Catholic Life Section (Cont.)

Language / Speech

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain." (Jms. 1:26)

"If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh." (Jms. 3:2-12)

"Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. For: 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.'" (1 Pt. 3:8-12)

"Words are truly the images of the soul." (St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church)

"Great are the faults committed by the tongue." (St. Faustina Kowalska)

"God has given you the tongue, not to offend him, but to praise him." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)

"The soul will not attain sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue." (St. Faustina Kowalska)

"Never utter in your neighbors' absence what you would not say in their presence." (St. Maria Maddalena de Pazzi)

"If we say less than we should, it is easy to add; but having said too much, it is hard to take it away." (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)

"Why, you words, did I let you go out? I have often been penitent that I spoke, but never that I kept silent." (St. Arsenius the Great)

"Whenever you tell the shortcomings of someone who is not present, your tongue has made a harp for the music of the Devil." (St. Ephraem the Syrian, Doctor of the Church)

"Let them say all they have to say. When they have said all they have to say, there will be no more to be said and they will be silent." (St. John Vianney)

"If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation." (St. John Vianney)

"If any foolish person speaks to you in unbecoming language, show that your ears are offended, either by turning away from him, or by whatever means may be most discreet at the time." (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)

"If Christ is our life, then it follows that all our speech should be about him and that everything we do and think should be guided by his teaching, so that our soul should be formed in his image." (St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church)

"Let your speech be gentle, frank, sincere, clean, simple and truthful. Avoid all duplicity, artifice and affectation; for although it is not expedient to tell everything which is true, it is at no time allowable to tell what is not." (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)

"Very often it requires only one immodest or unseemly word to start a thousand evil thoughts, a thousand shameful desires, perhaps even to cause a fall into an infinite number of sins and to bring innocent souls evil of which they had been happily ignorant." (St. John Vianney)

"We must do away with all mockery and back-biting, with mimicking persons, and with all that is contrary to the love of neighbor. We must not do this even in recreation; we must not scrutinize the actions of others except in strict necessity and then it must be done prudently." (St. Marguerite Bourgeoys)

"No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. So it is with conversation. A single bad word, an evil action, an unbecoming joke, is often enough to harm one or more young listeners, and may later on cause them to lose God's grace." (St. John Bosco)

"What could be more out of keeping with our holy religion than impure language? It outrages God. It scandalizes our neighbor. Can a Christian really afford to occupy his mind with such horrible images? A Christian who has been sanctified by contact with the most Adorable Body and Precious Blood of Jesus Christ." (St. John Vianney)

Also See: Blasphemy | Cursing | Obscenities / Foul Language / Cursing / Swearing (Topical Scripture)

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Lay Apostolate

"The apostolate in the social milieu, that is, the effort to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws, and structures of the community in which one lives, is so much the duty and responsibility of the laity that it can never be performed properly by others." (Second Vatican Council)

"The lay apostolate consists, in this, that laymen undertake tasks deriving from the mission Christ entrusted to His Church. As we have seen, this apostolate always remains a lay apostolate, and does not become a hierarchial apostolate even when it is exercised through the mandate of the Hierarchy." (Pope Pius XII, 1957)

"There has always been a lay apostolate in Christ's Church. Saints such as Emperor Henry III, Stephen, founder of Catholic Hungary, and Louis IX of France were lay apostles, though this was not consciously realized at first, and the phrase "lay apostle" did not exist. There were also women, like St. Pulcheria, sister of Emperor Theodore II, and Mary Ward, who were lay apostles." (Pope Pius XII, 1957)

"There is one more thing which must be said before We conclude these abstract considerations of the relations between lay apostolate and ecclesiastical authority It is sufficient to repeat what We laid down in 1951 as a general rule: that the lay apostolate 'must always remain within the limits of orthodoxy and must not oppose itself to the legitimate prescriptions of competent ecclesiastical authorities.'" (Discorsi e Radiomessaggi, vol. XIII, p. 298)." (Pope Pius XII, 1957)

