God has granted me today a very particular fondness for requesting of Him that same virtue of ever choosing the worst and that which is contrary to my own liking.
Perfection consists in a constant perseverance to acquire the virtues and become proficient in their practice, because on God’s road, not to advance is to fall back since man never remains in the same condition.
Remember, Monsieur that roses are not gathered except in the midst of thorns and that heroic acts of virtue are accomplished only in weakness.
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.
Practice humility and patience.
Put your trust in Him and following His example, always act humbly, graciously, and in good faith.
There are some persons who are content with everything and others who are scarcely content with anything. These latter need patience to bear with themselves.
It seems to me that the best way will be the one that is most gentle and forbearing, which is more in conformity with the Spirit of Our Lord and more apt to win hearts.
Experience has shown us that virtue puts down only shallow roots in those who are there for just a short time.
In the name of God, Monsieur, let us not be so little attached to God’s service that we yield to a useless fear which may cause us to abandon the task He has given us.
In God’s name, Monsieur, let us remain indifferent; let us strive to be equally attached to whatever obedience marks out for us, be it agreeable or disagreeable. By the grace of God, we belong to Him; what else should we desire except to please Him?
All beginnings are somewhat strange; but we must have patience, and little by little, we shall find things, which at first were obscure, becoming clearer.
I am the only wretch who keeps on heaping new iniquities and abominations on myself. O Monsieur, how merciful God is to put up with me with so much patience and forbearance, and how weak and miserable I am to abuse his mercies so greatly!
I would rather him to bear patiently with it than to put himself in danger of a greater evil.
The children of our Lord walk gladly in his ways; they have confidence in him, and so when they fall, they rise again; and if, instead of stopping to grumble about the stone they have tripped over, they humble themselves at their fall, this helps them to advance with great strides in his love.
Never betray His principles for any reason whatsoever, and take great care not to spoil God’s affairs by too much haste in them.
In a word, we owe obedience to the bishops in all things pertaining to our work in the missions, with ordinands, etc., but the spiritual and internal direction belongs to the Superior General.
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!
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.
God has seen fit that, since our services are useful to many persons, everyone approves them, but only when they are carried out in the spirit of Our Lord.