Below is a selection from the quotations that have appeared on our site. Some are the Latin writings of the saints themselves while others are writings in Latin about them!
Albert the Great
Dicendum quod si Philosophia humana attenditur, sapientiae nulli supponitur: Quam nemo principum huius saeculi cognovit, hoc est, Philosophorum, ut ibidem (I ad Corinth. II, 8) dicit Augustinus. Si autem Philosophia est sapientia divina, tunc Theologiae supponitur, quantum ad illam partem quae est de Verbo Dei cum suis sacramentis. Ex superius tamen dictis magis proprie dicitur superponi quam supponi, propter eminentiam suae dignitatis.
(IN EVANGELIUM SECUNDUM JOHANNEM, Prologus in quo laudatur Evangelista)
It is to be said that if philosophy is focused on as a human thing, it is subject to no wisdom: Which none of the princes of this age have understood — that is to say none of the philosophers just as Augustine says at that place (1 Corinthians 2:8). If however philosophy is divine wisdom, then it is subject to Theology, to the extent that it pertains to that part which is from the Word of God with his sacraments. However given what was said before, it is more properly said to be placed above, rather than subjected to, on account of the eminence of its dignity.
(ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN, Prologue in which the Evangelist is praised)
ST CECILIA
℟. Virgo gloriósa semper Evangélium Christi gerébat in péctore, et non diébus neque nóctibus vacábat
* A collóquiis divínis et oratióne.
℣. Expánsis mánibus, orábat ad Dóminum, et cor eius igne cælésti ardébat.
℟. A collóquiis divínis et oratióne.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. A collóquiis divínis et oratióne.
The virgin glorious ever bore in her breast the gospel of Christ, and did not fail by day or night in heavenly speech. With hands extended she prayed to the Lord and her heart burned with a heavenly flame.
SS COSMAS and DAMIAN (26 September)
From the Readings for their Memorial:
Magnificet te, Domine, sanctorum tuorum Cosmae et Damiani veneranda memoria, quia et illis gloriam sempiternam, et opem nobis ineffabili providentia contulisti
Lord, Let the venerable memory of your saints Cosmas and Damian glorify you, for you have brought them eternal glory and help to us by your ineffable providence.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Oratióni assídue incúmbens et misericórdiæ opéribus dédita, víduis, pupíllis, ægrótis, egéntibus sédulo inserviébat
from the Office of Matins (for the feast)
Inclining herself assiduously to prayer and dedicated to the works of mercy, she was in the habit of sedulously serving the widowed [the Latin can include widowers and widows here], orphans, the ill and the needy.
Felix of Valois
ab adolescéntia cœpit ex cæléstis contemplatiónis stúdio solitúdinem cogitáre
from the Office of Matins (for the feast)
From his youth he began to think about solitude out of a zeal for heavenly contemplation.
Saint Francis
Lk 12:42 (on which one of the liturgical antiphons for today is based):
Dixit autem Dominus: Quis, putas, est fidelis dispensator et prudens quem constituit dominus supra familiam suam ut det illis in tempore tritici mensuram?
The Lord said: Who, do you think, is the faithful and prudent administrator whom his lord has set up over his family that he might give them their measure of wheat in due season?
see St Luke's Gospel, 12:42 and following
Saint Francis Xavier
Cur ígitur non amem Te,
o Jesu amantíssime?
Non ut in cælo salves me,
aut ne ætérno damnes me,
nec præmii ullíus spe;
sed sicut Tu amásti me,
sic amo et amábo Te,
solum quia Rex meus es,
et solum quia Deus es. Amen.
Why then would I not love you,
O Jesus, most to be loved?
Not that you may save me in heaven,
or lest you damn me eternally,
and not in hope of any reward.
