Bookmark of St. Teresa of Avila
Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God alone does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices. + St. Teresa of Avila
Virtues
Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good. Romans 12:21
“Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue.” + Pope Pius XII (1876-1958 A.D.)
“Knowledge stimulates virtue and virtue reflects knowledge.” + Procopius of Gaza, bishop (465-568 A.D.)
“Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy.” + St. Paul of the Cross, priest (1694-1775 A.D.)
“The more the soul advances, the stronger and more powerful it becomes in bearing the difficulties that it meets.” + St. Dorotheus, abbot (505-565 A.D.)
“Once a man has been found worthy of Christ’s peace, he can easily save his soul and guide his mind to carry out exactingly the demands of virtue.” + St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop (375-444 A.D.)
“No act of ours should be unworthy of the spirit.” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
“Avoid evil, cast danger aside.” + St. Francis of Paola, religious (1416-1507 A.D.)
“May you never know anger, but be patient, long-suffering, persevering and chaste.” + St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (69-155 A.D.)
“Be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love.” + St. Paul of the Cross, priest (1694-1775 A.D.)
“Exercise self discipline, for you are God’s athlete; the prize is immortality and eternal life, as you know full well.” + St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
“I earnestly admonish you, my brothers, to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short and vanishes like smoke.” + St. Francis of Paola, religious (1416-1507 A.D.)
“Follow the ways of God, and have respect for one another; let no one judge his neighbor as the world does, but love one another always in Jesus Christ.” + St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
“Truly Christian virtues grow in a man who enjoys the unchangeable possession of Christian peace, nor does one come to the title of son of God except through that of peacemaker.” + St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop (406-450 A.D.)
“If we renounce sinful pleasures and practice self-control by refusing to yield to our evil desires, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus.” + From a homily written in the second century
“I urge all of you to be chaste and honest, to avoid avarice and to refrain from every form of evil.” + St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (69-155 A.D.)
“God’s commands have taught us to give him back the virtues he sowed in us in our first innocence.” + St. Columban, abbot (545-615 A.D.)
“The Lord teaches us to be peaceable, long-suffering, undefiled by desire for pleasure, and detached from worldly wealth.” + St. Basil the Great, bishop (329-379 A.D.)
“The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others.” + St. Anthony of Padua, priest (1195-1231 A.D.)
“Seek right conduct as your adornment, not jewelry or attractive clothing.” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
“We must be ready and eager for every opportunity to do good, and put our whole heart into it.” + St. Clement I, pope (unknown – 100 A.D.)
“No honest man becomes rich overnight; he has to wait for the reward of his labors.” + From a homily written in the second century
“The person who shows love and compassion to those in any kind of affliction is blessed, not only with the virtue of good will but also with the gift of peace.” + St. Leo the Great, pope (400-461 A.D.)
“If man applies the virtues planted in his soul to the right purpose, he will be like God.” + St. Columban, abbot (545-615 A.D.)
“Your reward for the right use of the things of this world will be everlasting glory, a crown of righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven; God will welcome you, the angels will praise you, all men who have existed since the world began will call you blessed.” + St. Basil the Great, bishop (329-379 A.D.)
“Live good lives, and you yourselves will be the Lord’s praise.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
Forgiveness
Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32
“If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we must in turn forgive.” + St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (69-155 A.D.)
Humility
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. James 4:10
“Christ humbled himself. Christian, that is what you must make your own.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“True doctrine tries both to teach by words and to demonstrate by living example – humility, which is the mother and mistress of virtues.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger.” + St. Clement I, pope (unknown – 100 A.D.)
“If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.” + St. Thomas Aquinas, priest (1225-1274 A.D.)
“Certainly if someone examines himself carefully and with fear of God, he will never find himself completely innocent.” + St. Dorotheus, abbot (505-565 A.D.)
“God protects and frees a humble man; he loves and consoles a humble man; he favors a humble man; he showers him with graces; then, after his suffering, God raises him up to glory.” + Thomas a Kempis, religious (1380-1471 A.D.)
“The man who finds fault with himself accepts all things cheerfully – misfortune, loss, disgrace, dishonor and any other kind of adversity.” + St. Dorotheus, abbot (505-565 A.D.)
“When we remove all obstacles to Christ’s presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.” + St. Charles Borromeo, bishop (1538-1584 A.D.)
“Though Christ was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother.” + St. Francis of Assisi, religious (1182-1226 A.D.)
“Let us follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“It cannot be doubted that the poor can more easily attain the blessing of humility than those who are rich.” + St. Leo the Great, pope (400-461 A.D.)
“The greater a person seems to be, the more humbly he ought to act, and the more zealous he should be for the common good rather than his own interest.” + St. Clement I, pope (unknown – 100 A.D.)
“Make yourselves gentle, and be born again in the faith which is the body of the Lord and in the love which is the blood of Jesus Christ.” + St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
“Those who refuse to be humble cannot be saved.” + St. Bede the Venerable, priest (672-735 A.D.)
“Though you live your life with great need, you can always set aside your wrath, be humble, pray diligently and condemn your own sins.” + St. John Chrysostom, bishop (347-407 A.D.)
“Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next.” + St. Stephen of Hungary, king (969-1038 A.D.)
Obedience
Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Luke 11:28
“Be devout and obedient to our mother the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father.” + St. Louis, king (1214-1270 A.D.)
“If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death.” + St. Thomas Aquinas, priest (1225-1274 A.D.)