"The individual apostolate, flowing generously from its source in a truly Christian life (cf. John 4:14), is the origin and condition of the whole lay apostolate, even of the organized type, and it admits of no substitute. Regardless of status, all lay persons (including those who have no opportunity or possibility for collaboration in associations) are called to this type of apostolate and obliged to engage in it. This type of apostolate is useful at all times and places, but in certain circumstances it is the only one appropriate and feasible." (Second Vatican Council)

"There are many forms of the apostolate whereby the laity build up the Church, sanctify the world, and give it life in Christ. A particular form of the individual apostolate as well as a sign specially suited to our times is the testimony of the whole lay life arising from faith, hope, and charity. It manifests Christ living in those who believe in Him. Then by the apostolate of the spoken and written word, which is utterly necessary under certain circumstances, lay people announce Christ, explain and spread His teaching in accordance with one's status and ability, and faithfully profess it." (Second Vatican Council)

Also See: The Right and Duty of Lay Catholics to Promote the Faith (Catholic Links Reflections)

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Life is Fleeting

"All the preoccupation of men with the things of this life is but the game of children on the sands... For as soon as their labor is completed, the sand falls down and nothing is left of their buildings." (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

Also See: Death & Dying [Pg.]

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Life Issues

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Abortion  

Abortion / Euthanasia

Artificial Fertilization

Artificial Reproduction

Attacks Against Life

Baptism of Aborted Fetuses

Birth Control / Contraception

Defense of Life

Euthanasia

Life

Necessity of Providing Food & Water to the Sick

Prenatal Diagnosis / Testing

Right to Life

Suicide 

Taking of (Innocent) Life is Forbidden

The Unborn in Holy Scripture

Misc.

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Life's Battle

"Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lk. 21:36)

"But for those who seek salvation there can be no middle ground between laborious struggle and destruction." (Pope Leo XIII, "Inimica Vis", 1892)

"For surely our whole life is involved in a constant battle in which our salvation itself is at stake; nothing is more disgraceful for a Christian than cowardice." (Pope Leo XIII, "Inimica Vis", 1892)

"Let them not, however, lose heart; to face bitter combats is a mark of Christians, and to endure grave labors to the end is a mark of them who, as good soldiers of Christ, follow Him closely." (Pope Pius XI, "Quadragesimo Anno", 1931)

"Bring it home to their minds, as We have Ourselves oftentimes conveyed the warning, that matters of the highest moment and worthy of all honor are at stake, for the safeguarding of which every most toilsome effort should be readily endured; and that a sublime reward is in store for the labors of a Christian life. On the other hand, to refrain from doing battle for Jesus Christ amounts to fighting against Him; He Himself assures us 'He will deny before His Father in heaven those who shall have refused to confess Him on earth.' As for Ourselves and you all, never assuredly, so long as life lasts, shall We allow Our authority, Our counsels, and Our solicitude to be in any wise lacking in the conflict. Nor is it to be doubted but that especial aid of the great God will be vouchsafed, so long as the struggle endures, to the flock alike and to the pastors" (Pope Leo XIII, "Sapientiae Christianae", 1890)

"And yet it must be said that it seems to have been predetermined by the counsel of God that there should be no salvation to men without strife and pain. Truly, though God has given to man pardon for sin, He gave it under the condition that His only begotten Son should pay the due penalty; and although Jesus Christ might have satisfied divine justice in other ways, nevertheless He preferred to satisfy by the utmost suffering and the sacrifice of His life. Thus he has imposed upon His followers this law, signed in His blood, that their life should be an endless strife with the vices of the age. What made the apostles invincible in their mission of teaching truth to the world; what strengthened the martyrs innumerable in their bloody testimony to the Christian faith, but the readiness of their soul to obey fearlessly His laws? And all who have taken heed to live a Christian life and seek virtue have trodden the same path; therefore We must walk in this way if We desire either Our own salvation or that of others." (Pope Leo XIII, "Exeunte Iam Anno", 1888)

Also See: Renouncing One's Self | Renouncing the World | The Cross / Crosses | Trials & Tribulations | A Happy Death is Our Principal Concern In Life | Preparing For Death | Reward / Punishment

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Looking to the Good of Others 

"We cannot be saved by seeking just our own individual salvation; we need to look first to the good of others." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church)

Also See: Love / Charity | Our Neighbor / Care & Treatment of Our Neighbor

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Love / Charity

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Marriage, Family & Home

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Against Divorce & 'Remarriage'

