Remember the maxim of the Romans which states that by union and counsel we can achieve anything.
If you say that a good reputation serves to benefit the neighbor more, I admit that. However, since it should be based on a good life, it is, therefore, preserved by the practice of virtue and not by human intrigue.
It is not light they need but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example.
You say you experience great difficulty in the mission. Alas! Monsieur, there is no lot in life where there is nothing to be endured.
Remember, Monsieur, that Saint Augustine says that a person who does not obey the doctors is doing his best to kill himself.
It is not easy to find perfect men in whom there is nothing to criticize.
If the Company takes my advice, it will always be preserved through this maxim, for if we are good, we will not lack any, and if we are not, we already have too many houses anyway, and can hardly fill the few we have.
There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections.
Since you know the means of getting better, in the name of God, make use of them. Do not take on anything beyond your strength, do not be anxious, do not take things too much to heart, go gently, do not work too long or too hard.
Man’s condition is never the same; he is humbled, then exalted; sometimes at peace, sometimes persecuted; enlightened today and plunged into darkness tomorrow. What is to be done? As I said, let us be prepared for whatever may happen.
Laws must never be made compatible with crimes, no more than lying should be in harmony with the truth.
Far from being a bad thing to seek advice, you must, on the contrary, do so when the matter is of any importance, or when we cannot come to a clear decision on our own.
Nevertheless, when one is ill, one should be submissive to the doctor and obey him.
People are made in such a way that even the holiest ones are liable to offend one another.
Make an effort to serve good bread and good meat and not to sell the better wine so as to serve what is inferior...
The kingdom of God is peace in the Holy Spirit; He will reign in you if your heart is at peace. So, be at peace, Mademoiselle, and you will honor in a sovereign way the God of peace and love.
So, our vocation is to go, not just to one parish, not just to one diocese, but all over the world; and do what? To set people’s hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did. He came to set the world on fire in order to inflame it with His love.
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.
We must be firm but not rough in our guidance and avoid an insipid kind of meekness, which is ineffective. We will learn from Our Lord how our meekness should always be accompanied by humility and grace so as to attract hearts to Him and not cause anyone to turn away from Him.
There is no act of charity that is not accompanied by justice or that permits us to do more than we reasonably can.