“The Catholic wisdom of the people... provides reasons for joy and humor even in the midst of a very hard life.”

“The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life.”

“It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians. . . and I am one of them.”

“So I sit and endure the stares and the pangs and twinges of Catholic guilt, knowing that I am doing the right thing if I'm right, and the right thing even if I'm wrong. Being Catholic is hard. Being ex-Catholic is even harder.”

“Some of life's greatest wisdom comes from observing the lives of very lost people.”

“Deep, contended joy comes from a place of complete security and confidence [in God] - even in the midst of trial.”