Quotes by Saints

The following quotes from the saints give us meaning and hope in today’s world. This section is not meant to be a complete gathering of the sayings of the saints but rather a sampling of simple sayings which can inspire and influence our daily lives as we strive to live out our lives as Catholics.

It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.
-Saint John Chrysostom

God asks little, but He gives much.
-Saint John Chrysostom

What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips?
-Saint John Chrysostom

You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.
-Saint Therese of Lisieux

Our Lord does not come down from Heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to him - the heaven of our souls, created in His Image, the living temples of the Adorable Trinity.
- Saint Therese of Lisieux

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.
-Saint Therese of Lisieux

The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible.
-Saint Gerard Majella

I see in my neighbor the Person of Jesus Christ.
-Saint Gerard Majella

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?
-Saint Gerard Majella

No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.
- Saint Dominic Savio

Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him.
- Saint Dominic Savio

The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.
- Saint Gregory the Great

If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves. We must not count on ourselves, because even if we know what kind of person we are today, we do not know what we will be tomorrow.
-Saint Gregory the Great

We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.
-Saint Francis de Sales

It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.
- Saint Francis de Sales

Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them.
-Saint Francis de Sales

Consider all the past as nothing, and say, like David: Now I begin to love my God.
-Saint Francis de Sales

All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.
-Saint Francis de Sales

All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.
-Saint Francis de Sales

Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.
-Saint Francis de Sales

It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one's progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.
-Saint Francis Xavier

Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God.
- Saint Catherine of Siena

Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.
-Saint Catherine of Siena

The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ.
-Saint Anthony of Padua

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.
-Saint Anthony of Padua

Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which Jesus has levied upon us.
- Saint Francis of Assisi

Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
- Saint Francis of Assisi

Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread.
-Saint Francis of Assisi

To love God as He ought to be loved, we must be detached from all temporal love. We must love nothing but Him, or if we love anything else, we must love it only for His sake.
-Saint Peter Claver

If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor.
- Saint Charles Borromeo

We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: "I will pray, and then I will understand." This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work. In meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in others.
- Saint Charles Borromeo

We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our lives - that prayer which is rather a habit of lifting up the heart to God as in a constant communication with Him.
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because it is his will.
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe

For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more.
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine grace.
- Saint Benedict

Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit.
- Saint Lucy

Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am - you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.
-Saint Agatha

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.
- Saint Clare of Assisi

We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.
-Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.
-Saint Rose of Lima

Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.
-Saint Jeanne de Chantal

We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.
-Saint Vincent de Paul

The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.
-Saint Vincent de Paul

We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God.
-Saint Vincent de Paul

Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?
-Saint Vincent de Paul

There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God's.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to look upon Him present within us.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas

Charity is the form, mover, mother and root of all the virtues.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas

No one heals himself by wounding another.
- Saint Ambrose

Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies.
- Saint Ambrose

He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.
-Saint Bede the Venerable

God has no need of your money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it.
-Saint Augustine

What do you possess if you possess not God?
-Saint Augustine

This very moment I may, if I desire, become the friend of God.
-Saint Augustine

Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin.
-Saint John Bosco

Nothing is far from God.
-Saint Monica

Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.
- Saint Robert Bellarmine

Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.
- Saint Leo the Great

He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori

You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God.
-Saint John Vianney

You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.
-Saint John Vianney

Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desire, and his disposition live and reign there.
-Saint John Eudes