This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Saint Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone NULL
But as for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the Holy Rule rather by example than by word.
Desire | Esteem | Honor | Lord | Love | Order | Perfection | Practice |
Saint Augustine, aka Augustine of Hippo, St. Austin, Bishop of Hippo NULL
Too late came I to love thee, O thou Beauty so ancient and so fresh, yea too late came I to love thee. And behold, thou wert within me, and I out of myself, where I made search for thee: I ugly rushed headlong upon those beautiful things thou hast made. Thou indeed wert with me; but I was not with thee: these beauties kept me far enough from thee: even those, which unless they were in thee, should not be at all.
Saint Maximus the Confessor NULL
It is said that God allows the demons to attack us for five reasons. The first is that, through being attacked and fighting back, we should learn to distinguish virtue from sin. The second is that having acquired virtue by struggle and labor we should keep it firm and unalterable. The third, that progressing in virtue we should not think highly of ourselves but learn humility. The fourth, that having experienced in practice the wickedness of sin we should hate it with perfect hatred. Finally, the fifth and most important is that having been freed from the passions we should not forget our weakness and the strength of Him that helped us.
Saint John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes Álvarez NULL
You should strive in your prayer for a pure conscience, a will that is wholly with God, and a mind truly set upon Him.
Attention | Awareness | Desire | Experience | Faith | Father | God | Love | Order | Possessions | Reflection | Regard | Soul | Understanding | Wants | Will | God | Awareness | Understand |
Saint John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes Álvarez NULL
The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps a holiday, is always in her palace of jubilation, ever singing with fresh ardor and fresh pleasure a new song of joy and love.
Cause | Indulgence | Rest | Soul |
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux NULL
What I know of the divine science and Holy Scriptures, I learnt in woods and fields.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux NULL
The peacemakers shall be called the sons of God, who came to make peace between God and man. What then shall the sowers of discord be called, but the children of the devil? And what must they look for but their father's portion?
Love is a movement, an effusion and a step from the heart towards goodness.
John Chrysostom, fully Saint John Chrysostom
Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters? The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbor.
Art | Beginning | Care | Children | Desire | Detachment | Discipline | Glory | Love | Need | Nothing | Riches | Teach | Wealth | Will | World | Riches | Instruction | Art | Child | Learn | Think |
God has granted me today a very particular fondness for requesting of Him that same virtue of ever choosing the worst and that which is contrary to my own liking.
John Chrysostom, fully Saint John Chrysostom
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Good | Nothing | Qualities | Understand |
We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble.
Salman Rushdie, fully Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie
Music, love, death. Certainly a triangle of sorts; maybe even an eternal one.
Salman Rushdie, fully Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie
Some incredibly important things were being fought for here ... the freedom of the imagination, the great, overwhelming, overarching question of freedom of speech, the right of human beings to walk down the streets of their own country without fear.
Childhood | Truth | World | Understand |
Salman Rushdie, fully Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie
There were times when you would pick up the phone and have people there saying we know where you live and we are going to get you. But on the whole, it became a way of life and you get used to it,