Quotes from Mother Angelica

Every Christian who strives for holiness of life experiences dryness of soul. It is to most people a heart-rending experience. It is a paradox, for the soul becomes confused when it realizes the harder it strives the further away Jesus seems to be.

We often forget that everything we see, animate or inanimate, is a visual manifestation of the work of our invisible God. We have become so accustomed to trees, mountains, sky, air, water, flowers, animals, vegetables and people that we no longer see them for what they are - God's work.

The sinner who suddenly realizes God's love for him and then looks at his rejection of that love feels a loss similar to the death of a loved one. A deep void is created in the soul and a loneliness akin to the agony of death.

When our neighbor's personality possesses harsh qualities, we show our love by not voluntarily provoking those qualities in any way. Past experience shows us what upsets a person, so in their presence we are careful not to do or say those things that cause anger. We are self-effacing.

When I try to be patient on my own, my patience is forced and short-lived. It is obvious to everyone that I am desperately trying to be patient.

God knows Himself and every created thing perfectly. Not a blade of grass or the tiniest insect escapes His eye.

I do not ask for the riches that perish or the fame that fades away like a morning mist.

Married life has become to many a necessary burden, but a burden that is shed very easily.

My failures may be my greatest successes. It is in failure that I have often drawn closer to God, learn to depend more on Him than myself, gained self-knowledge, and seen things in their right perspective.

Family life is the backbone of mankind, and that life is dependent upon mutual giving, sharing, and receiving from each other. It entails the proper use of each other's successes and failures for mutual up-building.

From the time of Adam and Eve, man has tried to escape suffering in any form.

To a pagan, there is no purpose to suffering. As a result, he lives a life of loneliness and frustration.

Jesus feels my sorrow greater than I, for his love is infinite, and he suffers in an infinite way.

The wisdom of God is so great that He also knows exactly what I would think and do under every possible circumstance and situation, and he placed me in that state of life and situation best suited for my salvation.

Healing and miracles have been a mystery to men of all times. To some, the phenomenon is frightening, while others find it exhilarating.

When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars.

Any form of over-indulgence creates within the body warning signs of destruction.

Love is an emotional feeling on a human level and a faith experience on a supernatural level.

When anyone arouses my anger, I will immediately pray for them and regain my peace of soul.

We did not happen to be--we were chosen by God to exist.

God does awesome things with us.

Only in eternity shall we see the beauty of the soul, and only then shall we realize what great things were accomplished by interior suffering.

When our weaknesses affect health and friendship, we are very much aware of their existence.

Our minds are so undisciplined that our doubts rule our lives and we don't master our imagination - it masters us.