'Thou mercifully strewest
bitterness over everything that is not Thyself, to the end that our
hearts, formed to love Thee and to exist upon Thy love, may be, as it were, constrained to return to Thee by a want of satisfaction in everything else.' - Fénelon

St. Hugh of Cluny (1109)

French Abbot of the Benedictine monastery, he was one of the most influential leaders of the monastic orders. He took his vows at sixteen and succeeded St. Odilo as Abbot. Nearly two thousand monasteries associated with Cluny were founded under his rule.

St. Peter of Verona (1252)

A Dominican, he founded various confraternities to combat heresies. While returning from a preaching mission, he was attacked and struck on the head with an axe. He wrote on the ground 'Credo in Deum' before being fatally stabbed in the heart.

Fourth Sunday After Easter

'And none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?'

Many Catholis, because of their attachment to this world, never ask themselves: Whither am I going? Ask yourself in all earnestness, whither leads the way you are going?

'I exhort you to hide your treasure as well as you can. You understand of what treasure I speak; it is your precious sufferings.' - St. Paul of the Cross

'Illnesses are the greatest favors that God confers on souls whom He loves most. If the cause of your illness be the wound of divine love which embalms your soul, it is well if you die under such a stroke: yours will be a death more precious than life.' - St. Paul of the Cross

'In your pains and trials say: 'May Thy holy will be done, Oh my God! I welcome thee, afflictions! Beloved sufferings, I press you to my heart! Blessed be the holy rod that strikes me with so much love! Tender Father, it is good for me to be humbled!' - St. Paul of the Cross

'There could not be a surer sign of God's love for you than this pain which He has sent you. Adore the Divine will.' - St. Paul of the Cross

'I tell you that victory consists in conquering self. That is the greatest enemy.' - St. Paul of the Cross

'Flowers of the Passion' are a collection of thoughts and sentiments gathered from letters of St. Paul of the Cross.

'Humble yourself, resign yourself, and abandon yourself to God with entire confidence, always keeping in view your nothingness.'

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St. Paul of the Cross (1775)

After experiencing visions, in the last of which Our Lady appeared to him, he founded the Passionists, devoted to Christ's passion. He suffered for forty-five years from desolation and constant bodily pain, and was constantly tormented by demons.

'It would hardly be possible for me to put into words how much Our Lady thinks of the Holy Rosary and of how she vastly prefers it to all other devotions.' - St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

'Make the resolution to suffer any kind of cross without excluding or choosing any: poverty, injustice, loss, illness, humiliation, contradiction, slander, spiritual dryness, desolation, saying always, 'My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.' - St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

A Letter To The Friends Of The Cross by St. Louis de Montfort

'Never willingly complain against any person or thing that God may use to afflict you. Whenever you receive any cross, always welcome it with humility and gratitude.'

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'All the gifts, virtues and graces of the Holy Ghost are distributed by Mary, to whom she wishes, when she wishes, the way wishes and as much as she wishes.' - St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

'Oh, if Mary were but known, how much happier, how much holier, how much less worldly should we be, and how much more should we be living images of our sole Lord and Saviour, her dearest and most Blessed Son!'

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St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (1716)

Apostle of True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, he taught the Rosary everywhere. Target of calumny for the Jansenists, against whose errors he preached, he was poisoned, which did not kill him; his health was seriously undermined. He died at 43

St. Vitalis (62)

Father of SS. Gervase and Protase, he was put to death at Ravenna under Nero. He encouraged St. Ursicinus to be steadfast at his execution. When discovered to be a Christian, he was tortured on a rack, thrown into a deep hole, and stoned to death.

St. Zita (1272)

At the age of 12, she became a servant in the household of a wealthy family in Lucca, Italy. She did ordinary things extraordinarily well. Zita was known for her kindness and generosity to the poor, and she served the same family for almost fifty years.

'Whoever draws away anyone from the Universal Church to any sect, is a murderer and a child of Satan.' - St. Augustine