Children / Youth

Crucifix in the Home

Decoration of the Home

Family / Families

Fathers / Fatherhood

Femininity & The Virgin Mary

Fostering Vocations / Vocations in the Family

An Ideal Home

Idleness & Young People

Legitimate / Illegitimate Children 

Marital Relations

Marital Separation

Marriage

Marriage Not Equal to Virginity

Marriage Not Recommended for All

Men

Mixed Marriage

Mothers / Motherhood

Parental Discipline

Parents / Parenting 

Primacy of Husband / Obedience of Wife

Sterility is Not an Impediment to Marriage

Women / Womanhood

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Mixed Marriages

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Modesty / Proper Dress

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Against Cross Dressing

Against Women Wearing Men's Clothing

Fatima & Offensive Fashions

Modesty / Dress

Padre Pio's Dress Requirements for Women

Proper Dress for Church / Women

Prophecy of St. Nilus

Vatican Dress Standards

Misc. (Modesty / Proper Dress)

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Narrow Path to Eternal Life

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 7:13-14)

"Someone asked him, 'Lord, will only a few people be saved?' [Jesus] answered them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.'" (Lk. 13:23-24)

"Reflect that 'many are called but few are chosen' (Mt. 22:14), and that - if you're not careful - your damnation is more certain than your salvation, especially since the path to eternal life is so narrow." (St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church)

Also See: The Church is Man's Guide to Heaven | Life's Battle | Following the Crowd | Holiness / Virtue [Pg.] | Sin & Vice [Pg.] | Tough Love in the New Testament

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Natural Defects

"If we have any natural defect, either in mind or body, let us not grieve and be sorry for ourselves. Who is there that ever receives a gift and tries to make bargains about it? Let us, then, return thanks for what He has bestowed on us. Who can tell whether, if we had had a larger share of ability or stronger health, we would have possessed them to our destruction?" (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)

Also See: Our Imperfections

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Necessity of Frequent Reminders

"[T]he Christian is kept so busy by the various affairs of life and wanders so easily into matters of little importance, that unless he be helped with frequent reminders, the truths which are of first importance and necessity are little by little forgotten; and then faith begins to grow weak and may even perish." (Pope Leo XIII, "Magnae Dei Matris", 1892)

Also See: Sacred Art / Images | Prayers & Devotions

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Need for 'Apostles'

"For We are now confronted, as more than once before in the history of the Church, with a world that in large part has almost fallen back into paganism. That these whole classes of men may be brought back to Christ whom they have denied, we must recruit and train from among them, themselves, auxiliary soldiers of the Church who know them well and their minds and wishes, and can reach their hearts with a tender brotherly love. The first and immediate apostles to the workers ought to be workers; the apostles to those who follow industry and trade ought to be from among them themselves." (Pope Pius XI, "Quadragesimo Anno", 1931)

Also See: Lay Apostolate

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Obedience / Disobedience

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Opinion of Others

"If you are afraid of other people's opinion, you should not have become a Christian." (St. John Vianney)

"Was Jesus Christ afraid of being laughed at?" (St. John Vianney)

"Do not try to please everybody. Try to please God, the angels, and the saints - they are your public." (St. John Vianney)

Also See: Associating with Catholics | Being at the Service of Truth | Following the Crowd | Narrow Path to Eternal Life | Renouncing the World | Our Actions Must Correspond to Our Faith

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Order of Things Established by God

"It is a divinely appointed law that whatsoever things are constituted by God, the Author of nature, these we find the more useful and salutary, the more they remain in their natural state, unimpaired and unchanged; inasmuch as God, the Creator of all things, intimately knows what is suited to the constitution and the preservation of each, and by his will and mind has so ordained all this that each may duly achieve its purpose. But if the boldness and wickedness of men change and disturb this order of things, so providentially disposed, then, indeed, things so wonderfully ordained, will begin to be injurious, or will cease to be beneficial, either because, in the change, they have lost their power to benefit, or because God Himself is thus pleased to draw down chastisement on the pride and presumption of men." (Pope Leo XIII)

