Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year Part 13

November

1

WE SHOULD honor G.o.d in His saints, and beseech Him to make us partakers of the graces He poured so abundantly upon them.--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

2

We may have a confident hope of our salvation when we apply ourselves to relieve the souls in purgatory, so afflicted and so dear to G.o.d.--ST.

ALPHONSUS.

3

The example of the saints is proposed to every one, so that the great actions shown us may encourage us to undertake smaller things.--VEN.

LOUIS DE GRANADA.

4

Let us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which they performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

5

The greatest pain which the holy souls suffer in purgatory proceeds from their desire to possess G.o.d. This suffering especially afflicts those who in life had but a feeble desire of heaven.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

6

Death is welcome to one who has always feared G.o.d and faithfully served Him.--ST. TERESA.

7

True humility consists in being content with all that G.o.d is pleased to ordain for us, believing ourselves unworthy to be called His servants.-- ST. TERESA.

8

The best preparation for death is a perfect resignation to the will of G.o.d, after the example of Jesus Christ, who, in His prayer in Gethsemani prepared Himself with these words, "Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt."--ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.

9

The errors of others should serve to keep us from adding any of our own to them.--ST. IGNATIUS.

10

There is more security in self-denial, mortification, and other like virtues, than in an abundance of tears.--ST. TERESA.

11

A resolute will triumphs over everything with the help of G.o.d, which is never wanting.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

12

If humble souls are contradicted, they remain calm; if they are calumniated, they suffer with patience; if they are little esteemed, neglected, or forgotten, they consider that their due; if they are weighed down with occupations, they perform them cheerfully.--ST.

VINCENT DE PAUL.

13

When we have to reply to some one who speaks harshly to us, we must always do it with gentleness. If we are angry, it is better to keep silence.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

14

The two princ.i.p.al dispositions which we should bring to holy communion are detachment from creatures, and the desire to receive Our Lord with a view to loving Him more in the future.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

15

In doing penance it is necessary to deprive oneself of as many lawful pleasures as we had the misfortune to indulge in unlawful ones.--ST.

GREGORY THE GREAT.

16

In raising human nature to heaven by His ascension, Christ has given us the hope of arriving thither ourselves.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.

17

It is useless to subdue the flesh by abstinence, unless one gives up his irregular life, and abandons vices which defile his soul.--ST. BENEDICT.

18

No prayers are so acceptable to G.o.d as those which we offer Him after communion.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

19

It avails nothing to subdue the body, if the mind allows itself to be controlled by anger.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT.

20

What is it that renders death terrible? Sin. We must therefore fear sin, not death.--ST. ALPHONSUS.

21

The Blessed Virgin is of all the works of the Creator the most excellent, and to find anything in nature more grand one must go to the Author of nature Himself.--ST. PETER DAMIAN.

22

If we would advance in virtue, we must not neglect little things, for they pave the way to greater.--ST. TERESA.

23

When one has fallen into some fault, what better remedy can there be than to have immediate recourse to the Most Blessed Sacrament?--ST.

ALPHONSUS.