Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
Let us be submissive to Providence, He will see to our affairs in His own time and in His own way
. . . [R]estlessness usually stems from pride and from being discontented with one's lot in life.
When in Rome, you must do as the Romans do and accept the local customs, if they are not immoral.
Just as stinginess is blameworthy, so is facility in paying more for things than they are worth...
Put your trust in Him and following His example, always act humbly, graciously, and in good faith.
...it is difficult to master one's feelings and be exact in everything in the midst of many affairs
It will be most pleasing to O[ur] L[ord] if you husband your strength in order to serve Him better.
Nature makes trees put down deep roots before having them bear fruit, and even this is done gradually.
Laws must never be made compatible with crimes, no more than lying should be in harmony with the truth.
Far from rejecting such a good man as you, He never even abandons a wicked man who hopes for His mercy.
God always gives a great blessing to humble beginnings than to those that start with the chiming of bells.
We must be firm but not rough in our guidance and avoid an insipid kind of meekness, which is ineffective.
If we want to find the manna hidden in our vocation, let us restrict and confine all our desires within it.
. . . [A]s a rule, the most learned persons do not produce the greatest results. We see that only too often.
Naturally, everyone loves his freedom, but we must beware of this as of a broad road that leads to perdition.
Experience has shown us that virtue puts down only shallow roots in those who are there for just a short time
I have never come away from you without reflecting that the Spirit of God and His holy workings reside in you.
Let us reflect that we shall always do God's Will and He will do ours when we carry out that of our Superiors.
Our Lord is pleased to deprive us of temporal goods; may it please His Divine Goodness to give us spiritual ones!
Make an effort to serve good bread and good meat and not to sell the better wine so as to serve what is inferior.
There is no act of charity that is not accompanied by justice or that permits us to do more than we reasonably can.
. . . [I]n the kingdom of charity, one prefers to suffer some inconvenience rather than inconvenience the neighbor.
It is not light they need but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example.
Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable light at all times and under all circumstances.
If after so much effort and prayer, the matter is not successful, it will be a clear sign that God does not will it.
God's affairs are accomplished gradually and almost imperceptibly and His spirit is neither violent nor tempestuous.
Things arrange themselves with time. Only God can have everything to His liking; His servants should act as Our Lord did.
...Seek counsel of very pious, disinterested persons, and follow the call of O[ur] L[ord] and the advice of those persons.
Remember, Monsieur, that Saint Augustine says that a person who does not obey the doctors is doing his best to kill himself.
Oh! how happy the man of means who uses his wealth and his life for the greater glory of God, from whom he has received them!
I have made to God the offering you made to me of your heart and have asked him to unite mine with yours in that of Our Lord.
Never betray His principles for any reason whatsoever, and take great care not to spoil God's affairs by too much haste in them.
Be acted upon rather than active. In this way, God will do through you alone what all men put together could not do without Him.
You should not open your mouth except to express gratitude for benefits you have received, and never to mention your discontent.
There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections.
[L]et us work to rid ourselves of our attacks of over-zealousness especially when it offends against respect, esteem, and charity.
There are good, God-fearing persons who still fall into certain faults, and it is better to bear with them than to be hard on them.
In this way, through experience they will be formed adequately, will be encouraged, and will be capable of rendering service to God.
It will be easier for you to bring him around to where you want him more by gentleness and patience than by being too uncompromising.
You say you experience great difficulty in the mission. Alas! Monsieur, there is no lot in life where there is nothing to be endured.
[E]ven if the whole world should rise up to destroy us, nothing will happen except that God, in whom we have put our hope, will allow.
The angels would become incarnate if they could, so that they might come to earth to imitate the example and virtues of the Son of God!
Experience teaches that what is feasible at the beginning is sometimes harmful as things go on, or subject to troublesome inconveniences
Three can do more than ten when Our Lord puts His hand to things, and He always does so when He takes away the means of doing otherwise.
Let us do our duty well; let us go straight to God; let us work to become very humble, very patient, very mortified, and very charitable.
Who will excuse us before God for the loss of such a great number of people, who could be saved by the slight assistance we could give them?
If you think something should be done, take the trouble to write to me about it, and together we will decide the time and manner of doing it.
Remember, Monsieur that roses are not gathered except in the midst of thorns and that heroic acts of virtue are accomplished only in weakness.
Rarely is any good done without difficulty; the devil is too subtle and the world too corrupt not to attempt to nip such a good work in the bud
With whose imperfections will you bear, and what insult are you capable of enduring, if a thoughtless word from your own Superior is unbearable?