The Purpose Of Life | Ven. Fulton Sheen

Lenten practices of giving up pleasures are good reminders that the purpose of life is not pleasure.
– Ven. Fulton Sheen

</p> <p class="has-small-font-size">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/pt-br/@amandascharkss?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Amanda Scharkss</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/lONVFygi4S8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></p> <span class="et_bloom_bottom_trigger"></span> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_with_border et_pb_row et_pb_row_1_tb_body"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_1_tb_body et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0_tb_body et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h2>Keep Searching, Keep Learning</h2></div> </div><div class="et_pb_with_border et_pb_module et_pb_search_posttype et_pb_search_posttype_0_tb_body et_pb_search et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <form role="search" method="get" class="et_pb_searchform" action="https://catholic-link.org/"> <div> <label class="screen-reader-text" for="s">Search for:</label> <input type="text" name="s" placeholder="Seek and you will find..." class="et_pb_s" />  <input type="hidden" name="posttype_search" value="post,cc_cita,cc_image,video,podcast,open-position" /> <input type="submit" value="Search" class="et_pb_searchsubmit"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_2_tb_body"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_2_tb_body et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_1_tb_body et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"><h1>Our Newest Quotes:</h1></div> </div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_0_tb_body et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space"><div class="et_pb_divider_internal"></div></div><div class="et_pb_module et_pb_blog_0_tb_body et_pb_posts et_pb_bg_layout_light "> <div class="et_pb_ajax_pagination_container"> <article id="post-810401" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_0 post-810401 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-lent tag-cross tag-fail tag-fall tag-jesus tag-lent tag-st-therese tag-st-therese-of-the-holy-face tag-suffering"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/lent-catholic-saint-quotes-his-cross-st-therese/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Jesus Is Here With His Cross | St. Therese" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/lent-catholic-saint-quotes-his-cross-st-therese/">Jesus Is Here With His Cross | St. Therese</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/saint-therese/" title="Posts by St. Therese of Lisieux" rel="author">St. Therese of Lisieux</a></span> | <span class="published">Feb 3, 2026</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/feast-days-and-seasonal-celebrations/lent/" rel="tag">Lent</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>“Yes, my heart’s dear one, Jesus, is here with His cross. Since you are one of His favorites, He wants to make you into His likeness; why be afraid that you will not have the strength to carry this cross without a struggle? On the way to Calvary, Jesus did indeed fall...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810285" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_1 post-810285 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-faith-and-life category-world-and-culture tag-courage tag-fear tag-gods-glory tag-goodness-of-god tag-salvation tag-st-john-eudes"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/st-john-eudes-courageously-great-tasks-for-gods-glory/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Undertake Courageously Great Tasks For God’s Glory | St. John Eudes" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/st-john-eudes-courageously-great-tasks-for-gods-glory/">Undertake Courageously Great Tasks For God’s Glory | St. John Eudes</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/saint-john-eudes/" title="Posts by St. John Eudes" rel="author">St. John Eudes</a></span> | <span class="published">Jan 26, 2026</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/faith-and-life/" rel="tag">Faith & Life</a>, <a href="https://catholic-link.org/apologetics/world-and-culture/" rel="tag">World's View</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>"Undertake courageously great tasks for God's glory, to the extent that he'll give you power and grace for this purpose. Even though you can do nothing on your own, you can do all things in him. His help will never fail you if you have confidence in his goodness....</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810249" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_2 post-810249 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-faith-and-life"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/gazing-at-the-crucifix-pope-francis-quote/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Spend Time Gazing At The Crucifix | Pope Francis" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/gazing-at-the-crucifix-pope-francis-quote/">Spend Time Gazing At The Crucifix | Pope Francis</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/pope-francis/" title="Posts by Pope Francis" rel="author">Pope Francis</a></span> | <span class="published">Jan 9, 2026</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/faith-and-life/" rel="tag">Faith & Life</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>God loves us, and He loves us madly, as one of the saints used to say. God’s love appears to be madness. He loves us: “God loved the world so much that He gave us His only son” (Jn 3:16). And He sent Him to die on the cross. And every time that we look at the...