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Inexpressible Creator, who from the treasures of thy wisdom hast appointed three hierarchies of angels, and set them in wondrous order over the highest heavens, arranging all the elements of the world in admirable harmony, thou who art called the true fount of light and wisdom, the First Principle, deign to shed upon the darkness of my understanding a ray of thy own light, dispelling the twofold darkness of sin and ignorance in which I was born. Thou who canst make babes eloquent, school my tongue, and pour into my lips the grace of thy benediction. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, insight in expounding, and fluent grace of speech. Direct my beginning, guide my continuance, and set thy seal upon the completion: thou who art true God and Man, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.

Thy pleasure, merciful God! Grant that I may ardently desire it, carefully seek to learn it, truly recognize it, and perfectly fulfil it, to the praise and glory of thy name.

Lord my God, bestow upon me an understanding that knows thee, diligence in seeking thee, wisdom in finding thee, a way of life that is pleasing to thee, perseverance that waits trustfully for thee, and confidence that I shall embrace thee at the last.

― taken from The Manual of Catholic Prayer: For All Days and Seasons and Every Circumstance of Christian Life

He believed that it was not only in Scripture but in the history of his own people and the stories of holy lives that the handwriting of God could be discerned. Reading this handwriting was his own path to sanctity. He is an inspiration to all who follow that path.

— St. Bede the Venerable, Doctor of the Church, in All Saints (1997) by Robert Ellsberg

King did not represent himself as a saint. Posthumous revelations of some of his weaknesses underscored the fact that King, at the time of his death, was still evolving, still on the way to reconciling the logic of his faith with his personal conduct. But nothing detracts from his role as a "drum major of freedom." He said of himself, "I want you to know...that I am a sinner like all God's children. But I want to be a good man. And I want to hear a voice saying to me one day, 'I take you in and I bless you, because you tried.'" King struggled to be more than his weakest qualities. He challenged the church...to do the same.

— Martin Luther King in All Saints (1997) by Robert Ellsberg