Although it is sovereignly praiseworthy and useful to serve God by pure love, we should not less earnestly commend the fear of His Divine Majesty.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
You wish absolutely to form Jesus Christ in you, in your heart, in your works, by a sincere love of His doctrine and a perfect imitation of His life; rest assured it will cost you many pangs; but they will pass away, and the presence of Jesus, who shall live in you, will fill your soul with an ineffable joy which can never be taken from you.
St. Francis de Sales
There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that, by the mercy of God, they who are endowed with true piety of life, if they have the skill for ruling people, should also have the power.
St. Augustine of Hippo
Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses,
I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God.
I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice,
and the might of Your love.
You are the Strength and Light of my soul.
In You, I live and move and am.
I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace
and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You.
Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light
and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations.
I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion,
to watch over me in my weakness.
Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds
and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart,
I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity,
so to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.
Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son,
to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant heareth.”
Amen.