Never despair of the mercy of God

January 12

“Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession.”

-St. Isidore of Seville

Read the rest…

Become a safe refuge for others

January 9

“God had not chosen her to be holy merely for her own advantage. Rather, the gifts he conferred upon her were to be for the spiritual and physical advantage of her neighbor…Divine power was present and working in her words, so that in a few sentences she could bring consolation to the afflicted and the anxious, calm the restless, pacify the angry, reconcile enemies and extinguish long-standing hatreds and animosities… For this reason, people flocked to Frances from all directions as to a safe refuge.”

-From the Life of Saint Frances of Rome

Read the rest…

Receiving God’s mercy

January 8

“If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy, we can never fail to do good so long as we have the strength…With outstretched arms he begs us to turn toward him, to weep for our sins, and to become the servants of love, first for ourselves, then for our neighbors. Just as water extinguishes a fire, so love wipes away sin.”

-St. John of God

Read the rest…