Wisdom of the Saints about the saving of souls

“Zeal for the salvation of souls is of so great a merit before God, that to give up all our goods to the poor, or to spend our whole life in the exercises of all sorts of austerities cannot equal the merit of it. There is no service more agreeable to God than this one. To employ one’s life in this blessed labor is more pleasing to the Divine Majesty than to suffer martyrdom. Would you not feel happy if you could spend large sums of money in corporal works of mercy? But know that he who labors for the salvation of souls does far more; nay, the zeal of souls is of far greater merit before God . . . than the working of miracles.” St. John Chrysostom (4^th-5^th centuries, Doctor of the Church)

“O my God, grant me a place by the gates of hell, that I may stop those who enter there, saying: ‘Where are you going, unhappy one?  Back, go back!  Make a good confession. Save your soul.  Don’t come here to be lost for all eternity’!” St. Catherine of Siena (14^th century, Doctor of the Church)

“Let us give ourselves to God, gentlemen, to go to carry His holy Gospel over the entire earth and into whatever part He may lead us; there, let us maintain our part, and continue our duties until such time as His good pleasure will withdraw us. Let no difficulties move us, the glory of the eternal Father and the efficacy of the Word and of the passion of His Son are at stake. The salvation of men and our own are so great that they merit to be obtained at any price.” St. Vincent de Paul (16^th-17^th centuries)

[after pouring the saving waters of Baptism on a dying Indian child] “For this one single occasion I would travel all the way from France; I would cross the great ocean to win one little soul for Our Lord!” St. John de Brebeuf (16^th-17^th centuries)

“My divine Savior has given to understand that those who work for the salvation of souls will have a gift of touching the most hardened hearts, and will labor with marvelous success, if they themselves are penetrated with a tender devotion to His Divine Heart.” St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (17^th century)

“Another thing that spurs me on to preach ceaselessly is the thought of the multitude of souls which fall into the depths of hell, who die in mortal sin, condemned forever and ever…if you were to see a blind man about to fall into a pit or over a precipice, would you not warn him? Behold, I do the same…” St. Anthony Mary Claret (19^th century)

“And if I am killed?  What greater glory is there than to die saving a soul?” St. David Galvan Bermudez (19th-20th centuries)

“Don’t lose heart if it is your lot to work a lot and gather little. If you considered what one soul costs Jesus, you would never complain.” St. Pio of Petrelcina (19^th-20^th centuries)

“There is a price tag on every soul in the missions.  Every soul costs something…Some souls are bought by prayers; Others are bought by the kindness of alms; But most of them are bought the way our Lord bought us, through pain and suffering.” Ven. Fulton Sheen (19th-20th centuries)

“The very fact that God has placed a certain soul in your way is a sign that God wants to do something for her.  It is not by chance – it has been planned by God…If a soul desires God, she has the right to be given the means to go to Him…Look at the cross and you will know what one soul means to Jesus.” St. Teresa of Calcutta (20^th century)