St. Philip Neri said.....

[Denise]

"When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, 'I shall not fall, I shall not commit it,' it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with all the greater damage to his soul."

[Denise]

It is a most useful thing to say often, and from the heart, “Lord, do not put any confidence in me, for I am sure to fall if Thou dost not help me;” or, “O my Lord, look for nothing but evil from me.”

[Denise]

In temptation we ought not to say, “I will do,” or “I will say,” for it is a species of presumption and self-confidence; we ought rather to say with humility, “I know what I ought to do, but I do not know what I shall do.”

[Denise]

"The stench of impurity before God and the angels is so great, that no stench in the world can equal it."

[Denise]

We must not trust in ourselves, but take the advice of our spiritual father, and recommend ourselves to everybody’s prayers.

[Denise]

"We must avoid lies as we would a pestilence."

[Denise]

"When we go to confession, we should accuse ourselves of our worst sins first, and of those things which we are most ashamed of, because by this means we put the devil to greater confusion, and reap more fruit from our confession."

[Denise]

"One of the very best means of obtaining humility, is sincere and frequent confession."

[Denise]

"In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall, and also to keep to the same confessor."

As I have grumbled about before; it is very hard these days to keep the same confessor. Priests are moved around quite often and by the time you get comfortable with a confessor, he is gone. Years ago a priest would remain in a parish for many years.

Our confessors/priests are our spiritual fathers. Our dads are our biological fathers. Moving priests/spiritual fathers in Holy Mother Church every 5 to 7 years or even sooner is like a biological mother replacing our biological fathers that often. Just saying.....

[Denise]

"In visiting the dying we should not say many words to them, but rather help them by praying for them."

[Denise]

"A sick man should make God a present of his will; and if it turns out that he has to suffer for a long time, he must submit to the Divine Will."

[Denise]

"The sick man must not fear when he is tempted to lose confidence; for if he has sinned, Christ has suffered and paid for him."

[Denise]

"Let the sick man enter into the Side of Jesus and His most holy Wounds; let him not be afraid, but combat manfully, and he will come forth victorious."

[Denise]

"The true way to advance in holy virtues, is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness."

[Denise]

"The cheerful are much easier to guide in the spiritual life than the melancholy."