Some Favorite Quotes

Our Savior says, if you have not received the graces that you desire, do not complain to me, but blame yourself, because you have neglected to seek them from me.
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori


The first step to be taken by one who wishes to follow Christ is, according to Our Lord's own words, that of renouncing himself - that is, his own senses, his own passions, his own will, his own judgment, and all the movements of nature, making to God a sacrifice of all these things, and of all their acts, which are surely sacrifices very acceptable to the Lord. And we must never grow weary of this; for if anyone having, so to speak, one foot already in Heaven, should abandon this exercise, when the time should come for him to put the other there, he would run much risk of being lost.
~St. Vincent de Paul

Do not ask for more crosses until you have borne well those already given you.  ~Unknown

When you come to know God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others -- not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one. ~ C.S. Lewis

Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.
-- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Faith is seeing God's providence when He says yes and seeing His love when He says no.  You see, it takes a lot of love on the part of God to say no to you.  Why? Because He risks your love.  He risks your faith in Him.  He risks your hope in Him.  If you are asking for something and it isn't for your good, His love will say no.  But if you are asking for something that will bring about good, His providence moves events in your favor, and the Lord allows it. ~Mother Angelica