St. Philip Neri said.....

[Denise]

"To get good from reading the Lives of the Saints, and other spiritual books, we ought not to read out of curiosity, or skimmingly, but with pauses; and when we feel ourselves warmed, we ought not to pass on, but to stop and follow up the spirit which is stirring in us, and when we feel it no longer then to pursue our reading."

[Denise]

"To begin and end well, devotion to our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God, is nothing less than indispensable."

[Denise]

"We must have confidence in God, who is what He always has been, and we must not be disheartened because things turn out contrary to us."

[Denise]

"Men should not change from a good state of life to another, although it may be better, without taking grave counsel."

[Denise]

"Let every one stay at home, that is, within himself, and sit in judgment on his own actions, without going abroad to investigate and criticize those of others."

[Denise]

"The true servants of God endure life and desire death."

[Denise]

"There is not a finer thing on earth, than to make a virtue of necessity."

[Denise]

"To preserve our cheerfulness amid sicknesses and troubles, is a sign of a right and good spirit."

[Denise]

"A man should not ask tribulations of God, presuming on his being able to bear them; there should be the greatest possible caution in this matter, for he who bears what God sends him daily does not do a small thing."

[Denise]

"They who have been exercised in the service of God for a long time, may in their prayers imagine all sorts of insults offered to them, such as blows, wounds, and the like, and so in order to imitate Christ by their charity, may accustom their hearts beforehand to forgive real injuries when they come."

[Denise]

"Let us think of Mary, for she is that unspeakable virgin, that glorious lady, who conceived and brought forth, without detriment to her virginity, Him whom the width of the heavens cannot contain within itself."

[Denise]

"The true servant of God acknowledges no other country but heaven."

[Denise]

"When God infuses extraordinary sweetnesses into the soul, a man ought to prepare for some serious tribulation or temptation."

[Denise]

"When we have these extraordinary sweetnesses, we ought to ask of God fortitude to bear whatever He may please to send us, and then to stand very much upon our guard, because there is danger of sin behind."

[Denise]

"One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days."