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810168" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_3 post-810168 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advent-and-christmas tag-christmas tag-christmas-quote tag-st-peter-canisus"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-quote-st-peter-canisus/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Never A Child So Wise | Christmas Quote St. Peter Canisus" class="" width="1080" height="675" srcset="https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-04-at-12.20.47-AM.webp 1080w, https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-04-at-12.20.47-AM-480x367.webp 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 1080px, 100vw" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-quote-st-peter-canisus/">Never A Child So Wise | Christmas Quote St. Peter Canisus</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/st-peter-canisius/" title="Posts by St. Peter Canisius" rel="author">St. Peter Canisius</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 26, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/feast-days-and-seasonal-celebrations/advent-and-christmas/" rel="tag">Christmas</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>“Never was a whimpering bit of humanityso powerful that, while lying on His bed of straw, He could command the very starsto direct whom He wished to visit Him.Never a child so wise or so rich as this little Infant who was full of grace and incarnate truth.Never anyone...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810166" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_4 post-810166 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advent-and-christmas tag-christmas tag-st-francis-of-sales"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-mass-homily-st-francis-de-sales/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="A Midnight Christmas Mass Homily | St. Francis de Sales" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-mass-homily-st-francis-de-sales/">A Midnight Christmas Mass Homily | St. Francis de Sales</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/saint-francis-de-sales/" title="Posts by St. Francis de Sales" rel="author">St. Francis de Sales</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 25, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/feast-days-and-seasonal-celebrations/advent-and-christmas/" rel="tag">Christmas</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>“Among the solemnities of Holy Church there are three which have been celebrated at all times and which have their original source in that great feat of Passover which was observed in the Old Law. These three feasts are all called Pasch, or Passage, or Passover (Ex....</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810150" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_5 post-810150 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advent-and-christmas tag-christmas tag-st-john-paul-ii"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-quote-saint-john-paul-ii/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Christmas – A School Of Faith And Love (St. John Paul II)" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/christmas-quote-saint-john-paul-ii/">Christmas – A School Of Faith And Love (St. John Paul II)</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/saint-john-paul/" title="Posts by St. John Paul II" rel="author">St. John Paul II</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 19, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/feast-days-and-seasonal-celebrations/advent-and-christmas/" rel="tag">Christmas</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>Dum medium silentium teneret omnia..."– "While earth was rapt in silence and night only half through its course, your almighty Word, O Lord, came down from his royal throne" (Antiphon to the Magnificat, 26 December).On this Holy Night the ancient promise is fulfilled:...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810134" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_6 post-810134 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-advent category-benedict-xvi tag-advent tag-incarnation"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/what-is-the-purpose-of-advent-pope-benedict-xvi/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="The Purpose Of Advent | Pope Benedict XVI" class="" width="1080" height="675" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/what-is-the-purpose-of-advent-pope-benedict-xvi/">The Purpose Of Advent | Pope Benedict XVI</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/" title="Posts by Pope Benedict XVI" rel="author">Pope Benedict XVI</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 15, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/feast-days-and-seasonal-celebrations/advent/" rel="tag">Advent</a>, <a href="https://catholic-link.org/holy-father/benedict-xvi/" rel="tag">Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>“Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope.”-Pope Benedict XVI...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-809868" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_7 post-809868 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-first-communion tag-bread tag-eucharist tag-mass tag-st-ambrose tag-transubstantiation"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/bread-is-bread-eucharist-saint-ambrose-quote/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="The Bread Is The Bread | St. Ambrose" class="" width="1080" height="675" srcset="https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/josh-applegate-RNIK3GRib4c-unsplash-scaled-e1762741358213-980x551.webp 980w, https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/josh-applegate-RNIK3GRib4c-unsplash-scaled-e1762741358213-480x270.webp 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/bread-is-bread-eucharist-saint-ambrose-quote/">The Bread Is The Bread | St. Ambrose</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/st-ambrose/" title="Posts by St. Ambrose" rel="author">St. Ambrose</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 6, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/sacraments/first-communion/" rel="tag">Eucharist</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>"This bread is bread before the words of the Sacrament, but when the words of Christ come to it, it is the Body of Christ…Before the words of Christ it is a cup full of wine and water. When the words of Christ become operative, the Blood which has redeemed the people...