"But, whoever strive against the order which Divine Providence has constituted pay usually the penalty of their pride, and meet with affliction and misery where they rashly hoped to find all things prosperous and in conformity with their desires." (Pope Leo XIII, "Humanum Genus", 1884)

Also See: God's Laws | God's Providence | God's Will

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Our Actions Must Correspond to Our Faith

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, LK 6:46-49)

"[I]t is unlawful to follow one line of conduct in private life and another in public, respecting privately the authority of the Church, but publicly rejecting it; for this would amount to joining together good and evil, and to putting man in conflict with himself; whereas he ought always to be consistent, and never in the least point nor in any condition of life to swerve from Christian virtue." (Pope Leo XIII, "Immortale Dei", 1885 A.D.) 

"Only ask for me strength, both within and without, so that I may not merely talk, but also show a determined will - not merely be called a Christian, but also prove to be such. If I prove myself a Christian, then I can fittingly be called one; then am I an example of faith, though hidden from the world. Nothing that is seen is of any account. For Jesus Christ our God, now hidden in the Fathers, is the more clearly revealed." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, c. 107 A.D.)

"It is necessary with all care and diligence to procure the widest possible diffusion of the teachings of the Church, even among the working-classes. The minds of men must be illuminated with the sure light of Catholic teaching, and their wills must be drawn to follow and apply it as the norm of right living in the conscientious fulfillment of their manifold social duties. Thus they will oppose that incoherence and discontinuity in Christian life which We have many times lamented. For there are some who, while exteriorly faithful to the practice of their religion, yet in the field of labor and industry, in the professions, trade and business, permit a deplorable cleavage in their conscience, and live a life too little in conformity with the clear principles of justice and Christian charity. Such lives are a scandal to the weak, and to the malicious a pretext to discredit the Church." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Redemptoris", 1937)

"To be sure, if a man does not intend to do what he recognizes to be right, if he is indifferent to the problem of making actions correspond with principle - if he does what he knows to be wrong without having a burdened conscience - then, morally, he is a very poor person indeed. But to call him dishonest is an understatement. His conduct is worse than dishonesty, it betrays either a cynical wickedness or a brutish unscrupulousness. Similarly, the man who strives to live up to what he recognizes to be morally good is in no way dishonest when he does not succeed. On the contrary, it is a specific sign of the man's honesty when he admits that moral laws and moral values are fully valid even though he fails to live up to them. What is dishonest - what is all too characteristic of our age - is for a man to adapt the truth to his actions: to take his de facto conduct as the norm, to deny the validity of moral laws because he has not succeeded in living up to them." (Dietrich von Hildebrand)

"There are too many who fulfill more or less faithfully the more essential obligations of the religion they boast of professing, but have no desire of knowing it better, of deepening their inward conviction, and still less of bringing into conformity with the external gloss the inner splendor of a right and unsullied conscience, that recognizes and performs all its duties under the eye of God. We know how much Our Divine Savior detested this empty pharisaic show, He Who wished that all should adore the Father 'in spirit and in truth.' The Catholic who does not live really and sincerely according to the Faith he professes will not long be master of himself in these days when the winds of strife and persecution blow so fiercely, but will be swept away defenseless in this new deluge which threatens the world. And thus, while he is preparing his own ruin, he is exposing to ridicule the very name of Christian." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Redemptoris", 1937)

"Does our conduct correspond with our Faith?" (St. John Vianney)

Also See: Being at the Service of Truth | Narrow Path to Eternal Life | Life's Battle | Duty to Profess / Defend the Faith (Coming Home Reflections) | Following the Crowd | Tough Love in the New Testament

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Our Imperfections 

"We must not be disturbed at our imperfections, since for us perfection consists in fighting against them. How can we fight against them unless we see them, or overcome them unless we face them?" (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)

Also See: Natural Defects | Increase Holiness (Reflections) | Increase Holiness Section

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Our Last End

"[I]t is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27)

"[E]very human action, has a necessary connection with man's last end" (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Illius Magistri", 1929)

"Whatever a Christian does even in the order of things of earth, he may not overlook the supernatural; indeed he must, according to the teaching of Christian wisdom, direct all things towards the supreme good as to his last end" (Pope St. Pius X)

