The most beautiful words of the saints

By Tom Quiner

This is All Saints Day. You and I are surrounded by the lovely words of two-thousand years of saints.

Let us take a minute and bask in the beautiful glow of their wise words. I’ve assembled some quotes that move me.

Which move you the most?

What are some of your favorite quotes not included in this list?

Let us honor these great men and women that preceded us by enriching our souls with their inspired wisdom:

“Faith is to believe what you do not see. The reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” [St. Augustine of Hippo]

“Teach us to give and not count the cost.” [St. Ignatius de Loyola]

“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”  [St. Augustine]

“How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God.” [St. Thomas Aquinas]

“For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” [St. Therese of Lisieux]

“On the question of relating to our fellowman – our neighbor’s spiritual need transcends every commandment. Everything else we do is a means to an end. But love is an end already, since God is love.” [St. Teresia Benedicta (Edith Stein) who died at Auschwitz]

“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!” [St. Catherine of Sienna]

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” [St. Francis of Assis]

“We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.” [St. Bernard of Clairvaux]

“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.” [St. Gregory Nazianzen]

“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.” [St. Teresa of Avila]

“Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven.” [Pope St. Pius X]

“If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark.” [St. John of the Cross]

“Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity- the fire of love of God and neighbor- it will work wonders.” St. Anthony Mary Claret

“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.” [St. Francis de Sales]

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” [St. Francis]

“Tribulation is a gift from God – one that he especially gives His special friends.” [St. Thomas More]

1 Comment

  1. irishsignora on November 1, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    “Let all the brothers, however, preach by their deeds.” — St. Francis of Assisi

    Peace be with you, Mr. Quiner. Thank you for the beautiful quotes; they’ll help focus evening prayers for my husband and I. — Kelly