April 26
“Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: ‘Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase.’”
-- St. Rose of Lima
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April 25
Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist
“The Church, which has spread everywhere, even to the ends of the earth, received the faith from the apostles and their disciples.”
--St. Irenaeus
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April 24
Feast of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr (1578 – 1622)
“What is it that today makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside, leave pleasure behind, and endure difficulties and pain? It is living faith that expresses itself through love. It is this that makes us put aside the goods of the present in the hope of future goods. It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.”
--St. Fidelis
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April 23
Feast of St. George, Martyr (? – 303?)
“Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ … Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we are afraid to strip ourselves of worldly possessions, then we are unfit.”
--St. Peter Damian on St. George
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April 22, 2004
"A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things."
~St. John of the Cross
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April 21
Feast of St. Anselm, Bishop and Doctor (1033 – 1109)
“O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find my joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plentitude.”
--St. Anselm
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April 20
“Ceasing to struggle because of our defects when there is opposition to a serious mistake can lead us to that form of pride called pusillanimity, lack of courage and strength to bear misfortune or undertake large enterprises.”
--Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God, Vol. 2
For Reflection:
Am I being tempted in this way today? Regarding what? How can I overcome this temptation?
(Quote from Graceful Living)

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April 19
"The soul truly in love with God never fails through laziness to do all in its power to seek God's Son, the Beloved "
--St. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle
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April 18
“If you know how to speak without wounding, although you may have to correct or reprimand, hearts will not close themselves to you. The seed will fall on truly fertile ground and the harvest will be plentiful.”
--Father Salvatore Canals, Jesus as Friend
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April 17
“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.”
-- Luke 16:10
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