1. Our first advice comes from Saint Teresa of Ávila. She advises us to “Do everything for the love of God.” In our daily life, let us remember that every action, no matter how small, can be an opportunity to express our love for God and serve Him.
- Saint John Vianney in various of his sermons, tell us over and over again, that is not necessary to fast for 40 days, or hit yourself in the back, but rather, to do the daily things like sweeping, washing the dishes, and your daily work with love.
2. Saint Francis of Assisi teaches us the importance of embracing humility. He reminds us that to attain holiness, we must be humble in our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. Humility allows us to recognize our dependence on God and opens our hearts to His grace. This is the quality that every saint had, and the one that future saints will have too.
3. Saint Ignatius of Loyola encourages us to cultivate a life of prayer and reflection. He advises setting aside dedicated time each day to converse with God, allowing His presence to guide our thoughts and actions.
- And as much as I love the rosary, that is not the same as simply kneeling down and praying. What I mean is to pray, to simply talk to your God as a friend, as a Father that He is. Tell Him your concerns, your plans, your goals, just talk, but also stay silent to listen to Him.
4. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux offers a profound insight: “Do small things with great love.” She reminds us that holiness can be achieved by performing even the simplest tasks, such as household chores or acts of kindness, with love and devotion.
- I once heard my local priest say the following story, “there was a man working who would pray anytime he had time with a little prayer book that he had. His fellow companions, to bug him, took his prayer book when he wasn’t looking. The man, after looking for it for a while, decided to give up. Then he started to recite 3 ABC’s. His friends looked at him and questioned what he was doing, then they heard him say the following, “Lord, I have lost my prayer book, so I offer you the only thing I know from the top of my head, three ABC’s”
5. Saint Padre Pío emphasizes the power of perseverance in prayer. He encourages us to “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” Even in times of difficulty or doubt, we should trust in God’s providence and continue seeking His presence through prayer.
- Just like the story of Job, how he lost everything, but still in the face of adversity, he always praised the Lord. And when questioned why by his own wife, he said something along the lines, “if we praise God in the good moments, we too have to praise Him in the difficult moments”. Let us be like Job and always praise the Lord even in the face of adversity.
6. Mother Teresa of Calcutta inspires us to see Christ in every person we encounter. She urges us to offer love, care, and compassion to those in need, recognizing that serving others is serving Christ Himself.
- She said the following, “Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough; money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”
7. Saint John Paul II highlights the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. He encourages us to embrace the power of forgiveness, seeking forgiveness for our own faults and extending forgiveness to others as a means of healing and fostering peace.
- If you haven’t forgiven someone right now, you are doing something wrong.
8. Saint Catherine of Siena reminds us to be authentic and true to ourselves. She encourages us to embrace our unique gifts and talents, using them to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of others.
- I started this blog and YouTube channel because I wanted to put my talents of to work.
9. Saint Augustine teaches us the importance of self-examination and introspection. He advises us to regularly reflect on our thoughts, words, and actions, seeking God’s guidance and grace to align our lives with His will.
- This advice is given by many saints. When I was in the seminary, we did an examination of conscience every day, and it is very important because you reflect on your day and see what you did wrong and try not to do it again.
10. Saint Thomas Aquinas invites us to seek knowledge and understanding of our faith. He encourages us to study the Scriptures, learn from the teachings of the Church, and deepen our understanding of the rich tradition of Catholicism.
- Padre Pio has this extraordinary quote that I love, “In the spiritual life, the one who does not advance, recedes. It is like a ship that must always go forward. If it stops, the wind will make it go backward.” we have to always try, even if it means on doing something as small as watching a religious video each day.
Conclusion
There you have it: ten valuable pieces of advice from Catholic saints to help us in our pursuit of holiness and spiritual growth. We hope these ideas inspire you to embrace these teachings and integrate them into your own spiritual journey.