But just as you have loved me,
so I love and will love you,
only because you are my king
and only because you are God. Amen
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
From his Letters:
Non amplius sabatizantes sed secundum Dominicam viventes
No longer (merely) keeping the Sabbath but living according to the day of the Lord
Saint John of Beverley (Yorkshire)
Est mansio quaedam secretior, nemore raro et uallo circumdata, non longe ab Hagustaldensi ecclesia, id est unius ferme miliarii et dimidii spatio interfluente Tino amne separata, habens clymeterium sancti Michahelis archangeli, in qua uir Dei saepius, ubi oportunitas adridebat temporis, et maxime in quadragesima, manere cum paucis, atque orationibus ac lectioni quietus operam dare consueuerat.
Venerable Bede, HISTORIAM ECCLESIASTICAM GENTIS ANGLORUM: LIBER QUINTUS (chap. 2): https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/bede/bede5.shtml#2
There is a certain remote dwelling enclosed by a mound, among scattered trees, not far from the church of Hagustald, being about a mile and a half distant and separated from it by the river Tyne, having an oratory dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the man of God used frequently, as occasion offered, and specially in Lent, to abide with a few companions and in quiet give himself to prayer and study.
See: https://beverleyminster.org.uk/bede/ (for the translation, and for the image licence: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_-_St_John_of_Beverley_on_the_Minster.jpg)
Saint John Paul II, pope & confessor
From: Veritatis Splendor
Veritatis splendor in omnibus Creatoris operibus effulget, praesertim vero in homine facto ad imaginem et similitudinem Dei (Cfr. Gen. 1, 26): veritas illuminat intellegentiam hominisque libertatem informat qui hac ratione ad Dominum cognoscendum atque amandum adducitur. Propter hoc psalmista precatur: “Leva in signum super nos lumen vultus tui, Domine!” (Ps. 4, 7).
The splendor of truth shines out in all the works of the creator, but especially in humanity made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1:26): truth illuminates the intelligence and it informs the freedom of man who, by this principle, is led towards an understanding and love of God. Accordingly, the psalmist prays: "Raise up the light of your face, Lord, as a sign upon us." (Ps 4:7)
St Lucy
Mox bona ómnia quæ in dotem esset acceptúra, a matre impetráta, paupéribus distríbuit. Quare apud Paschásium præféctum, quod Christiána esset, accusáta
Soon all the goods that she was about to accept as her dowry, gained from her mother, she distributed to the poor. Wherefore she was accused, inasmuch as she was a Christian, before the prefect Paschasius.
From: the third reading at Matins
S. Raphael, Archangel
- Deus, qui beátum Raphaélem Archángelum Tobíæ fámulo tuo cómitem dedísti in via
- Concéde nobis fámulis tuis; ut ejúsdem semper protegámur custódia et muniámur auxílio
(from the Collect for the day)
God, who entrusted blessed Raphael the Archangel to your servant Tobias, as a companion on the way, grant to us your servants that we may ever be protected by his guardianship and fortified by his help.
SAINT SATURNINUS
Saturninus vero, iam secur[u]s de martyrio, dicit duobus presbiteris suis: 'Ecce ego iam immolor et tempus meae resolution[i]s instat. Rogo, ut, usque dum debetum finem impleam, a vobis paenitus non relinquar'. (Gregory of Tours)
Indeed Saturninus, certain of martyrdom, said to his two priests: "Behold, I am now about to be immolated and the time of my death is at hand. I ask that until I fulfil the appointed end, I may not be utterly abandoned by you."
Saint Vincent de Paul
From a letter of Adamus Perseniae (Adam de Perseigne, a mediaeval French Cistercian monk):
Contriti vere cordis charitas quaelibet iniquitatis vincula rupit
In truth the charity of a contrite heart shatters the chains of iniquity
Saint Wenceslaus (or, as in the familiar carol, St Wenceslas)
From the Bohemian Chronicle by Cosmas of Prague:
Sed Wencezlaus ab ineunte etate hanc fragilem vitam mutavit eternitate.
But Wenceslas from an early age transformed this fragile life into eternity.
Cosmae Pragensis Chronica Boemorum. Liber I, caput XXXII