At present the Church is not persecuted by idolaters, or by heretics, but she is persecuted by scandalous Christians, who are her own children.
from “Hell’s Widest Gate - Impurity” by St. Alphonsus Liguori
(via by-grace-of-god)
(Source: greluc)
Believe me, there is no more powerful means to obtain God’s grace than to employ the intercessions of the Holy Virgin.
St. Philip Neri
(Source: happysaints.com)
I beg You, Divine Jesus, humble me every time I dare to raise myself above others. But oh, how weak I am! In the morning I endeavour to be humble and, at night, I acknowledge prideful sins. Seeing me as I am, I’m tempted to despair, but I know that despair is also pride. Therefore, I want to place my hope entirely in You, my God.
(Source: happysaints.com)
There are, moreover, three virtues which perfect the devout person with regard to control of his own senses. These are: modesty, continence and chastity. By the virtue of modesty the devout person governs all his exterior acts. With good reason, then, does St. Paul recommend this virtue to all and declare how necessary it is and as if this were not enough he considers that this virtue should be obvious to all. By continence the soul exercises restraint over all the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. By chastity, a virtue which ennobles our nature and makes it similar to that of the Angels, we suppress our sensuality and detach it from forbidden pleasures. This is the magnificent picture of Christian perfection. Happy the one who possesses all these fine virtues, all of them fruits of the Holy Spirit who dwells within him. Such a soul has nothing to fear and will shine in the world as the sun in the heavens.
St. Padre Pio - Volume II - Letters
When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul, He enters that soul completely and communicates Himself completely to that soul.
St. Louis de Montfort
Novena to Saint Rita
Saint of the Impossible
O Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistable, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the hopeless and even of the Impossible; Saint Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee, expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee.
We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify, thee by making known thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee grant that (REQUEST) obtain for us our request by the singular merits of thy childhood, thy perfect union with the Divine Will, thy heroic sufferings during thy married life, the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband, the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God, thy miraculous entrance into the convent, thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings, thy suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of thy Crucified Saviour, thy divine love which consumed thy heart, that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament on which alone thou didst exist for four years, the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse, the perfect example thou gavest to people of every state of life.
Pray for us, O holy Saint Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
“It is sweet music to the ear to say, I honor You, O Mother! It is a sweet song to repeat, I honor You, O Holy Mother! You are my delight, dear hope, and chaste love, my strength in all adversities. If You see your child overwhelmed by misfortune, O gracious Virgin Mary, let me find rest in Your Motherly embrace.”
Pope Leo XII
