Struggling as so many are, dealing month after month with pandemic restrictions and separation from others, I thought perhaps we all needed some words of encouragement and even redirection. It's easy to become a bit too inward-focused as we live out this odd cocoon-like existence and find ourselves actually looking forward to Face-time calls and Zoom meetings. Yes, indeed, we could all use some words to lift up our hearts and turn those same hearts to the Lord.
Here are a few comments by saintly men and women who managed to live extraordinary lives despite the difficult challenges they faced.
“Bodily suffering makes wicked souls miserable, but borne with fortitude it purifies souls that are good.” - St. Augustine
“Make sickness itself a prayer.” - St. Francis de Sales
“He causes his prayers to be of greater advantage to himself, who offers prayer also for others.” - Pope St. Gregory I
“God’s will is as much in sickness as in health.” - St. Francis de Sales
“Rise, let us be on our way!” - St. John Paul II
“Let us throw ourselves into God’s arms, and be sure that if He wants something from us, He will give us the strength to do everything He wants us to.” - St. Philip Neri
“Nothing can happen to me that God doesn't want. And all that He wants, no matter how bad it may appear to us, is really for the best.” - St. Thomas More
"Let the brothers ever avoid appearing gloomy, sad, and clouded, like the hypocrites; but let one ever be found joyous." - St. Francis of Assisi
“It does us much good, when we suffer, to have friendly hearts whose echo responds to our suffering.” - St. Thérèse of Lisieux
"Imagine yourself always to be the servant of all, and look upon all as if they were Christ our Lord in person; and so shall you do Him honor and reverence." - St. Teresa of Jesus
“He prays best who does not know that he is praying.” – St. Anthony of the Desert
“God allows failure but does not want discouragement.” - St. Teresa of Calcutta
“Don’t become discouraged. I have seen you fight ... Your defeat today is training for the final victory.” - St. Josemaría Escrivá
“Joy, study and piety: this is the best program to make you happy, and is the one that will most benefit your soul.” - St. John Bosco
“True love is hidden in the depths of the virtues, and manifests itself in any adversity.” - St. John of the Cross
“It is proper of faith to make us humble in happy events and unperturbed in setbacks.” - St. Clare of Assisi
“Have great confidence in God: His mercy is infinitely greater than our weakness.” - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
"Humility is the mother of salvation." -- St. Bernard
"There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith." -- St. Augustine
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