Padre Pio on the Devil

The Devil is like a mad dog tied by a chain. Beyond the length of the chain he cannot catch hold of anyone. And you, therefore, keep your distance. If you get too close you will be caught. Remember, the Devil has only one door with which to enter into our soul: our will. There are no secret or hidden doors. No sin is a true sin if we have not willfully consented.

Source: http://www.great-quotes-on-life.com/padre-pio.html

Salute to a Teacher

     This is a story about a very old man named Thomas. He had outlived all his friends and hardly anyone knew him any more. When he died, the pastor went to his funeral, thinking that no one else would be at the cemetery. To make things even worse, it was a wild windy rainy day.
     At the gate to the cemetery the pastor found a soldier standing. He came to the graveside for the ceremony, and when it was over, he saluted the casket as he would a king.
     The pastor walked away with the soldier and noticed from his shoulder badges that the man was a brigadier general. The general said to the pastor, "No doubt, you are wondering what I am doing here. Well, years ago Thomas was my Sunday school teacher. I was a wild boy and caused him many a headache. He never knew what he did for me. But I owe to old Tomas everything that I am or will be. So I came today to salute him at the end."
     Thomas had no idea who he was influencing by his talks. No teacher or preacher ever docs. They sow the seed and God takes care of the harvest.
                                                                --- William Barclay


Source: The Millenium Stories by Frank Mihalic, SVD *282

Saint John Damascene on the Blessed Virgin Mary

"Devotion to you, O Blessed Virgin, is a means of salvation which God gives to those whom he wishes to save."

St. Bonaventure on the Blessed Virgin Mary

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary."

Persistence

Nothing in the world
can take the place of persistence
Talent will not:
nothing is more common than
unsuccessfull men with talent.
Genius will not:
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not:
the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination
alone are omnipotent.
The slogan "Press On" has solved
and always will solved
the problems of the human race.

--- Calvin Coolidge

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Source: The Millenium Stories by Frank Mihalic, SVD *423

Surprise in Heaven

I Dreamt death came, the other night

And heaven's gate swung wide,

An angel with halo bright

Ushered me inside.

And there to my astonishment,

Stood folks I'd judged and labelled

As "quite unfit", "of little worth"

And "spiritually disabled."

Indignant words rose to my lips,

But never were set free

For every face showed stunned surprise -

Not one expected ME!

Source: The Millenium Stories by Frank Mihalic, SVD *261