What value is there in faith without works? And what are they worth if they are not united to the merits of Jesus Christ, our only good?

The saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him.

Before prayer, endeavour to realise Whose Presence you are approaching and to Whom you are about to speak, keeping in mind Whom you are addressing. If our lives were a thousand times as long as they are we should never fully understand how we ought to behave towards God, before Whom the very Angels tremble, Who can do all He wills, and with Whom to wish is to accomplish.

It is no small misfortune and disgrace that, through our own fault, we neither understand our nature nor our origin.

Let us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy apostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus Christ were the most afflicted.

How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.

It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.