Also See: Narrow Path to Eternal Life | Reward / Punishment | Life is Fleeting | Death & Dying [Pg.] | A Happy Death is Our Principal Concern In Life | How One Dies is How One Remains Forever | The Moment of Death | Preparing For Death | Uncertain Moment of Death | Tough Love in the New Testament | Eternal Life (Topical Scripture) | Eternal Punishment (Topical Scripture) | Judgment (Topical Scripture)

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Our Sacrifices

"You think you make sacrifices. Look at the sacrifice of Calvary and compare yours with it." (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)

Also See: Trials & Tribulations | Love / Charity | Looking to the Good of Others | Our Neighbor / Care & Treatment of Our Neighbor

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Papal / Saintly Advice & Instruction

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Persecution

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 5:10-12)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 5:43-48)

"Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 13:18-23)

"Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 24:9-13)

"Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 15:20)

"What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?" (Rom. 8:35)

"Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them." (Rom. 12:14)

"In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Tm. 3:12)

"Are you falsely accused, or loaded with insults? All the better! It is a good sign; don't worry about it. You are on the road which leads to heaven." (St. John Vianney)

"In the midst of contumelies and tortures we should imitate the blessed Apostles, who, after they had been scourged, rejoiced exceedingly that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for Christ Jesus. Filled with such sentiments, we shall sing in transports of joy: Princes have persecuted me without cause; and my heart hath been in awe of thy words; I will rejoice at thy the words, as one that hath found great spoil." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)

Also See: Enemies | Affliction | The Cross / Crosses | Sorrow / Sorrows | Suffering | Trials & Tribulations | Perseverance

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Prayer

Also See: Catholic Prayers (Topic Page)

"Pray without ceasing." (St. Paul, 1 Thes. 5:17)

"The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful." (St. James, Jms. 5:16)

"[P]ray one for another, that you may be saved" (St. James, Jms. 5:16) [Note: Douay Rheims translation]

"The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers." (St. Peter, 1 Pt. 4:7)

"But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lk. 6:27-28)

"All need our prayers."

"No prayer is ever lost." (St. John Vianney)

"Do nothing at all unless you begin with prayer." (St. Ephraem the Syrian, Doctor of the Church)

"Prayer is the key to heaven." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)

"It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church)

"Prayer is the best armor we have, it is the key which opens the heart of God." (St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina)

"Only he will receive, will find, and will enter who perseveres in asking, seeking and knocking." (St. Louis de Montfort)

"To pray for another is an act of charity" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"For if you persevere in asking, without doubt you will receive what you ask for." (St. Bede the Venerable, Doctor of the Church)

"He causes his prayers to be of more avail to himself, who offers them also for others." (Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church)

"Indeed, prayer is the first and greatest work of charity that we must do for our brothers and sisters." (Pope John Paul II)

"Pray, pray, pray; prayer is the key to the treasures of God. It is the weapon of combat and of victory in every battle for good over evil." (Pope Pius XII)

"He who gives up regularity in prayer has lost a principal means of reminding himself that spiritual life is obedience to a Lawgiver, not a mere feeling or taste." (Cardinal Newman)

"Prayer is man's richest boon. It is his light, his nourishment, and his very life, for it brings him into communication with God, who is light, nourishment, and life." (Dom Gueranger)

"Prayer means a launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one's eyes, quite simply, to heaven, a cry of grateful love, from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it's a vast, supernatural force that opens out my heart and binds me close to Jesus." (St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church)

Also See: Prayers & Devotions (Reflections) | Prayer Requests (Reflections) | Answered Prayers (Reflections) | Prayers & Devotions Section | Prayer Requests Section | Prayer (Topical Scripture)

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Reward / Punishment

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats... Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'... And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 25:31-32, 34-36, 41-46, 46)

"Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 5:28-29)

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Rom. 8:13)

"I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire." (Rv. 20:12-15)

"Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds." (Rv. 22:12)

"God wills that we should work today and tomorrow; and after that, an eternity of joy, of happiness, awaits us in Heaven" (St. John Vianney)

"We have been taught that only they may aim at immortality who have lived a holy and virtuous life near to God. We believe that they who live wickedly and do not repent will be punished in everlasting fire." (St. Justin the Martyr, c. 148-161 A.D.)

