Saint Ignatius

“In the light of the Divine Goodness, it seems to me, though others may think differently, that ingratitude is the most abominable of sins and that it should be detested in the sight of our Creator and Lord by all of His creatures who are capable of enjoying His divine and everlasting glory.”

“Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.”

“For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Up to his twenty-sixth year, the heart of Ignatius was enthralled by the vanities of the world. His special delight was in the military life, and he seemed led by a strong and empty desire of gaining for himself a great name.”

“In the matter of learning, the difference between the earnest and the careless student stands out clearly. The same holds true in the mastering of passion and the weaknesses to which our nature is subject, as in the acquiring of virtue.”

“He who aims at making an entire and perfect oblation of himself, in addition to his will, must offer his understanding, which is a further and the highest degree of obedience.”

“The principal end both of my father and of myself in the conquest of India... has been the propagation of the holy Catholic faith.”

“We should love the body insofar as it is obedient and helpful to the soul, since the soul, with the body's help and service, is better disposed for the service and praise of our Creator and Lord.”

“The wellbeing of the head resounds throughout the whole body, and as are the Superiors, so, in turn, will their subjects be.”

“Remember that the good angels do what they can to preserve men from sin and obtain God's honor. But they do not lose courage when men fail.”

“True, I am in love with suffering, but I do not know if I deserve the honor.”

“I can love a person in this life only insofar as he tries to advance in the praise and service of God our Lord; for the man who loves anything for itself and not for the sake of God, does not love God with his whole heart.”

“Some indeed have tears naturally, when the higher motion of the soul makes itself felt in the lower, or because God our Lord, seeing that it would be good for them, allows them to melt into tears. But this does not mean that they have greater charity or that they are more effective than others who enjoy no tears.”

“It is certain that, because the negligent do not struggle against self, they never achieve peace of soul or do so tardily, and never possess any virtue in its fullness, while the energetic and industrious make notable advances on both fronts.”

“Man was created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord and in this way to save his soul. The other things on Earth were created for man's use, to help him reach the end for which he was created.”

“It is one thing to be eloquent and charming in profane speech, and another when the one speaking as a religious.”

“It is proper to ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me.”

“May God our Lord never let me harm anyone when I cannot help him!”

“We should not have a petty regard for God's gifts, though we may and should despise our own imperfections.”

“So with that will prompt and prepared to serve all those whom I perceive to be servants of my Lord, I will speak of three things with simplicity and love as if I were speaking to my own soul.”