Manual of the Sisters of charity/Thoughts for Meditation
Thoughts that may Serve for Subjects of Meditation.
THE pleasure of dying without trouble is worth the trouble of living without pleasure.
Without esteem and respect for interior virtues, it is impossible to lead a perfect life.
True greatness and nobility spring only from the perfect fulfilment of the will of God.
One single act of virtue, performed with fervor, advances a soul more than fifty performed carelessly. (St. Teresa.)
It is unnatural for roses to be white; the pink are more beautiful and smell sweeter. It is, however, the nature of lilies. Let us be as we are, but perfect, each in its kind, for the honor of the great Master, whose work we are. (St. F. de Sales.)
A straw, raised from the ground, in virtue of obedience, is worth more than martyrdom, suffered for self-love. (St. Teresa.)
When you perform good works, seek not to please creatures, desire only to please God. The eyes of men are like thieves who rob you of the merit of your good works. (St. Aloysius.)
Oh, what a precious flower is purity, and how delicate! A look, a word, a sigh, is sufficient to destroy its beauty. Therefore, chaste souls continually distrust themselves, and avoid the slightest occasions which may expose them to danger. (Nouet.)
Prudence is the first resource we have in order to fulfil our duties well. (St. Ambrose.)
But one thing is necessary.
To be saved, we must not only avoid evil, we must do good. (Fenelon.)
You have time to-day to labor for your salvation, perhaps you will not have it to-morrow.
There are but few peaceful souls, because there are so few who pray, (de Ramgnan.)
Have we not repelled God a hundred times when He knocked with love at the door of our hearts? How long He waited! Is it not just that He should now make us wait? (St. Augustine.)
When you come before our Lord, speak to Him if you can; if you cannot, remain there, show yourself to Him and be not disturbed. (St. F. of Sales.)
Time passes on, and our pains pass with it; but the glory which follows these pains passes not — it is eternal. (St. Bernard.)
The grace of the present moment is perhaps that which will decide our lot for eternity. — (Nepven.)
The truly humble soul ought to be delighted when its humiliation, and not its humility, is manifested. (St. Bernard.)
Humility does not consist in being ignorant of the graces which God bestows upon us, but in referring entirely to Him the gifts received from His hand, and in attributing to ourselves nothing but sin and weakness. (St. John of the Cross.)
Above all, I love these small virtues, meekness of heart, poverty of spirit and simplicity of life; and these more common exercises of visiting the sick, serving the poor, consoling the afflicted and the like, performed without eagerness and with true liberty of spirit. Our arms are not long enough to reach the cedars of Lebanon; let us, therefore, be content with the hyssop of the valley. (St. F. of Sales.)
It is better to blame yourself a thousand times than only once to lay the blame on others. —
How beautiful it is to behold the poor, when one considers them in God and the light in which Jesus Christ regarded them! (Spiritual Maxims of St Vincent of Paul.)
The perfection of divine love does not consist in ecstasies; it consists in doing the will of God. (Id.)
Sickness is not an evil which we should fear, but a most efficacious means of sanctifying our souls. To murmur when God sends it, is to complain of His having done us good. (Id.)
One of the greatest evils that can afflict a community is a member who will murmur at every thing, complain of and contradict every thing. (Id.)
The salvation of a soul is so important, that in order to secure it, we should expose not only our property, but our lives. (Id.)
The spirit of Jesus Christ is one of uprightness and sincerity. He that is called to glorify this loving God ought to act according to His spirit. (Id.)
None are fit for the works of God but those who have profound humility and a sincere contempt for themselves. (Id.)
Woe to him who seeks his own ease! Woe to him who shuns the cross; because he will find others so weighty that they will overwhelm him. (Id.)
Charity is the cement of souls, which unites all the faithful together; it departs not when it can be useful, but it is neither rash nor hasty, by intruding itself at an unseasonable time. (St. Augustine.)
Speak little and mildly, little and well, little and simply, little and frankly, little and affably. (St. F. of Sales.)
The complacency which we take in ourselves, removes us from God. (Nepveu.)
We do more for others by correcting ourselves than by wishing to correct them. (Id.)
The virtue of the patient man is preferable to miracles and wonders. (St. Gregory the Great.)
Meekness, sweetness of heart, and equality of temper are virtues more rare than chastity. (St. F. of Sales.)
Let us be at peace with God by love, with our neighbor by patience, with ourselves by mortification.
When we are where God wills, He knows where to find us.
A perfect act of conformity to the will of God, at the moment of death, not only sets the soul free from Hell, but even from Purgatory. (Louis de Blois.)
The virtue of poverty consists not only in the privation of earthly goods but in the love of this privation. (St. Bernard.)
Sweetness and consolation are more likely to nourish pride than divine love. (Nepveu.)
The true love of God is not always that which is felt and is delightful to us; but that which humbles and disengages us from ourselves and from creatures. (Fenelon.)
Attachment even to good things is hurtful. (St. Liguori )
Our blessed Saviour descended into the womb of His holy Mother during the silence of night; He enters our hearts and takes possession of them, when He finds them peaceful and in silence.
As honey made from the bitter thyme is the best, so is that virtue the most excellent which is exercised amidst the most contemptible and abject tribulations. (St. F. of Sales.)
Whosoever neglects prayer precipitates himself into hell. (St. Teresa.)
We must have a noble and generous humility, which never does anything for the sake of praise and omits nothing for fear of being praised.— (St. Teresa.)
Beware of discouragement: it is the greatest harm which can befall you. The devil is afraid of confidence in God. (St. F. of Sales.)
Prudence is not the virtue of him who obeys, but of him who commands. (St. Ignatius.)
One ounce of prayer, in the time of dryness, is of more value in the sight of God than one hundred pounds in the midst of consolation. (St. F. of Sales.)
He is the most happy in this life who loves God most. (St. Liguori.)
Make no show of the devotion you have in your heart, unless great necessity oblige you. "My secret is mine," said St. Bernard and St. Francis. (St. Teresa.)
We ought only to be found with men, when God is not willing that we should remain with Him. (P. Judde.)
Simplicity is the perfection of humility; the simple soul entirely forgets herself to think only of God; she has but one look, one intention, one will, one love; God alone is the object of her delight.
The field of the sluggard is covered with briars; a useless life is alone sufficient for our condemnation. (St. Bernard.)
When the labors of an active life spring from the love of God, they are supreme perfection. (St. Teresa.)
To arrive quickly at perfection, we must speak much to God and little to men.
Intimate union with God is formed by grace, the cross and divine love. (Nejiueu.)
You cannot speak well without grace. Can you expect to do so, when you speak at a time in which God forbids you to speak? (Sonet )
The more you advance in perfection, the more you must fear vanity; other vices are nourished by sin, but virtue is often the food of vanity.
The religious state is one of sacrifice, in which one must expect to find only an altar, a sword and burning fire. The sword separates us from all that is dearest on earth and even from ourselves. In this sacrifice, the soul does indeed taste innocent and pure joys; but worldly pleasures are forbidden her. No more human friendships, no more dissipation, no more indulgence in reading light and useless books. She must be silent when she would like to speak; speak when silence would be agreeable; labor when she feels inclined to rest, and often rest when labor would seem to be more grateful. This is not all; when the victim has been immolated, it must be consumed; all that is opposed to God and to the perfection of His love, judgment, will, desires, all must be sacrificed in the religious soul. If this picture frightens you, beware! You may sully that holy state.
The most obedient soul will be the most beloved. She who rejoices when receiving humiliation and correction will soon delight the Heart of Jesus.