[Paul Segneri, S.J., was born in the year 1624, at Nantes. From an early age he showed a predilection for the religious state. He united the functions of missionary with that of preacher during the space of twenty-seven years, with a zeal truly apostolic. This indefatigable religious and saintly director, worn out with hard work and austerities, yielded up his soul to God in the year 1694, aged seventy.]
The saintly Father Segneri tells ,us that the sure way of gaining heaven, without much cost, is by making frequent acts of the love of God, and by accustoming ourselves to do everything with the intention of pleasing Him.
We shall no longer be tempted to complain that we cannot undertake such great things as we so much admire in others.
God is content if we do all we can to love Him in our sphere of life, and He asks for nothing more. You sometimes regret that you cannot practise great austerities, which no doubt are due to Him for our past sins.
Supply for these in another way, replace those fastings and watchings by fervent acts of love; He requires nothing more.
You are engaged here below in temporal affairs; domestic cares, perchance, occupy your time. Well, do all these with the intention of pleasing Him, and God will be as content as if you had undertaken the worthy functions of an apostolate.
By what way, do you think, did the Saints attain to the perfection of holiness? It was less by their heroic actions than by the great love they showed in performing their lesser duties. Our Saviour does not praise Mary Magdalen for having done much, but for having loved much. Magdalen had not then practised austerities, but the love of Jesus had filled her heart with torrents of tears.
P. Segneri.
Meditations.
