27th January 2014: Saint Angela Merici

Saint Angela Merici

"The servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be gentle toward all." - 2 Timothy 2:24

"Exercise pleasantness toward all, taking great care especially that what you have commanded may never be done by reason of force. For God has given free will to everyone, and therefore never forces anyone - but only indicates, calls, and persuades." - Saint Angela Merici

26th January 2014: Blessed John XXIII

Blessed John XXIII who is going to be canonized this April 2014 together with Blessed John Paul II.

"You are the light of the world.... Your light must shine so that it... will enable others to observe your good works and then give praise to your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16)

"It would scarcely be necessary to teach doctrine if our lives were radiant enough. If we behaved like true Christians, there would be no pagans." - Pope John XXIII

25th January 2014: Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi

"There, while we have time , let us do good to all men - especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10

"Courtesy is one of the properties of God. Who sends His sun and rain to the just and the unjust through courtesy. Courtesy is the sister of charity, by which hatred is overcome and love is prized." - Saint Francis of Assisi

24th January 2014: Saint Francis de Sales

Saint Francis de Sales

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart." - Matthew 11:29

"If there was something better than meekness, God would certainly have told us. But He exhorts us above all to be meek and humble of heart." - Saint Francis de Sales

23rd January 2014: Vatican II

"There is a time for every matter under heaven... a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance." - Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

"Leisure time should be put to proper use for relaxation of spirit and increased health of mind and body. Such benefits are available through spontaneous study and activity and through travel... These benefits are also obtained from physical exercise and sports events." - Vatican II: Church in the Modern World, 61

22nd January 2014: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"Unless Your law had been my delight, I would already have perished in my affliction." 

- Psalms 119:92

"Mediation renders life honest and well-ordered and imparts knowledge of human and divine things." - Saint Bernard

21st January 2014: Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena

"Faith is the assurance of what we hope for, and the conviction of things we do not see." 

- Hebrews 11:1

"Unless we possess the light of faith, we will walk in the darkness. We will be like the blind for whom the day has become the night." - Saint Catherine of Siena

6th January 2014: Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom

"When they entered the house, they beheld the Child with Mary His Mother. Falling to their knees, they paid Him homage." (Matthew 2:9-11)

"If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus...; for the Eucharistic table takes place of the crib. Here the Body of the Lord is present, wrapped not in swaddling clothes but in the rays of the Holy Spirit." - Saint John Chrysostom

5th January 2014: Epiphany of the Lord

Saint Claude de la Colombiere (left), Jesuit priest and confessor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (right)

"God's grace is a seed that we must not snuff out. We must cooperate with it. This is especially true of those inspirations that lead us to make acts of virtue on some occasion. Such cooperation in grace is sometimes the very essence of our happiness." - Saint Claude de la Colombiere

4th January 2014: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

"You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears but you may be sure there to reap in joy." - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

3rd January 2014: The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

"The name of Jesus is a name of joy when the memory of our sins weighs us down, this name brings back our joy. This mighty name reminds us that the Son of God became man to be our Savior." - Saint Alphonsus Liguori

2nd January 2014: Saints Basil and Gregory

Saint Gregory (left) and Saint Basil (right)

“Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.” - Saint Gregory the Great

"As we were baptized, so we profess our belief. As we profess our belief, so also we offer praise. As then baptism has been given us by the Savior, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, so, in accordance with our baptism, we make the confession of the creed, and our doxology in accordance with our creed." - Saint Basil

1st January 2014: Solemnity of our Mother Mary, Mother of God

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"Let Mary never be far from your lips or your heart. And to obtain the fruit of Her prayers, do not forget the example of Her life. With Her support, you will never fall. Under Her protection, you will never fear. Under Her guidance, you will never tire. And with Her Help, you will reach your Heavenly goal." - Saint Bernard