It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation. He does not want to be holy; he only wants to seem to be holy. He is more concerned with his reputation for righteousness than about actually becoming righteous. The approbation of men matters more to him than the approval of God.

Imagine the vanity of thinking that your enemy can do you more damage than your enmity.

Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.

Any woman who does not give birth to as many children as she is capable is guilty of murder.

Attract them by the way you live.

Men are always ready to nose around and find out about other's lives, but they feel lazy to know themselves and correct their own life.

Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.

He who falls, falls by his own will, and he who stands, stands by God's will.

To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.

Do you desire security? Here you have it. The Lord says to you, "I will never abandon you, I will always be with you." If a good man made you such a promise, you would trust him. God makes it, and do you doubt? Do you seek a support more sure than the word of God, which is infallible? Surely, He has made the promise, He has written it, He has pledged His word for it, it is most certain.

To be under pressure is inescapable. Pressure takes place through all the world; war, siege, the worries of state. We all know men who grumble under these pressures and complain. They are cowards. They lack splendour. But there is another sort of man who is under the same pressure but does not complain, for it is the friction which polishes him. It is the pressure which refines and makes him noble.

Two works of mercy set a person free: Forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive.

It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.

Mary heard God's word and kept it, and so she is blessed. She kept God's truth in her mind, a nobler thing than carrying his body in her womb.

God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity.

Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.

If humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.

Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.

If you are pleased with what you are, you have stopped already. If you say, "It is enough," you are lost. Keep on walking, moving forward, trying for the goal.

Don't you believe that there is in man a deep so profound as to be hidden even to him in whom it is?

Let us sing a new song, not with our lips, but with our lives.

Fill yourselves first and then only will you be able to give to others.