SPIRITUAL EXERCISES whereby to conquer oneself, and order one’s life, without being influenced in one’s decision by any inordinate affection.
If, one day, I should offend God in any way, or grow remiss, though ever so little, in that which concerns His holy service and glory, I solemnly implore Him, rather let me die.
The picture. A great plain, comprising the entire Jerusalem district, where is the supreme Commander-in-Chief of the forces of good, Christ our Lord: another plain near Babylon, where Lucifer is, at the head of the enemy.
Concerning the harsh treatment of the body for our Lord’s sake, I would say, avoid anything that would cause the shedding even of a drop of blood.
For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God our Lord would have us look to the Giver and love Him more than His gift, keeping Him always before our eyes, in our hearts, and in our thoughts.
It is one thing to be eloquent and charming in profane speech, and another when the one speaking as a religious.
All the honey that can be gathered from the flowers of this world has less sweetness than the vinegar and gall of Jesus Christ our Lord.
May God our Lord never let me harm anyone when I cannot help him!
Above all, remember that God looks for solid virtues in us, such as patience, humility, obedience, abnegation of your own will – that is, the good will to serve Him and our neighbor in Him. His providence allows us other devotions only insofar as He sees that they are useful to us.
The more completely we focus our attention on our Creator and Lord, the less chance there is of our being distracted by creatures.
True, I am in love with suffering, but I do not know if I deserve the honor.
To have prevented one single sin is reward enough for the labors and efforts of a whole lifetime.
We must put aside all judgment of our own, and keep the mind ever ready and prompt to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, our holy Mother, the hierarchical Church.
A religious ought to dread more being afraid of poverty than experiencing it.
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost.
The safest and most suitable form of penance seems to be that which causes pain in the flesh but does not penetrate to the bones, that is, which causes suffering but not sickness.
Spiritual infirmities such as tepidity are caused, not only by chills but also by fevers, that is, by excessive zeal.
May it please Christ our Lord to grant us true humility and abnegation of will and judgment, so that we may deserve to begin to be His disciples.
It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the Cross.
If you attach your heart to certain places and occupations, obedience oftentimes places you in some other place that you may not like; to be always cheerful, be always humble and obedient.