We human beings are story-tellers, we pass on our values through the stories we tell. This is particularly true of Catholics, who get their identity through their histories, which they see as salvation history linking them to the saving actions of Christ. So, for Catholics, doing history – passing on the values by telling stories – is a pastoral imperative. We must look where we have been in order to know where we are going.
St. Edmund Campion
Even at a time when you had not so much confidence in God, did you perish in affliction? Then why have you not courage to meet all other trials?
St. Francis de Sales
It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men who devote their lives to contemplation.
St. Thomas Aquinas
I am convinced that one should tell one's spiritual director if one has a great desire for Communion, for Our Lord does not come from Heaven every day to stay in a golden ciborium; He comes to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He loves to dwell.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres (et tibi pater), quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres (et te, pater), orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.
Amen.
Hear ye, hear ye, the clarion call of glorified souls, echoing throughout the ages piety, fear of the Lord and the promise of salvation, much like Church bells calling our unworthy selves to gather Sundays in devout attention to the gentle and generous wisdom God shares with his chosen friends! This saintly advice column has become a felicitous part of my daily fortification against worldly assaults assuredly aiming to destroy one's spiritually-sourced peace and joy.