“Perseverance is a great grace. To go on gaining and advancing every day, we must be resolute, and bear and suffer as our blessed forerunners did. Which of them gained heaven without a struggle?”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, when I am struggling with pain in my life, remind me that I am never left to face it alone.
“Rely upon God, and you will have the fulfillment of whatever your heart desires.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
What is my heart’s desire? Sometimes I’m not even sure, but of this I am very sure, God’s love for me is unconditional and in surrendering myself to it I know my needs will be satisfied.
“Though truth and sincerity should ever guard our words, yet we should be careful never to offend others.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, in the name of “sincerity” never let my words injure or embarrass others. Teach me to be sensitive to their feelings and treat them as I would want to be treated.
“Free your mind of anything that troubles you; God will take care of it.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
When my worries loom heavily over me, I will surrender them all to your care, Lord, and place myself under your loving protection.
“It may come to your mind that you have not enough intelligence to conduct so large and difficult a house. To this I shall reply that there will be two of you to do it: Our Lord and yourself, and with him, all is possible.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, you have said that your grace is sufficiently given for whatever you ask of us. Knowing that is a comfort to me and I will ask for what I need, in your most powerful name.
“How liable we are to err in our judgments respecting others unless we thoroughly know the motives of their actions.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
How easy it is to rashly judge the actions of others! Lord, if I err regarding others, let it be on the side of charity.
“Evenness of temper is a particular virtue, a state which supposes an aggregate of all the virtues, an external manifestation of the peace and beauty of the interior.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
How many occasions for petty aggravation come up during the course of my fast moving days? When I am aware of this, I will try to pause, take a break and “lighten up.” Lord, help me to become patient with others and also with myself.
“ … Our vocation is to set the hearts of men on fire, to do what the Son of God did, who came to set the world on fire … “
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Inspire me with enthusiasm for your work, Lord, that others may be drawn closer to you by my example.
“The virtue of gratitude will prepare our hearts to receive the graces we need to serve the sick and poor with meekness and compassion.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, I am humbled by the many ways you continually bless me and the great privilege I have of serving you in the poor. May I always treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve.
“No matter what others say or do, even if the wicked succeed, do not be troubled: commit everything to God and put your trust in him.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
If I place my trust in you, Lord, I will not be concerned about what others think or do.
“You know how unwilling we are to deny ourselves, how unwilling to be reproved and contradicted, how a trifling thing will make us sad, how we delight to be commended while, with a short of natural cruelty we see blame and faults in others which we are scarcely willing to excuse.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Holy Spirit, come with your gift of wisdom and enlighten me that I may become so aware of the inconsistencies in my own life, there will be little time to find fault with anyone else.
“O sir, what a faithful image of Our Lord, is participation in the meekness and humility of his heart!” How it portrays his manner of acting, especially when firmness accompanies it.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, in imitation of you, teach me how to be firm, yet gentle and loving when I have to take an unpopular stand I know to be right.
“We must receive with respect whatever God presents to us, and then examine the situation with its circumstances in order to do what is most expedient.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
In resolving situations in my work, Lord, nothing can be accomplished without objectivity and reflection. In those circumstances, quiet my mind and calm my anxiety so I can be a part of the solution and not the problem.
“Let us patiently bear the contradictions and repugnances we encounter in the discharge of duty, since our actions are thereby rendered more agreeable to God.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Teach me, Lord the discipline of patience, which I find harder than work. Maybe then, in the quietness of reflection I will begin to understand that you speak to me through the very difficulties I am facing.
“Today’s efforts will make tomorrow’s easier.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
How easy it is for me to put off what is difficult and waste time on non-essentials. Lord, teach me to discipline myself and keep my priorities straight, that your work may be accomplished through me.
“What can shut us out from the love of Him, who will ever dwell within us through love?”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Heavenly Father, soften my heart when anger closes me off from those who have upset me. Help me to overlook and forget these incidents just as you are constantly forgiving me.