“Our love for God is entrusted with its own responsibility: to observe his counsels, to obey his laws, to trust his promises.” + St. Hilary, bishop (315-367 A.D.)
“Dear friends, we should bear in mind and realize that when we call God our Father, we ought also to act like sons. If we are pleased to call him Father, let him in turn be pleased to call us sons.” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
“When you observe true obedience with prudence and enthusiasm, it is clear that you wisely pick the most delightful and nourishing fruit of divine Scripture.” + St. Bruno, priest (1035-1101 A.D.)
“Through virtue and knowledge, Christ leads to the Father those who are resolved to walk by him, who is the way of righteousness, in obedience to the divine commandments.” + St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (580-662 A.D.)
“Your submission to your bishop, who is in the place of Jesus Christ, shows me that you are not living as men usually do but in the manner of Jesus himself, who died for us that you might escape death by belief in his death.” + St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
“Those who keep God’s commandments will have reason to rejoice.” + From a homily written in the second century
Mercy
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
“If man expects to receive any mercy in heaven, he should give mercy on earth.” + St. Caesarius of Arles, bishop (468-542 A.D.)
“What is imputed to those placed on Christ’s left side? That they refused to show mercy. And where will they go? Depart into the everlasting fire.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Not even night should interrupt you in your duty of mercy.” + St. Gregory of Nazianzen, bishop (329-374 A.D.)
“The Lord of all asks for mercy, not sacrifice, and mercy is greater than myriads of fattened lambs.” + St. Gregory of Nazianzen, bishop (329-374 A.D.)
“Yes, there is mercy in heaven, but the road to it is paved by our merciful acts on earth.” + St. Caesarius of Arles, bishop (468-542 A.D.)
“If you wish to receive mercy, be merciful before he comes; forgive whatever has been done against you; give of your abundance.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” + St. Stephen of Hungary, king (969-1038 A.D.)
Perseverance
Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
“We must bear with everything for God, so that he in turn may bear with us.” + St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
“Anyone who is determined to reach his destination is not deterred by the roughness of the road that leads to it.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tells us: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial: Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.” + St. Boniface, bishop and martyr (672-754 A.D.)
“The joys of this world lead to eternal misery, but the joys that are according to the Lord’s will, bring those who persevere in them to joys that are enduring and everlasting.” + St. Ambrose, bishop (340-397 A.D.)
“Paul taught justice to all the world and, when he had reached the limits of the western world, he gave his witness before those in authority; then he left this world and was taken up into the holy place, a superb example of endurance.” + St. Clement I, pope (unknown – 100 A.D.)
“The Apostle Paul summed up his attitude in the words: I forget what is behind me and push on to what lies ahead.” + St. John Chrysostom, bishop (347-407 A.D.)
“If we are a house of God, its construction goes on in time so that it may be dedicated at the end of time. The house, in its construction, involves hard work, while its dedication is an occasion for rejoicing.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Faith sometimes falters because the Lord does not reward us immediately. But hold out, be steadfast, endure, bear the delay, and you have carried the cross.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself.” + St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishop (329-374 A.D.)
Sacrifice
Live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2
“Sacrifice, though performed or offered by man, is something divine; that is why the ancient Latins gave it this name of “sacrifice,” of something sacred.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“These are the sacrifices most pleasing to God: mercy, humility, praise, peace, charity.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Works of mercy, done either to ourselves or to our neighbor and referred to God are true sacrifices.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
Justice
Let justice surge like waters, and righteousness like an unfailing stream. Amos 5:24
“There are many gates which stand open, but the gate of justice is the gateway of Christ.” + St. Clement I, pope (unknown – 100 A.D.)
“The justice of Christ must enter into men; and as the old Adam ruined his descendants through sin, so Christ must bring new life to all men through justice.” + St. Pacian, bishop (310-391 A.D.)
“Christ alone among men is found perfected in every good quality, for the Spirit was given to him without measure so that he alone could fulfill all justice.” + Baldwin of Canterbury, bishop (unknown – 1190 A.D.)
Formation
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. Luke 2:52
“We are to be formed and molded by God that we are recognized as belonging to his one family.” + St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishop (329-374 A.D.)
“Competing as we are in the arena of the living God, we are receiving training in this present life that will make us worthy to be crowned in the life to come.” + From a homily written in the second century
“When a soul has come to hate sin and has delivered itself as far as it can to the power of virtue, it undergoes a transformation by receiving the grace of the Spirit. Then it is healed, restored and made wholly new.” + St. Gregory of Nyssa, bishop (335-394 A.D.)
“May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in truth and in great gentleness.” + St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (69-155 A.D.)
Holiness
There is no Holy One like the LORD; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2
“It is a characteristic of holy men that their own painful trials do not make them lose their concern for the well-being of others.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Holy men look out for others and teach them needed lessons; they are like gifted physicians who are themselves stricken and lie ill.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“Holy men suffer wounds themselves but bring others the medicine that restores health.” + St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-604 A.D.)
“There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord.” + Thomas A Kempis, religious (1380-1471 A.D.)
Gratitude
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Profess your belief that you are sons of God by giving thanks.” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
“I give thanks and boast in the Lord, who, one and the same throughout the world, produces his love in his people through the Holy Spirit whom he pours out upon all flesh.” + St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr (208-258 A.D.)
Joy
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
“Let joy in the Lord go on increasing; let joy in the world go on decreasing until it is no more.” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“Even in the midst of this life of tears and tribulations, what happiness, what great joy it is to realize that we are God’s flock!” + St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
