Saints in Our Cookbooks

If you want to grow in perfection,
you cannot advance by yourselves - you need a guide.
Hence, when you go to God, go through Mary and with Mary!”
~St. Maximilian Kolbe

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“As a consoler of the human race,
Mary never ceases to pour out before her Son
her prayer for the salvation of the faithful crushed by the weight of their sins.”
~St. Pius V

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“Mary’s words were discreet, and her voice was measured.
She did not shout and she was careful not to say anything bad about another person -
nor even to listen willingly to wrong that was spoken.”
~St. Athanasius

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“The Blessed Virgin never committed any actual sin - not even a venial one.
Otherwise, she would not have been a Mother worthy of Jesus.”
~St. Thomas Aquinas

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 “Those who burn with the fire of Divine Love are children of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and wherever they go they enkindle that flame. Nothing distresses them;
they rejoice in poverty, labor strenuously, welcome hardships,
laugh off false accusations, and rejoice in anguish.”
~St. Anthony Claret

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“The Holy Spirit did not describe Mary in the Gospels
but left it to you to picture her in your heart.
In this way, you might comprehend that there is no grace, no perfection,
and no glory conceivable in a simple creature that is lacking to her.”
~St. Thomas of Villanova

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“The name of Mary contains the brilliance of the virtues,
the sweet refulgence of modesty and the sacrifice pleasing to God.
It is the sign of hospitality and the center of holiness.”
~St. Francis Xavier

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“So pleasing to God was Mary’s humility that He was constrained
by His goodness to entrust to her the Word, His only Son.
And it was that dearest Mary who gave Him to us.”
~St. Catherine of Siena

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“Those who love Mary must silence within themselves the desires of the senses.
They must also silence the disordered longings of passions.”
~St. John Eudes

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“In danger, anguish, or doubt, think of Mary and call upon her!
Following her, you will never lose your way. Praying to her, you will never sink into despair.
Contemplating her, you will never go wrong.”
~St. Bernard

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“Blessed are those who cherish the name of Mary.
Her favor will sustain them in the midst of trials,
and they will bring forth fruits of salvation.”
~St. Anthony of Padua

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“Our Lord preserved the soul together with the body of the Blessed Virgin
in that purity which became her who was to receive God into her womb.
For, as God is holy, He reposes only in holy places.”
~St. John Damascene