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-810129" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_8 post-810129 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-pope-leo-xiv category-prayer tag-pope-leo-xiv tag-prayer tag-surrender"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/pope-leo-prayer-quote/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="Pope Leo XIV’S Prayer For When Life Surprises You" class="" width="1080" height="675" srcset="https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Brown-Reminder-Life-Quotes-Instagram-Story-1080x675.webp 1080w, https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Brown-Reminder-Life-Quotes-Instagram-Story-980x1742.webp 980w, https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Brown-Reminder-Life-Quotes-Instagram-Story-480x853.webp 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/pope-leo-prayer-quote/">Pope Leo XIV’S Prayer For When Life Surprises You</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/pope-leo-xiv/" title="Posts by Pope Leo XIV" rel="author">Pope Leo XIV</a></span> | <span class="published">Dec 2, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/holy-father/pope-leo-xiv/" rel="tag">Pope Leo XIV</a>, <a href="https://catholic-link.org/prayer/" rel="tag">Prayer</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>This is what Pope Leo XIV told reporters he did when he realized he would be named the new Pope. His response is the type of surrender we all need. Follow his lead. Take a deep breath and say this prayer next time life throws something unexpected at you. "I took a...</p> </div></div> </article> <article id="post-809880" class="et_pb_post clearfix et_pb_blog_item_0_9 post-809880 cc_cita type-cc_cita status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-holy-mary tag-marian tag-mary tag-miraculous-medal"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/miraculous-medal-quotes/" class="entry-featured-image-url"><img decoding="async" alt="The Feast Of The Miraculous Medal" class="" width="1080" height="675" srcset="https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/512px-Image_of_the_Our_Lady_of_the_Miraculous_Medal_RCC_OLMM_Ridgewood_Queens_NY-e1762746576580.webp 1080w, https://catholic-link.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/512px-Image_of_the_Our_Lady_of_the_Miraculous_Medal_RCC_OLMM_Ridgewood_Queens_NY-e1762746576580-480x270.webp 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 1080px, 100vw" /></a> <h2 class="entry-title"> <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/miraculous-medal-quotes/">The Feast Of The Miraculous Medal</a> </h2> <p class="post-meta">by <span class="author vcard"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/author/catholic-saint/" title="Posts by Catholic Saint" rel="author">Catholic Saint</a></span> | <span class="published">Nov 28, 2025</span> | <a href="https://catholic-link.org/holy-mary/" rel="tag">Mary - The Blessed Mother</a></p><div class="post-content"><div class="post-content-inner"><p>“I feel so happy to be able to help the children who beg me for protection. But so many do not ever come to me.” —Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal "The Virgin held in her hands, at the height of her shoulders, a golden ball which she seemed to be offering to God as...</p> </div></div> </article> <div><div class="pagination clearfix"> <div class="alignleft"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/purpose-of-life-catholic-quote-fulton-sheen/page/2/?et_blog" >« Older Entries</a></div> <div class="alignright"></div> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div><div class="et_pb_row et_pb_row_3_tb_body"> <div class="et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_3_tb_body et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child"> <div class="et_pb_module et_pb_post_nav_0_tb_body et_pb_posts_nav nav-single"> <span class="nav-previous" > <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/dont-wait-until-your-old-to-become-a-saint-start-now/" rel="prev"> <span class="meta-nav">← </span><span class="nav-label">Previous Post in this Category</span> </a> </span> <span class="nav-next" > <a href="https://catholic-link.org/quotes/good-friday-prayer-litany-passion/" rel="next"> <span class="nav-label">Next Post in this Category</span><span class="meta-nav"> →</span> </a> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="main-footer"> <div id="et-footer-nav"> <div class="container"> <ul id="menu-footer" class="bottom-nav"><li id="menu-item-7149" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7149"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41659" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41659"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/about-us/">About Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41833" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41833"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-803377" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-803377"><a href="https://catholic-link.org/join-our-team/">Join Our Team</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer-bottom"> <div class="container clearfix"> <ul class="et-social-icons"> <li class="et-social-icon et-social-instagram"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catholiclink_en/" class="icon"> <span>Instagram</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script type="speculationrules"> {"prefetch":[{"source":"document","where":{"and":[{"href_matches":"/*"},{"not":{"href_matches":["/wp-*.php","/wp-admin/*","/wp-content/uploads/*","/wp-content/*","/wp-content/plugins/*","/wp-content/themes/Divi-Child-C-L/*","/wp-content/themes/Divi/*","/*\\?(.+)"]}},{"not":{"selector_matches":"a[rel~=\"nofollow\"]"}},{"not":{"selector_matches":".no-prefetch, .no-prefetch a"}}]},"eagerness":"conservative"}]} </script> <div class="et_bloom_popup et_bloom_optin et_bloom_resize et_bloom_optin_6 et_bloom_auto_popup" data-delay="10" data-cookie_duration="15"> <div class="et_bloom_form_container et_bloom_popup_container et_bloom_form_bottom et_bloom_rounded et_bloom_form_text_dark et_bloom_animation_fadein"> <div class="et_bloom_form_container_wrapper clearfix"> <div class="et_bloom_header_outer"> <div class="et_bloom_form_header et_bloom_header_text_light"> <img width="610" height="1084" class=" et_bloom_image_fadein et_bloom_image" alt="Catholic gifts guide" decoding="async" /> <div class="et_bloom_form_text"> <h2>Enter To Win 1 of 5 Liturgical Living Packages All Valued Over $150!</h2><p>How to enter? 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