From a treatise on John by Saint Augustine, bishop
A Samaritan woman came to draw water A woman came. She is a symbol of the Church not yet made righteous but about to be made righteous. Righteousness follows from the…
From the book Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Avila, virgin
Your kingdom come When asking a favor of some person of importance would anyone be so ill-mannered and thoughtless as not first to consider how best to address him in…
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
The martyrs realized what they taught This day has been made holy by the passion of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. We are, therefore, not talking about some obscure…
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
Life in man is the glory of God; the life of man is the vision of God The glory of God gives life; those who see God receive life. For…
From a homily by Saint Paul VI, pope
We proclaim Christ to the whole world Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more…
From a homily by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop
God can be found in man’s heart In our human life bodily health is a good thing, but this blessing consists not merely in knowing the causes of good health…
From a homily of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop
The hope of seeing God The happiness God promises certainly knows no limits. When one has gained such a blessing, what is left to desire? In seeing God one possesses…
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
The voice of one crying in the wilderness The Church observes the birth of John as a hallowed event. We have no such commemoration for any other fathers; but it…
From a treatise on Spiritual Friendship by Blessed Aelred, abbot
True, perfect and eternal friendship Jonathan, outstanding among all young men, took no heed of his royal lineage or his hope of the throne, but allied himself with David the…