Also See: Narrow Path to Eternal Life | Death of the Just | Death of the Wicked | A Happy Death is Our Principal Concern In Life | How One Dies is How One Remains Forever | Preparing For Death | Uncertain Moment of Death | Tough Love in the New Testament | Eternal Life (Topical Scripture) | Eternal Punishment (Topical Scripture) | Judgment (Topical Scripture) | Catholic Basics

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Rosary

Also See: Holy Rosary (Topic Page)

"If you want peace in your heart, in your home, in your country, assemble together every night and say the Rosary." (Pope St. Pius X)

"But it is above all in the bosom of the family that We desire the custom of the Holy Rosary to be everywhere adopted, religiously preserved, and ever more intensely practiced." (Pope Pius XII, "Ingruentium Malorum", 1951)

"When very frequently We receive newly married couples in audience and address paternal words to them, We give them rosaries, We recommend these to them earnestly, and We exhort them, citing Our own example, not to let even one day pass without saying the Rosary, no matter how burdened they may be with many cares and labors." (Pope Pius XI, "Ingravescentibus Malis", 1937)

Also See: Holy Rosary (Reflections) | Rosary Section

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Satan / Devil

Also See: Evil / Satan (Topic Page)

"[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 8:44)

"The devil...induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand [Jesus] over." (Jn. 13:2)

"Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph. 6:10-17)

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (Jms. 4:7)

"Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little." (1 Pt. 5:8-10)

"Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother." (1 Jn. 3:7-10)

"Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it." (Rv. 12:7-9)

"When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus." (Rv. 12:13-17)

"When the devil is called the god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldliness." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

Also See: Sin & Vice [Pg.] | Evil / Satan (Catholic Basics) | Hell / Eternal Punishment (Topical Scripture) | Devil / Satan (Topical Scripture)

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Science

"If anyone shall have said that the human sciences should be treated with such liberty that their assertions, although opposed to revealed doctrine, can be retained as true, and cannot be proscribed by the Church: let him be anathema." (Vatican Council I, 1870 A.D.)

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Serving God

"No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lk. 16:13)

"We have to serve God in His way, not in ours." (St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church)

"It does not cost more to side with justice, but then one must have a conscience and reason calmly as to the object of life: in a word, serve and love God." (St. Theophane Venard)

Also See: Our Actions Must Correspond to Our Faith | Narrow Path to Eternal Life | Perseverance | Renouncing One's Self | Renouncing the World

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Sin & Vice

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Against Bodily Destruction

Anger

Bad Thoughts

Blasphemy

Cursing

Despair

Envy

Fornication

Gluttony

Hatred

Homosexuality

Living Together Without the Sacrament of Matrimony

Materialism

Mediums

Pleasure is Momentary

Pride / Vanity

Self-Centeredness

Self-Love / Sin

Sin

Sinful Desires Forbidden

Sins & Shortcomings of Others

Sodomy

Sterilization

Suicide

Temptation

Vice

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Striving Against Nature

"[A]ll striving against nature is in vain." (Pope Leo XIII, "Rerum Novarum", 1891)

Also See: Order of Things Established by God

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Suffering & Death

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Acceptance of Death

Adversity

Affliction

All Things Are From God

Cemeteries / Burial

The Cross / Crosses

Death & Dying

Death & Those We Love

Death / Pain

Death Becomes Evil Only By the Retribution Which Follows

Death is Not the End / Resurrection

Death of the Just

Death of the Wicked

Ecclesiastical Funerals / Burial

Extreme Unction

Fear of Death

A Happy Death is Our Principal Concern In Life

How One Dies is How One Remains Forever

Jesus' Death

Longing For Death

The Moment of Death

Necessity of / Reasons for Suffering

Our Deaths & The Blessed Virgin

Pain

Praise of Death

Prayer For the Dead

Preparing For Death

Sickness / Illness

Sorrow / Sorrows

Suffering

Traditional Teaching on Cremation

Trials & Tribulations

Uncertain Moment of Death

Words of Advice

Words of Encouragement

Misc. (Death & Dying)

Misc. (Suffering / Death)

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Wealth / Poverty

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The Poor / Poverty

Riches / Wealth

Social Classes

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Work / Wages

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Unemployment

Wages

Work

Women's Work in the Home

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Misc.

