Putting Zeal for the Salvation of Souls in Proper Perspective

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Zeal for the salvation of souls is of so great a merit before God, that to give up all our goods to the poor, or to spend our whole life in the exercises of all sorts of austerities cannot equal the merit of it. There is no service more agreeable to God than this one. To employ one's life in this blessed labor is more pleasing to the Divine Majesty than to suffer martyrdom. Would you not feel happy if you could spend large sums of money in corporal works of mercy? But know that he who labors for the salvation of souls does far more; nay, the zeal of souls is of far greater merit before God…than the working of miracles. 

St. John Chrysostom

Do You Stink?

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

[St. Catherine of Siena] refused to tolerate any faintheartedness in the service of God.  She was utterly convinced that when the salvation of souls was at stake being unduly tolerant or understanding with mediocrity was totally unacceptable, because it is in effect only a concession to laziness or cowardice. 

“Enough of all this soft soap!, she cried out.  “All it does is cause the members of Christ’s Spouse to stink!” 

Francis Fernandez

True Freedom

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

It is of the greatest importance to re-establish the essential connection between life and freedom…There is no true freedom where life is not welcomed and loved; and there is no fullness of life except in freedom.

Saint John Paul II

Acting On Our Beliefs

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

People who take the question of human truth, freedom and meaning seriously will never remain silent about it. They can’t.  They’ll always act on what they believe, even at the cost of their reputations and lives. That’s the way it should be.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Treasure and Pray For Our Priests

What is a priest?  We must begin by purifying ourselves before purifying others; we must be instructed to be able to instruct, become light to illuminate, draw closer to God to bring Him close to others; be sanctified to sanctify; lead by the hand and counsel prudently.  

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

I know whose ministers we are, where we find ourselves and to where we strive.  I know God's greatness and man's weakness, but also his potential.   

The priest is the defender of truth, who stands with angels, gives glory with archangels, causes sacrifices to rise to the altar on high, shares Christ's priesthood, refashions creation, restores it in God's image, recreates it for the world on high and, even greater, is divinized and divinizes. 

St. Gregory of Nazianzus