Saintly Quotes by St. Ignatius of Loyola

Saint Ignatius in a cave in Maresa by Domingo Martinez 1740

Picture source

"There are two guarantees of a wise rule of conduct:  the though before action, and self-command afterward."

"Place before your eyes as models for imitation, not the weak and cowardly, but the fervent and courageous."

"The shortest, yea, the only way to reach sanctity, is to conceive a horror for all that the world loves and values."

"Here is the difference between the joys of the world and the cross of Jesus Christ:  after having tasted the first, one is disgusted with them; and on the contrary, the more one partakes of the cross, the greater the thirst for it."

"A precious crown is reserved in heaven for those who perform all their actions with all the diligence of which they are capable; for it is not sufficient to do our part well; it must be done more than well."

"God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, and to do it fully."

"Mary's sorrow was less when she saw her only Son crucified, than it is now at the sight of men offending Him by sin."

"That which would have easily been remedied at first, becomes incurable by time and habit."

"Among the gifts of grace which the soul receives in holy communion there is one that must be numbered among the highest.  It is, that holy communion does not permit the soul to remain long in sin, nor to obstinately persevere in it."

"Discretion is necessary in spiritual life.  It is its part to restrain the exercises in the way of perfection, so as to keep us between the two extremes."

"God's way in dealing with those whom He intends to admit soonest after this life into the possession of His everlasting glory, is to purify them in this world by the greatest afflictions and trials."

"Love ought to consist in deeds more than in words."

"Labor to conquer yourself.  This victory will assure you a brighter crown in heaven than they gain whose disposition is more amiable."

"Do nothing, say nothing before considering if that which you are about to say or do is pleasing to God, profitable to yourself, and edifying to your neighbor."


"Take care that the worldling does not pursue with greater zeal and anxiety the perishable goods of this world than you do the eternal."

"I will carefully consider how, on the day of judgment, I would wish to have discharged my office or my duty; and the way I would wish to have done it then I shall do now."

"He who forgets himself in the service of God may be assured that God will not forget Him."

"Our Lady, deign to intercede for us sinners with they divine Son, our Lord, and obtain of Him a blessing for us in our trials and tribulations!"

"Be careful and do not lightly condemn the actions of others.  We must consider the intention of our neighbor, which is often good and pure, although the act itself seems blameworthy."


"Idleness begets a discontented life.  It develops self-love, which is the cause of all our misery, and renders us unworthy to receive the favors of divine love."

"If the devil tempts me by the though of divine justice, I think of God's mercy; if he tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of His mercy, I think of His justice."

"If the love of God is in your heart, you will understand that to suffer for God is a joy to which all earthly pleasures are not be to compared."

"How few there are who avail themselves of the precious blood of Jesus to purchase their salvation."


"Put not off till to-morrow what you can do today."

"Idleness is hell's fishhook for catching souls."

"One of the most admirable effects of holy communion is to preserve the soul from sin, and to help those who fall through weakness to rise again.  It is much more profitable, then, to approach this divine Sacrament with love, respect, and confidence, than to remain away through an excess of fear and scrupulosity."

"You wish to reform the world:  reform yourself, otherwise your efforts will be in vain."


"Your heart is not so narrow that the world can satisfy it entirely; nothing but God can fill it."

"It is an act as rare as it is precious, to transact business with many people, without ever forgetting God or oneself."

- Thoughts and Counsels of the saints for every Day of the Year.  Public Domain