When in Rome, you must do as the Romans do and accept the local customs, if they are not immoral.
Divine Providence is never wanting in things undertaken at Its command. Even though the whole world should rise up and destroy us, nothing could happen but what is pleasing to God. The less there is of man in affairs, the more there is of God.
You know that you yourself are not always in the same state. If you are exact today, closely united to God, and a consolation to the whole house, tomorrow you will be out of sorts, indolent, and a source of affliction to others. Then you will need their support, as you have supported them.
If we divested ourselves, once and for all, of all self-will, we would then be in a position of being sure of doing the Will of God, in which the angels find all their delight and men all their happiness.
So, we pray well when we remain in this way in the presence of God, with no exertion of the understanding or will. Therefore, you will do well to listen to God in the urge you feel to return to us.
Our Lord is pleased to deprive us of temporal goods; may it please His Divine Goodness to give us spiritual ones!
A man who behaves poorly in a Community will not do well in a parish.
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.
You must moderate yourself according to your strength. When you have done all that you can to see that no Christian is perverted, you must find your consolation in Our Lord, who could prevent this misfortune and who is not doing so.
Do not be afraid of undertaking too much of what you can do without coming and going; but fear only the thought of doing more than you are doing and more than God is giving you the means to do.
Is it not better to fail after asking advice than to risk acting on our own?
If, in order to succeed in an enterprise, I were obliged to choose between fifty deer commanded by a lion, and fifty lions commanded by a deer, I should consider myself more certain of success with the first group than with the second.
Naturally, everyone loves his freedom, but we must beware of this as of a broad road that leads to perdition.
I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do.
The wisest persons, surprised by some passion, often say things they later regret.
If there is any danger in the present weather, in the name of God, Monsieur, wait until spring.
You should not open your mouth except to express gratitude for benefits you have received, and never to mention your discontent.
The vine-stock bears fruit as long as it is attached to its stem; apart from that, no.
Indeed, good is not good if one does not suffer in doing it.
O Monsieur de Sergis, how important a matter is submission of spirit to a superior!