Suffering? You Are God's Prized And Valued Stone.

Don’t complain if you suffer. It is the prized and valued stone that is polished. Does it hurt? - Allow yourself to be cut, gratefully, because God has taken you in His hands as if you were a diamond. An ordinary pebble is not worked on like that. - St. Josemaria Escriva (Furrow, 235)

Drawn By A Superior Force

My heart feels as if it were being drawn by a superior force each morning just before uniting with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. I have such a thirst and hunger before receiving Him that it's a wonder I don't die of anxiety. I was hardly able to reach the Divine Prisoner in order to celebrate Mass. When Mass ended I remained with Jesus to render Him thanks. My thirst and hunger do not diminish after I have received Him in the Blessed Sacrament, but rather, increase steadily. Oh, how sweet was the conversation I held with Paradise this morning. The Heart of Jesus and my own, if you will pardon my expression, fused. They were no longer two hearts beating but only one. My heart disappeared as if it were a drop in the ocean. - Saint Padre Pio

A God Who Weeps With So Many Tears At The Loss Of One Soul...

Ah, who would not be touched? ... A God who weeps with so many tears at the loss of one soul and Who cries unceasingly: My friend, my friend, why proceedest thou thus to lose thy soul and thy God? Stop! Stop! Ah! Look at my tears, my Blood which flows yet. Must I die a second time to save thee? Look at me. Ah! Angels from Heaven descend upon earth, come and weep with me for the loss of this soul! Oh, that a Christian should be so unfortunate as to persevere still in running towards the abyss despite the voice which his God causes him to hear continually! But, you may say to me, no one says these things to us. Oh my friends, unless you want to stop up your ears, you will hear the voice of God, which follows you unceasingly. Tell me, my friends, then, what is this remorse of conscience which overwhelms you in the midst of sin? Why do these anxieties and storms agitate you? Why this fear, this dread that you are in, when you seem to be forever expecting to be crushed by the thunders of Heaven? How many times, even when you were sinning, have you not experienced the touch of an invisible hand which seemed to push you away, as if someone were saying: Unhappy man, what are you doing? Unhappy man, where are you going? Ah my son, why do you wish to damn yourself?

Would you not agree with me that a Christian who despises so many graces deserves to be abandoned and rejected because he has not listened to the voice of God or profited by His graces? On the contrary, my dear brethren, it is God Himself Who is scorned by this ungrateful soul who would seem to wish to put Him to death again. All creation demands vengeance, and it is, in fact, God alone Who wishes to save this soul and Who is opposed to all that could be prejudicial to it.

He watches over its salvation as if it were the only soul in the world. - Saint Jean Marie Vianney

Unless You Want To Stop Up Your Ears, You Will Hear The Voice Of God

Oh my friends, unless you want to stop up your ears, you will hear the voice of God, which follows you unceasingly. - Saint Jean Marie Vianney

St. Thomas From His Prison Cell

I will not mistrust Him, Meg, although I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how St. Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to Him for help. And then I trust He shall place His holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning. - Saint Thomas More, from his prison cell

You, Lord, Give Perfect Peace

You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Beware That Your Hearts Do Not Become Drowsy From Carousing And Drunkenness

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the son of man. - Our Lord Jesus Christ

We Should Only Fear Offending God

We should only fear offending God. Other than that, fear is not of God and we should reject it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God Enriches The Soul Which Empties Itself Of Everything

God enriches the soul which empties itself of everything. - Saint Padre Pio

God, Grant Me The Serenity

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me.

Leave Those Worldly Things That Shackle The Heart And Come With Us In Search Of Love

Don't you long to shout to those... who are bustling around you.. 'Leave those worldly things that shackle the heart - and very often degrade it - leave all that, and come with us, in search of Love!' - Saint Josemaria Escriva

Discovering That Only In Me Is Your Satisfaction To Be Found, Will You Be Capable Of The Perfect Human Relationship, That I Have Planned For You

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, To be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But to a Christian, God says, “No, not until you are satisfied, Full and content with being loved by me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me. With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone.

Discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found, Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship, That I have planned for you. You will never be united to another until you are united with me. Exclusive of anyone or anything else. Exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow me to give you The most thrilling plan existing… one you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you. Just wait, that’s all. Don’t be anxious, don’t worry. Don’t look around at things others have gotten or that I have given them. Don’t look around at the things you think you want, Just keep looking off and away up to me, Or you’ll miss what I want to show you, And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love Far more wonderful than you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working even at this moment. To have both of you ready at the same time. Until you are both satisfied exclusively with me. - Saint Anthony de Padua

The Best Suffering Is The Suffering That Is Kept To Oneself

The best suffering is the suffering that is kept to oneself. - Michael Fanelli

Adore And Bless The Divine Will, Especially in The Things Which Are Hardest For You

In all the events of life, you must recognize the Divine will. Adore and bless it, especially in the things which are the hardest for you. - Saint Padre Pio

God Wills The Lofty Mountains of Our Lives be Made Low

God wills the lofty mountains of our lives be made low. These mountains take the forms of pride, fear, resentment, and anxiety. They prevent us from seeing the light of Christ inviting us to taste of His goodness. Christ wants to level our mountains, and fill our empty valleys with His river of Love. We should simply stop paying attention to our failings and problems and look at Christ as our solution - Brother Cassian Sama, O.P.

Transport Yourself Quickly in Spirit Before the Tabernacle

When you awake in the night, transport yourself quickly in spirit before the Tabernacle, saying, 'Behold, my God, I come to adore You, to praise, thank, and love you, and to keep you company with all the Angels..' - Saint John Marie Vianney

In My Time of Trial I Called Out to The Lord: He Listened, And Led me to Freedom

In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
he listened, and led me to freedom.

The Lord is with me,
I will fear nothing that man can do.

The Lord, my help, is with me,
and I shall look down upon my enemies.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in men.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
better than to trust in the leaders of men.

- Psalm 117

The Greatest Honor God Can Give a Soul

The greatest honor God can give a soul is not to give it much but to ask much from it. - Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Patience Obtains All

Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God, wants for nothing. God alone is enough. - Saint Theresa of Avila (Poesías 30)

In Sorrow and Suffering, Go Straight to God with Confidence

In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened and instructed. - Saint John of the Cross