voice of Christ Who addresses each person.
Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005AD)
Mini-Bio: pope: (1978 - 2005) Polish; The most traveled pope in history. During his papacy he has issued many letters clarifying and safeguarding the Churches teachings in moral areas. Has consecrated his papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: For whoever finds me finds life and receives salvation from the Lord. But whoever does not find me hurts himself. They love death who hate me. Proverbs 8:35-36
Reflection: In the order of grace, God usually communicates Himself to human beings only through Mary. If we want to go to Him and be united with Him, we must use the very means he used to come down to us. That means is a true devotion to our Lady.
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716AD)Prayer: O Mary, you are our most powerful intermediary with Christ and thus with the Blessed Trinity. Teach me what God desires of me, and help me to go to Jesus through you.
Mini-Bio: French; priest, missionary, spiritual writer founder of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom and the Missionaries of the Company of Mary
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
Within me was a hunger of that inward food, Yourself, my God.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) on the SearchMini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
Perfect love … leads a man on to perfect fear. Such a man fears and keeps to God's will, not for fear of punishment, not to avoid condemnation, but … because he has tasted the sweetness of being with God; he fears he may fall away from it.
St. Dorotheos of Gaza (506-560AD) on Fear of GodMini-Bio: Syrian; abbot, ascetical writer
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Let no one in your land be at ease while there is anyone whose human and Christian dignity is not respected and loved. This is true whether that person is a man, a woman, a child, an elderly or sick person, or any child of God!
Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005AD)Mini-Bio: pope: (1978 - 2005) Polish; The most traveled pope in history. During his papacy he has issued many letters clarifying and safeguarding the Churches teachings in moral areas. Has consecrated his papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed up. Song of Solomon 4:12
Reflection: Happy are those to whom the Holy Spirit reveals the Secret of Mary in order that they may come to know her. Happy are those to whom He opens the "Enclosed Garden" that they may enter and to whom He gives access to the "Sealed Fountain" that they may drink of the living waters of grace.
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716AD) Mini-Bio: French; priest, missionary, spiritual writer founder of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom and the Missionaries of the Company of MaryPrayer: O Mary, help me to know you and be devoted to you more each day, so that I may obtain the graces God wants to bestow on me.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Quotes of the Early Fathers and Christians of the Church (33AD to 750AD)
Let everything perish! Dismiss these empty vanities! And let us take up the one search for truth.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) on the SearchMini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Saints throughout the Age of the Church
The fear of God prepares a place for love. But once love has begun to dwell in our hearts, the fear that prepared the place for it is driven out…. In sewing, the needle introduces the thread into the cloth. The needle goes in, but the thread cannot follow unless the needle comes out first. In the same way, the fear of God first occupies our minds, but it does not remain there, because it enters only in order to introduce love.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) on Fear of GodMini-Bio: North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor of the Church
Holy Quotes from the Popes of the Church
Christians of these last years of the Second Millennium, you have an honorable yet burdensome task. You must be bearers of the Word to those who have lost its full meaning and importance.
Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005AD)Mini-Bio: pope: (1978 - 2005) Polish; The most traveled pope in history. During his papacy he has issue many letters clarifying and safeguarding the Churches teachings in moral areas. Has consecrated his papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Quotes on Mary, Our Blessed Mother: a Marian Potpourri
Scripture meditation: Adam call his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. Genesis 3:20
Reflection: We are all children of Eve according to the flesh and children of the Blessed Virgin according to the spirit. For all of us, Mary has the love of a mother and the courage of a defender. All find room in her. Sinners find pardon through her prayers, and the righteous are preserved in grace.
St. John of Avila (1499-1569AD) Mini-Bio: Spanish; priest, preacher, missionary, spiritual directorPrayer: O Mary, you are always a mother to me. Let me be always your child. Help me to come to you in all my joys as well as sorrows.
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