Philip Neri Quotes

We are not saints yet, but we, too, should beware. Uprightness and virtue do have their rewards, in self-respect and in respect from others, and it is easy to find ourselves aiming for the result rather than the cause. Let us aim for joy, rather than respectability. Let us make fools of ourselves from time to time, and thus see ourselves, for a moment, as the all-wise God sees us.

To acquire and preserve the virtue of chastity, we have need of a good and experienced confessor.

There is nothing the devil fears so much, or so much tries to hinder, as prayer.

It is very useful for those who minister the word of God, or give themselves up to prayer, to read the works of authors whose names begin with S, such as Saint Augustine, Saint Bernard, &c

During mental prayer, it is well, at times, to imagine that many insults and injuries are being heaped upon us, that misfortunes have befallen us, and then strive to train our heart to bear and forgive these things patiently, in imitation of our Saviour. This is the way to acquire a strong spirit.

He who desires anything but God deceives himself, and he who loves anything but God errs miserably.

Christian joy is a gift of God flowing from a good conscience.

He who always acts under obedience may be assured that he will not have to give an account of his actions to God.

Believe me, there is no more powerful means to obtain God's grace than to employ the intercessions of the Holy Virgin.

Give me ten truly detached men. and I will convert the world with them.

Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing the danger. For my part, when I find a man secure of himself and without fear, I give him up for lost. I am less alarmed for one who is tempted and who resists by avoiding the occasions, than for one who is not tempted and is not careful to avoid occasions. When a person puts himself in an occasion, saying, I shall not fall, it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul.

Let us pray God, if He gives us any virtue or any gift, to keep it hidden even from ourselves, that we may preserve our humility, and not take occasion of pride because of it.

At communion we ought to ask for the remedy of the vice to which we feel ourselves most inclined.

My children, if you desire perseverance, be devout to our Blessed Lady.

The cross is the gift God gives to his friends.

He who feels that the vice of avarice has got hold of him, should not wish to observe fasts of supererogation, but to give alms.

Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.

Even though a man may be unable to attain such a height of sanctity, he ought to desire it, so as to do at least in desire what he cannot carry out in effect.

We must not trust in ourselves, but take the advice of our spiritual father, and recommend ourselves to everybodys prayers.

Those who have themselves for a spiritual director have a fool for a spiritual director.

Do not grieve over the temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that you will be successful, if only you stand fast.

We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.

It is easy to infuse a most fervent devotion into others, even in a short time; but the great matter is - to persevere.

Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.

Not to know how to deny our soul its own wishes, is to foment a very hot-bed of vices.

In this life there is no purgatory; it is either hell or paradise; for to him who serves God truly, every trouble and infirmity turns into consolations, and through all kinds of trouble he has a paradise within himself even in this world: and he who does not serve God truly, and gives himself up to sensuality, has one hell in this world, and another in the next.

There is nothing more dangerous in the spiritual life, than to wish to rule ourselves after our own way of thinking.

He who wishes for goods will never have devotion.

First let a little love find entrance into their hearts, and the rest will follow.

He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing.

They who have been exercised in the service of God for a long time, may in their prayers imagine all sorts of insults offered to them, such as blows, wounds, and the like, and so in order to imitate Christ by their charity, may accustom their hearts beforehand to forgive real injuries when they come.

Let us be humble and keep ourselves down: - Obedience! Humility! Detachment!

He who is unable to spend a long time together in prayer, should often lift up his mind to God by short prayers.

The stench of impurity before God and the angels is so great, that no stench in the world can equal it.