"A man who leans on God is immovable and cannot be overthrown." (St. Claude de la Colombiere)

"The world is only peopled in order to people heaven." (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)

"God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you to do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)

"Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now." (St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church)

"[J]ust as from a rotten stock are produced healthless branches or worthless fruits, so do the ravages of a pestilence which ruins the household spread wide their cruel infection to the hurt and injury of individual citizens." (Pope Leo XIII, "Inscrutabili Dei Consilio", 1878)

"[L]et all understand the following: That the integrity of the Catholic faith can by no means exist along with opinions which border on naturalism and rationalism, the sum total of which is to tear Christian institutions from their foundations and to establish man's leadership in society, relegating God to second place" (Pope Leo XIII, "Immortale Dei", 1885 A.D.)

"[A]s history testifies, the prosperity of the State and the temporal happiness of its citizens cannot remain safe and sound where the foundation on which they are established, which is the moral order, is weakened and where the very fountainhead from which the State draws its life, namely, wedlock and the family, is obstructed by the vices of its citizens." (Pope Pius XI, "Casti Connubii", 1930)

"To be sure of eternal life, therefore, and to be able to help the poor effectively, it is imperative to return to a more moderate way of life, to renounce the joys, often sinful, which the world today holds out in such abundance; to forget self for love of the neighbor. There is a divine regenerating force in this 'new precept' (as Christ called it) of Christian charity. Its faithful observance will pour into the heart an inner peace which the world knows not, and will finally cure the ills which oppress humanity." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Redemptoris", 1937)

"In a word, we can say that the cultural change which we are calling for demands from everyone the courage to adopt a new life-style, consisting in making practical choices - at the personal, family, social and international level - on the basis of a correct scale of values: the primacy of being over having, of the person over things. This renewed life-style involves a passing from indifference to concern for others, from rejection to acceptance of them. Other people are not rivals from whom we must defend ourselves, but brothers and sisters to be supported. They are to be loved for their own sakes, and they enrich us by their very presence." (Pope John Paul II)

"My dear daughters, every praiseworthy or blameworthy act derives its good or bad qualities solely from the will. For from the will comes the root and source of those acts that lie without our power; and even if we cannot fulfill our aim, yet each one will be judged before God according to his intention. So do not look so much at what you accomplish as at what you aim at doing; not so much at your deeds as at your intention... In virtue of his righteous intention a man is designated just, precisely as in virtue of his evil intention he is designated unjust. If you wish to live a virtuous life, then keep unceasing watch over your will in matters both great and trifling. In things that are within your power, and in things that are beyond you, let it not swerve a hairsbreadth from the straight path." (St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church)

"The true Christian does not renounce the activities of this life, he does not stunt his natural faculties; but he develops and perfects them, by coordinating them with the supernatural. He thus ennobles what is merely natural in life and secures for it new strength in the material and temporal order, no less then in the spiritual and eternal. This fact is proved by the whole history of Christianity and its institutions, which is nothing else but the history of true civilization and progress up to the present day. It stands out conspicuously in the lives of the numerous Saints, whom the Church, and she alone, produces, in whom is perfectly realized the purpose of Christian education, and who have in every way ennobled and benefited human society. Indeed, the Saints have ever been, are, and ever will be the greatest benefactors of society, and perfect models for every class and profession, for every state and condition of life, from the simple and uncultured peasant to the master of sciences and letters, from the humble artisan to the commander of armies, from the father of a family to the ruler of peoples and nations, from simple maidens and matrons of the domestic hearth to queens and empresses. What shall we say of the immense work which has been accomplished even for the temporal well-being of men by missionaries of the Gospel, who have brought and still bring to barbarous tribes the benefits of civilization together with the light of the Faith? What of the founders of so many social and charitable institutions, of the vast numbers of saintly educators, men and women, who have perpetuated and multiplied their life work, by leaving after them prolific institutions of Christian education, in aid of families and for the inestimable advantage of nations? Such are the fruits of Christian education." (Pope Pius XI, "Divini Illius Magistri", 1929)

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