The Little Catechism of the Cure of Ars (with Supplemental Reading: Confession: Its Fruitful Practice) [Illustrated]

The Spirit of God had been pleased to engrave on the heart of this holypriest all that he was to know and to teach to others; and it was the moredeeply engraved, as that heart was the more pure, the more detached, andempty of the vain science of men; like a clean and polished block of marble,ready for the tool of the sculptor.“This earth is a bridge to cross the water; it serves only to support oursteps....We are in this world, but we are not of this world, since we sayevery day, ‘Our Father, Who art in Heaven,’ We must wait, then, for ourreward till we are at home, in our Father’s house. This is the reason whygood Christians suffer crosses, contradictions, adversities, contempt,calumnies—so much the better!""The Sign of the Cross is formidable to the devil, because by the Crosswe escape from him. We should make the Sign of the Cross with greatrespect. We begin with the forehead: it is the head, creation—the Father;then the heart: love, life, redemption—the Son; then the shoulders: strength—the Holy Ghost. Everything reminds us of the Cross. We ourselves aremade in the form of a cross. In Heaven we shall be nourished by the breathof God.""He who has preserved his baptismal innocence is like a child who hasnever disobeyed his father....One who has kept his innocence feels himselflifted up on high by love, as a bird is carried up by its wings. Those whohave pure souls are like eagles and swallows, which fly in the air." Catholic wisdom stated in a simple, sublime, penetrating way. St. Jean-Marie Vianney's sage counsel on 36 important topics, including the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin, Prayer, Suffering, Hope, Envy, Grace, and Paradise. Probably the most persuasive exhortation ever urging us to renounce sin. Highly recommended for every Catholic!