Author Topic: St Peter of Alcantara (Read 768 times)

poche · « **on:** October 19, 2013, 02:59:03 AM »

Peter, surnamed Alcantara after the town of his birth, was eminent among the saints of the sixteenth century for an extraordinary spirit of penance and for attaining the heights of contemplation. He was a great mystic. Born in 1499, at the age of sixteen he entered the Order of Friars Minor. He was an apostle of spiritual reform in his own community and aided St. Teresa in her reform of the Carmelites. God revealed to her that no one would remain unheard who begged in the name of Peter; thereafter she was most eager to have his prayers and honored him as a saint while he was still alive. With great humility Peter shunned all favors from eminent personages, even though they esteemed him as the mouthpiece of God or asked his counsel; for instance, he declined the request to act as confessor to Charles V. Although she was at quite a distance at the time of his death, St. Teresa saw his soul entering heaven. Later he appeared to her and said: "O happy penances which won for me such blessedness!"

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-10-19

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2013, 07:40:08 AM »

magdalena · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2013, 10:20:28 PM »

http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Peter%20Alcantara.html

shin · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2013, 11:35:17 PM »

Good evening poche, Hobbledhoy and magdalena!

'He does much in the sight of God who does his best, be it ever so little.' is a very striking quote isn't it?

'It is most certain that the malice of our own hearts is the principal cause that hinders us from attaining to our beatitude and everlasting happiness, because it makes us slow to godly actions, dull to virtuous exercises, and suggests a greater difficulty in them than there is, which if it were not a man might walk without any molestation in the way of virtue, and at length without labor attain to his desired end.'

St. Peter of Alcantara

'St. Peter of Alcantara kept his eyes constantly cast down, so that he did not know the brothers with whom he conversed. It was by the voice, and not by the countenance, that he was able to recognize them.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has His hands full of graces, and He is ready to bestow them on anyone who asks for them.'

St. Peter of Alcantara

'The first thing that hinders devotion are our sins, not only mortal sins but also venial sins. While little sins do not take away charity, they diminish its fervor, which is the same as devotion. So we should carefully avoid them, if not for the harm they do, at least for the great good that they prevent.

Excessive remorse of conscience that flows from our sins also impedes devotion. It makes the soul restless, depressed, faint and weak for every good practice.

Scruples obstruct devotion for the same reason. They are like thorns that prick the conscience and prevent it from resting in God and enjoying true peace.

Too many cares constitute another hindrance. They are those mosquitos from Egypt that disturb the soul. They do not allow it to sleep the spiritual sleep that lulls the soul in prayer. What's worse, they disturb the soul and divert it from its spiritual exercise.

Preoccupation with sensual comforts is another block to devotion because the person who indulges too much in worldly delights does not deserve those of the Holy Spirit.'

St. Peter of Alcantara

'O blissful penance, which has purchased for me so great a reward!'

St. Peter of Alcantara, to St. Teresa of Jesus, appearing to her after his death

- Inspirational Quotes from the Saints

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2013, 12:41:09 AM »

Here is a quote from St. Louis-Marie (The Love of Eternal Wisdom, ch. xiv.): "Never the Cross without Jesus; nor Jesus without the Cross."

The entire chapter can be found here: http://www.cathinfo.com/catholic.php/Triumph-of-the-Holy-Cross