“By His loving foresight, He allowed them to taste for a short time, the contemplation of eternal joy, so that they might bear persecution bravely,” The Venerable Bede (673-735)

"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities," Saint Basil the Great (330 - 379)

"Do not try to please everybody, try to please God, the angels, and the saints - they are your public," Saint John Mary Vianney (1786 – 1859)

"In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph," Our Lady of Fatima, July 13, 1917.

For those seeking to be fruitful as disciples of Christ, prayer always precedes action. This week, I am challenging each of us to pray that God will remove any obstacles in our lives preventing his power from changing any barrenness into fruitfulness.

"To give, and not to count the cost.to fight, and not to heed the wounds,.to toil, and not to seek for rest,.to labor, and not to ask for any reward,.save that of knowing that we do thy will".― Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491 - 1556)

"Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.⁣" Saint Peter Chrysologus (c. 380 – 450)

"The house of Bethany was the delight of Jesus when He was on earth; ; it was His favorite dwelling. There He was intimately known by Lazarus, served by Martha and madly loved by Mary," Saint Teresa of the Andes (1900 - 1920)

Basil: You are going to leave your money behind you here whether you wish to or not. On the other hand, you will take with you to the Lord the honor that you have won through good works.

Through our Baptism, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actually dwelling within us having brought us into this divine fellowship. So how do we foster that intimate relationship of love with the Holy Trinity? Find out in this week's Be My Witnesses:

"In following Jesus, like Saint James, we know that even in difficulties we are on the right path," Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Wednesday, 21 June 2006.

"Begin nothing on earth unless it has its end in heaven; do not walk on a path that does not lead to heaven." Saint Charbel Makhlouf (1828-98)

RT @FAITHmag: School is out for summer, but the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign is still in session! Even as families across t….

"To write well and speak well is mere vanity if one does not live well." Saint Bridget of Sweden (c. 1303 –1373)

"I have seen the Lord," (John 20:18)

At the end of his time on earth, Jesus commanded us to teach all nations "to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:20). But how do we teach others about Christ and his Holy Church? Here's my three-point guide to instructing the ignorant:

"He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection,” Our Lady of Mount Carmel's promise to Saint Simon Stock, 13th century, regarding the brown scapular.

“Since happiness is nothing else than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good, and the Supreme Good is above us, no one can enjoy happiness unless he rises above himself,” Saint Bonaventure (1221 - 1274), The Journey of the Mind into God

“Who will teach me what is most pleasing to God, that I may do it?” Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656 – 1680)

Thank you to the thousands of mourners who turned out over three days, 8-10 July, to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, Emeritus Bishop of Lansing, who died earlier this month at the age of 94. May he rest in peace.