This hasn’t been my best Lent ever, but it’s not over yet. With two weeks left to go, I went searching for quotes from the saints about the three Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. May they inspire us to finish strong as we move closer to the joyous celebration of Easter!

On Prayer

I am asked what is one to do to be sure one is following the way of salvation. I answer: Love God. And, above all, pray.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (From the book Everything Starts from Prayer by Anthony Stern, M.D.)

Give me a man of prayer and he will be capable of everything. He may say with the apostle, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

Saint Vincent de Paul

A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of battle.

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

On Fasting

When a man begins to fast, he straightway yearns in his mind to enter into converse with God.

Saint Isaac the Syrian

Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters?

Saint John Chrysostom

Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.

Saint Augustine

On Almsgiving

The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.

Saint Basil the Great

For it is in giving that we receive.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.

Saint Gregory Nazianzen