Wisdom from the Saints on All Saints’ Day
On the feast of All Saints, I think it well to reflect on the wisdom that saints and other pious Catholics have offered throughout the ages as we strive to follow these men and women on the path to greatness and holiness.
Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire. —St. Catherine of Siena
Because you (God) made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in thee. —St. Augustine
If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave. —Ven. Fulton Sheen
Preach always. If necessary, use words. —St. Francis of Assisi
Be not anxious about what you have, but about what you are. —St. Gregory the Great
Be thou prepared for the fight, if thou wilt have the victory. —Thomas a Kempis
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. . .And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us; and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. —St. John the Evangelist (John 1:1, 14)
All truth, uttered by whomever, is from the Holy Spirit. —St. Thomas Aquinas
I do not care very much what men say of me, provided that God approves of me. —St. Thomas More
The glory of God is man fully alive. —St. Irenaeus
Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above. —St. James (James 1:17)
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior. —Mary, Mother of God (Luke 1:46-47)
Charity covereth a multitude of sins. —St. Peter the Apostle (1 Peter 4:8)
And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. —St. Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Patience is not good if when you may be free you allow yourself to become a slave. —St. Bernard
May God protect me from gloomy saints. —St. Teresa of Avila
We always find that those who walk closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials. —St. Teresa of Avila
If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God. —St. Patrick
The things that we love tell us what we are. —St. Thomas Aquinas
Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will. —St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. —St. Thomas More
Honor cometh not to virtue from rank, but to rank from virtue. —St. Severinus Boethius
Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. —St. Jerome
Nothing is hard for those who have love. —St. Jerome
In this world, two things are essential: life and friendship. —St. Augustine
It is part of our nature to love what is beautiful. —St. Basil
The gate of heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it. —St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
It is always springtime in the heart that loves God. —St. Jean-Marie Vianney
The soul of one who loves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in a mood for singing. —St. John of the Cross
You must receive God well; give him a loving welcome, for then he has to pay us rent. —St. Bernadette of Lourdes
No one can enjoy happiness unless he rises above himself. —St. Bonaventure
But the foolish things in the world God hath chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world God hath chosen, that he may confound the strong. —St. Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 1:27)
Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven. —St. Camillus de Lellis
We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God. —St. John Chrysostom
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. —GK Chesterton
Tolerance is the virtue of a man with no convictions. —GK Chesterton
The world offers you comfort; but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness. —Pope Benedict XVI
Happy All Saints’ Day!