My new life coach, and helpful quotes from a saint

I am continuously amazed by the practical wisdom and great holiness of St. Josemaria Escriva. I am thankful to have “found” this saint over the past year. I feel like he’s been an unofficial “life coach” of sorts for me.:)

As I wade through the middle of a trying week, these quotes from St. Josemaria have calmed my heart, challenged my soul, and inspired me to keep going for goodness. I hope that some of these will speak to some of you, too, in whatever you have going on in your life. (Our merciful Lord knows we all have something going on, doesn’t He?:) 

Peace be with you!

“Christian optimism is not a sugary optimism, nor is it a mere human confidence that everything will turn out all right. It is an optimism that sinks its roots into an awareness of our freedom, and the sure knowledge of the power of grace. It is an optimism that leads us to make demands on ourselves, to struggle to respond at every moment to God’s call.” 

“Never correct anyone while you are still indignant about a fault committed. Wait until the next day, or even longer. And then, calmly, and with a purer intention, make your reprimand. You will gain more by one friendly word than by a three-hour quarrel. Control your temper.”

“Gossip is a disease that infects and poisons the apostolate. It goes against charity, means a waste of energy, takes away peace and destroys one’s union with God.”

“Get rid of that ‘small-town’ outlook. Enlarge your heart till it becomes universal, ‘catholic’. Don’t flutter about like a hen, when you can soar to the heights of an eagle.”

“Holy purity is given by God when it is asked for with humility.”

“Do everything for Love. Thus there will be no little things: everything will be big. Perseverance in little things for Love is heroism.”

“How many mothers have you known who have been the heroines of some epic or extraordinary event? Few, very few. Yet you and I know many mothers who are indeed heroic, truly heroic, who have never figured in anything spectacular, who will never hit the headlines, as they say. They lead lives of constant self-denial, happy to curtail their own likes and preferences, their time, their opportunities for self-expression or success, so that they can carpet their children’s lives with happiness.”