- Pope Francis: "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy."
- Saint Catherine of Siena: "Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
- Saint Rose of Lima: "Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven."
- Saint Francis de Sales: "Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself."
- Father Thomas Merton: "Ash Wednesday is full of joy... The source of all sorrow is the illusion that of ourselves we are anything but dust."
- Catherine of Genoa: "Lenten fasts make me feel better, stronger, and more active than ever."
- Father Thomas Merton: "Even the darkest moments of the liturgy are filled with joy, and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten fast, is a day of happiness, a Christian Feast."
- Pope Francis: "During Lent, let us find concrete ways to overcome our indifference."
- Henri Nouwen: "O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen."
- Father Mike Schmitz: "Seek a relationship when you pray, not answers. You won't always find answers, but you will always find Jesus."
- Father Thomas Merton: "The goal of fasting is inner unity. This means hearing, but not with the ear; hearing, but not with the understanding; it is hearing with the spirit, with your whole being”.
- Saint Augustine: "Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving."
- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: "As Lent is the time for greater love listen to Jesus' thirst... 'Repent and believe' "
- Luke 9:23: "Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up the cross each day, and follow in my steps."
From: countryliving.com
