10 Inspirational Quotes from Catholic Saints to Motivate Your Workout

As Christians, we are called to live an integrated life, a life in which our whole selves–body, mind, and spirit–glorify God. 

The saints knew this and lived it well. They also knew the challenges that came with it.

Sometimes it will feel easier to give into idleness and mediocrity. Sometimes scrolling social media or binge-watching television will seem more alluring than daily prayer or working out.  

But before you give into the temptation to accept less than what God made you for, particularly in your fitness journey, look to the words and examples of your heavenly friends. 

‍

‍

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body." -St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians

‍

“Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world. Through him they are thus brought to their highest perfection and can raise their voice in praise freely given to the Creator. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day.” 

–Pope Saint Paul VI 

‍

“The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It has been created to transfer into the visible reality of the world, the mystery hidden from eternity in God, and thus to be a sign of it”

 –Pope Saint John Paul the Great 

“Remember that bodily exercise, when it is well ordered, as I have said, is also prayer by means of which you can please God our Lord.”
–St. Ignatius of Loyola 

Do everything for love. That way there are no little things. Everything is big. 

–St. Josemaria Escriva

‍

“Ad maiorem Dei gloriam—All for the greater glory of God.” 

–St. Ignatius of Loyola

‍

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” 

–St. Catherine of Siena

‍

"I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." 

–Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians

‍

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.” 

–St. Francis de Sales

‍

“Let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arms and with the sweat of our brows…” –St. Vincent de Paul

‍

‍