“There
is no charity without justice, nor does it permit us to do more than we
reasonably can.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
Working
for the poor without also doing what I can to root out the causes of injustice
to them is not very effective. This truth should be a guiding principle for me
as I go about my work, Lord.
“Sufferings
well received will prove our passport to eternity.”
~
St. Louise de Marillac
Suffering
the pain of misunderstanding is hard to bear. Heal, O Lord, the broken and
troubled relationships in my life. Teach me to forgive as you want me to
forgive – completely and wholeheartedly being the first to make amends.
“By
love, Our Lord won over those he wanted to believe in him. No matter how much
we exert ourselves, people will never have faith in us unless we show clarity
and compassion to those whom we wish to believe in us.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
Good
works, no matter how praiseworthy, will never engender trust. Knowing your
unconditional love for me, Lord, makes it possible for me to love others and
reveal to them how blessed they are in your sight.
“The
greater my unworthiness, the more abundant his mercy.”
~
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord,
I know you have a special love for the poor and the little in the eyes of the
world, so I ask you, today, for the openness and candor of a little child who
is totally dependent on your love and mercy. In You I place all my trust.
“We
do not put faith in a man because he is learned, but we esteem and love him
because he is good.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Knowledge
without integrity isn’t worth very much. Lord, keep this truth ever before me.
“When
we meet with things very pleasing, before yielding to the joy they elicit, let
us raise our hearts to God and thank his loving mercy which sends us the
consolation.”
~
St. Louise de Marillac
So often, Lord, I turn to you with my needs and don’t remember to thank you for the many joys and successes of my life. Today, I offer you praise and thanksgiving for the blessing you continually shower upon me as well as the countless little joys I experience every day.
“Our
Lord always has a share in replies which we make honestly, stating things just
as they are, and He blesses them.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
When
I am tempted to avoid dealing with situations directly and openly, come to my
assistance, Lord, and grant me the grace to be honest and straightforward.
“O,
my Heavenly Father, I know that these contradicting events are permitted and
guided by Thy wisdom, which alone is light.”
~
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
In
the confusion of this present age, it is often difficult to discern the best
path to take in dealing with troublesome situations. Lord, I need the wisdom of
your Spirit to guide my decision making so that Your holy will can be
accomplished through me.
“There
are very few for so much work! Our Lord will have to labor with you!”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
Lord,
the size of a task or situation may sometimes seem overwhelming. At those times
I will be comforted by your own words, “Take courage, I have overcome the
world.”
“God
is satisfied with a soul of good will.”
~
St. Louise de Marillac
Heavenly
Lord help me to be satisfied with the person I am. Reveal the talents you have
given me and how you want me to use them in your service. I am so grateful that
you see my intentions as well as my deeds and love me as I am.
“In
the name of God, Sir, let your trust in God be greater than it is! Let him
steer your little boat. If it be useful and pleasing to him, he will save it
from shipwreck and there will be no danger that the multitude and size of other
craft will cause it to be submerged.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
In
times of personal stress, I will trust that your guidance will bring me through
the waters of self-pity and restore peace to my soul.
“God’s
work is accomplished little by little and almost as it were, imperceptibly, and
His Spirit is neither violent nor unseasonable.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
Lord,
teach me how to be patient with myself, especially when I want quick and easy
solutions to my problems.
“He
knows all our weakness and the failings of our hearts. As a father pities his
own children, He pities us, and has Himself declared that He never will forsake
the soul that confides His name.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Heavenly
Lord, I rely on your promises and confide to you all my cares, concerns, and
needs. I do this in your most powerful name of Jesus.
“God
never fails to come to our help in due time after we, on our part, have done
all we can.”
~
St. Vincent de Paul
“Provided
He reigns, that suffices.”
~
St. Louise de Marillac
Heavenly
Father, I want to give my whole life to you, yet I am afraid of what you might
ask of me. Extend your hand so I can overcome my fear of the unknown. With you
at my side, I will find the courage to launch out into your deep and let the
shoreline go.
