“The whole Church observes the custom handed down by our fathers: that those who have died within the fellowship of Christ’s body and blood should be prayed for when they are commemorated in their own place at the Holy Sacrifice [of the Mass], and that we should be reminded that this sacrifice is offered for them as well. When these acts of mercy are solemnly performed for their sake, who can doubt that we are truly giving them our support? The prayers we offer to God for them are not futile. We must not waver in our belief that they are profitable to the dead, to those of the dead at least who have lived in such a way before death that these things can be useful to them afterward.” St. Augustine (4th-5th centuries, Doctor of the Church)

“When we are linked by the power of prayer, we, as it were, hold each other’s hand as we walk side by side along a slippery path; and thus by the bounteous disposition of love, it comes about that the harder each one leans on the other, the more firmly we are riveted together in brotherly love.” Pope St. Gregory the Great (6th-7th centuries, Doctor of the Church)

“I rose at three in the morning…to pray for my neighbors in their needs…There passed before my mind’s eye the different kinds of human suffering, men’s weaknesses, sins, obstinacy, despair, sorrow, death, as well as the famines, the plagues, the other burdens they endure.” Bl. Peter Favre (16th century)

“As a final word I address myself to those faithful souls kneeling in prayer before the altar and asking God for the graces He is so pleased to hear us asking for. You who are happy that God has shown you the vanity of the world, you who groan under the yoke of your passions and beg to be delivered from them, you who burn with desire to love God and serve Him as He would be served, you who intercede with God for the sake of one who is dear to you, do not grow weary of asking, be steadfast and tireless in your demands. If you are refused today, tomorrow you will obtain everything; if this year brings nothing, the next will bring you abundance. Never think your efforts are wasted. Your every word is numbered and what you receive will be in the measure of the time you have spent asking. Your treasure is piling up and suddenly one day it will overflow to an extent beyond your dreams.” St. Claude de la Colombiere (17th century)

“Faith believes, hope prays, and charity begs in order to give to others. Humility of heart forms the prayer, confidence speaks it, and perseverance triumphs over God Himself.” St. Peter Julian Eymard (19th century)

“Thou art coming to a King; large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.” Bl. John Henry Newman (19th century)

“I have many distractions, but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray for those people, the thought of whom is diverting my attention. In this way, they reap the benefit of my distraction.” St. Therese of Lisieux (19th century, Doctor of the Church)

“We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.” St. Frances Cabrini (19th-20th centuries)

“Some will object that, inasmuch as God’s Will will always be done, it can make no difference whether we pray; this is like saying: ‘My friend will either get better or worse; what good will it do to send for a doctor and give him medicine?’ In the physical order medical power takes into account the physical factors within a sick body; in the spiritual order God’s will makes allowance for our desire to do better. It is true that in answering a prayer, God will not do what He did not will, merely because we asked Him; but He will do that which without our prayer He would not do.” Ven. Fulton Sheen (19th-20th centuries)

“Above all, you must pray without ceasing for your priests, that the gift of God which they have received through the laying on of hands may be constantly rekindled.” Pope St. John Paul II (20th-21st centuries)