Emma Cassman

“Finally, Philothea, I beseech you in the name of all that is sacred in Heaven and earth, by the Baptism which you received, by the tender Heart with which Jesus loves you, and by those bowels of compassion which are your hope, abide and persevere in this blessed undertaking of a devout life. Our days glide by; death is at our door.”
― Saint Francis de Sales, Introduction To The Devout Life

“Meeting one of her “daughters” in passing, she would ask:
“Are you working outwardly?”
And if the child replied, “I am doing my best to work inwardly, Mother,” she would go on her way satisfied.”
― Michel de Saint-Pierre, Bernadette and Lourdes: The Whole Inspiring Story of Our Lady of Lourdes

“One mustn't stretch out so much as the tip of one's little finger to the devil. On the contrary, the greater the temptation, the higher the barrier behind which a girl must protect herself.”
― Lisbeth Burger, All for the Love of Mothers: Memoirs of a Catholic Midwife

“Do you know, Jacob, when we are talking like this, I feel as if the heart of the little one in my womb were standing still with horror, because it can hear what we are saying. I feel as though it were moving its little hands and were begging: Let me live! You called me into existence. Isn't a human life a sacred thing? Has not God commanded: Thou shalt not kill? And you wanted to be father and mother to me - you awakened me to life - and yet you can discuss whether I am to live or not.”
― Lisbeth Burger, All for the Love of Mothers: Memoirs of a Catholic Midwife