“Let us be submissive to Providence, He will see to our affairs in His own time and in His own way”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“If after so much effort and prayer, the matter is not successful, it will be a clear sign that God does not will it.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: August 1646-March 1650
“Peace is worth far more than anything they might take from you.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“You know, Monsieur, that, although the contemplative life is more perfect than the active life, it is not, however, more so than one which embraces at the same time contemplation and action, as does yours, by God's grace.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“There is a vast difference between an Apostolic life and the solitude of the Carthusians. The latter is truly very holy but is not suited to those whom God has called to the former, which is in itself more excellent.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“[T]hese losses of the Church in the past hundred years give us reason to fear in the present misfortune that in another hundred years we may lose the Church entirely in Europe. So, keeping this fear in mind, blessed are those who cooperate in extending the Church elsewhere.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“[L]et us believe that all is going along the best in the world when we take no satisfaction in it, provided we humble ourselves for this and redouble our confidence in God.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“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!”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“Never betray His principles for any reason whatsoever, and take great care not to spoil God's affairs by too much haste in them.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“It is no wonder you are tempted; on the contrary, it would be something new if you were not, because man's life is nothing but temptation, and no one is exempt from it, especially those who have given themselves to God; his own Son even passed through this trial. But if it is necessary for everyone, it is also a source of merit for those to whom God grants the grace of turning all things to good, as you do.”
“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.”
“I would rather him to bear patiently with it than to put himself in danger of a greater evil.”
“Your soul will be blessed, Sister, if you bear patiently the troubles of mind and body His Providence sends you, or which come to you from within and without.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“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”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“In this way, through experience they will be formed adequately, will be encouraged, and will be capable of rendering service to God.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Be acted upon rather than active. In this way, God will do through you alone what all men put together could not do without Him.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“To this end, we should help and support one another and strive for peace and union among ourselves. This is the wine that cheers and strengthens travelers along the narrow path of Jesus Christ.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Oh! how happy the man of means who uses his wealth and his life for the greater glory of God, from whom he has received them!”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Far from rejecting such a good man as you, He never even abandons a wicked man who hopes for His mercy.”
“In the name of God, Monsieur, let us have greater confidence in Him than we do; let us allow Him to steer our little bark; if it is useful and pleasing to Him, He will save it from shipwreck.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“If we want to find the manna hidden in our vocation, let us restrict and confine all our desires within it.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“If you do not see any good in these persons, then say nothing, but if you do see some, speak about it to honor God in them because all good proceeds from Him.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Three can do more than ten when Our Lord puts His hand to things, and He always does so when He takes away the means of doing otherwise.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“I have never made any distinction between those who have taken vows and those who have not; some should not be overburdened in order to spare others.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Good works are often spoiled by moving too quickly. . . . The good which God desires is accomplished almost by itself, without our even thinking of it.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“. . . [R]estlessness usually stems from pride and from being discontented with one's lot in life.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“And what are we doing if we are not doing God's Will?”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“If you no longer have any income, you will not be neglected-you will not starve to death. . . . We panic at first, but God does not always allow the evil that is feared to happen.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“. . . [Y]ou must understand that we have always considered the writing of books a hindrance to our work, and that for this reason the custom was not to be introduced into the Company. However, since no rule, however general, does not have some exception, we shall see whether it is advisable to have yours printed.”
“. . . [T]hese [ideas] are only suggestions of the evil spirit who, to jeopardize your salvation, suggests to you extraordinary works that are beyond your strength, under the fine pretext of practicing, on your own, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy . . .”
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“I thank God for having given the Company subjects who belong more to Him than to themselves, and who serve the neighbor at the risk of their lives! They are like unrefined gold, which becomes visible in fire and which would otherwise remain hidden under ordinary actions and sometimes under faults and failings.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“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.”
“We are still tossed about by the disturbances of this life, which is like a stormy sea, where those who are not attached to J[esus] C[hrist] and the duties of their state, as was our dear departed, are shipwrecked.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“[E]ven if the whole world should rise up to destroy us, nothing will happen except that God, in whom we have put our hope, will allow.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“[I]n order to raise a soul to the highest perfection, He allows it to pass through dryness, brambles, and combats, causing it thereby to honor the times of weariness in the life of His Son, Our Lord, who suffered various kinds of anguish and abandonment.”
“It is a good sign when He burdens us with [crosses] and we carry them well, but woe to the person who runs away from them, for he will find such heavy ones that they will overwhelm him.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“It will be most pleasing to O[ur] L[ord] if you husband your strength in order to serve Him better.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“I see that you are not sure of what you should do. You must remain steadfast, Monsieur. It would be a great wrong for you to leave and an irreparable scandal to the town and the Company. If you were to abandon the house, I do not think people would ever be willing to welcome us back. Fear not; calm will follow the storm, and perhaps soon.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“But the blessed Bishop of Geneva taught his nuns another kind of prayer, which even the sick can make: to remain peacefully in the presence of God, manifesting our needs to Him with no other mental effort, like a poor person who uncovers his sores and by this means is more effective in inciting passers-by to do him some good than if he wore himself out trying to convince them of his need.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“Foresight is good when it is subject to the latter, but it becomes excessive when we are in a hurry to avoid something we fear. We rely more on our own efforts than on those of his Providence, and we think we are doing a great deal by anticipating His orders by our own disorder, which causes us to rely on human prudence rather than on his Word.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents: Apr. 1650-July 1653
“...Omit nothing which can advance his work, and not blame others for the delay.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“...Seek counsel of very pious, disinterested persons, and follow the call of O[ur] L[ord] and the advice of those persons.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“Let us allow God to act; He brings things to completion when we least expect it.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“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.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
“... bear with him as Our Lord bore with His disciples, who gave Him good reason to complain - at least, some of them did. Yet, He allowed them to remain in His company and tried to bring them around gently.”
Source: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents
