“The thought that Our Lord himself had much to suffer from his disciples will greatly encourage you, for the more our sorrows resemble his, the more pleasing we are to him. If this were not my consolation, what would become of me?”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
When those close to me fail to understand or support, it is comforting to know you suffered the same pain, Lord. At such times your presence consoles and encourages me.
“That peace which is the portion of the chosen servants of God is seldom unmixed with interior struggles.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Even in the midst of the most painful experiences of my life, knowing you love me and are within me, Lord, gives me the greatest consolation and sense of peace.
“We are living at a time when one must not incur useless expense. Public distress surrounds us on all sides. It is feared that it may overtake us; and, even should we be spared, compassion should urge us to do all we can for those who suffer.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Today’s atmosphere of tremendous change and tight budgeting demands a great deal of creativity to maintain our work for the poor and suffering. Gift me, Lord, with the creativity I need to continue that work in spite of the obstacles I face.
“The good God will not fail to supply your need since it concerns his service, and he will do it one way or another.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Dear Lord, you are so generous with your gifts and never fail to meet the needs of those who call on you. I praise and bless you for this.
“Teach poor girls as much as you possibly can, and remember that the most necessary thing of all is whatever concerns the knowledge of God and his love.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Imparting knowledge to children can be very challenging. Lord, let me also experience the joy of seeing them grow in grace and love for you.
“ … we must give them a life worthy of the name.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
The poor need so much more than food and clothing. Dignity and self esteem are much harder to nurture but are nonetheless essential in breaking the circle of poverty. Today, Lord, I will make use of the opportunities of relieving whatever forms of poverty I may encounter.
“We should not indeed be doing enough for God and our neighbor if we supplied the sick merely with nourishment and medicine, and if we did not assist them with the spiritual services we owe them.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, let me find ways to provide for the spiritual needs of the poor I serve or at least to support those who can directly supply them.
“It is not the most learned who bear the most fruit, but those who are replenished with the most grace from God. Now who receives more grace than those who are united to his goodness as you are doing, bearing lovingly the duty which he has entrusted in you?”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
O God, when I am tempted to envy those who are more gifted than I am, help me to remember that your grace is sufficient for me and doesn’t depend upon human abilities.
“Give some time every day, if it is only half an hour, to devotional reading, which is as necessary to the well-ordering of the mind as the hand of the gardener is to prevent the weeds from destroying your favorite plants.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, I need to be nourished by reading your inspired word to keep my spiritual life alive and well. Help me to make this a priority in my life.
“Now if there ever was a good work, it is that of nursing the sick, so much so indeed that it surpasses all others in value.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, whenever I am involved in any way with sick persons, whether at home or in the hospital, may I always see in them your image and treat them with great tenderness.
“God makes the interests of the afflicted his own.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
In union with you, Lord, I will take the core value of “advocacy for the poor” seriously and make the interest of the poor a real priority.
“You must expect everything from his infinite goodness.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, you have told us to “ask and you shall receive.” I ask you now for all those graces of which I stand so much in need. You are my strength in weakness and I rely on you.
“The poor cannot be judged by their outward appearance, nor by their show of wit, for very often they do not look nor seem like intelligent beings, so rough and homely are they.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
O God, teach me to look beyond external appearances and find you in those who call on me for help.
“Seek God in all things. In all your actions submit your motives to this unerring test: will this be approved by his all-seeing eye?”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Even when I think my motives are the purest, I can still find a lot of self-gratification in things I do. Lord, today I will make an effort to consult you when I have important decisions to make.
“God does not ask you to go beyond that means he has given you.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
O God, assist me today to use well the resources you give me for service to your poor ones.
“If we wish to give satisfaction to our good God, we must not stop to consider what we would like to do, but rather what he wishes us to do. Our Lord will know where to find you when he intends to give you other work to do.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, why is it I am sometimes dissatisfied with what I am doing and tempted to look for “greener pastures” elsewhere? Help me to prayerfully discern your will for me and then be content in following it.
“Our Lord will counsel you what to do.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Where would I be, Lord, without your presence within me? You are always there, ready to counsel and guide me. All I have to do is ask!
“Our love of God is always opposed by our self-love, our love of one another by the miserable pride and pretension which creates jealousy, rash judgment and the pitiful dislikes and impatience which so often trouble us and wound charity.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Expand my heart, Lord, that pettiness may have no place in my life nor cause the loss of charity among my family and community.
“While we dilly-dally with our plans, God raises up others to do what he had first asked of us.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Sometimes, Lord, I am so prone to procrastinate, especially over unpleasant issues. Give me the courage to act today in one of those matters in my life.
“Have patience, and have it in Our Lord who is pleased to try you.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, when I am tempted to be impatient with others or myself, fill me with the gentleness and compassion you always showed to those in need.
“How good it is to trust God! Turn to him often, then, as children look to their father and mother in their needs.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
In your sight, Lord, no situation or need of my life is trivial. Help me to remember I am never alone.
“Whatever may happen, you must not fret but rise above it and remains in peace. No harm can befall you if God doe not will it; and if he permits it, it will be for a good end since, to those who serve Him, all things turn out for the best.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, help me to rise above disappointments. Don’t allow me to yield unless anxiety but in faith, believe that whatever happens will glorify you and help me to grow.
“Keep your heart at rest. Never can you find a surer way of obtaining all your desires than that of leaving all to God, who delights to grant the wishes even for this life, if you are full of confidence.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, you know the most secret desires of my heart. In peace, I offer them up to you, knowing that you will grant whatever is best for me.
“My greatest confidence is in God and not in human industry.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, when I rely on you, I am never disappointed. Thank you for your indwelling presence within me!
“We must submit to all that God wants from us and from those belonging to us; therefore, give yourself once more to Him to be entirely, with all that belongs to you, under the conduct of Divine Providence.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, I offer to you all that I have and am, knowing your love for me is boundless and your Divine Providence will protect me from all harm.
“May God increase your strength, and may he make you share more and more in his spirit.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, no matter how busy my day, I will make space for reflective silence.
“To enjoy we must love; and to love we must sacrifice.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Sometimes loving you, Lord, demands sacrifice. Grant me the strength to give without counting the cost.
“Our Lord, eternal and infinite, is the splendor of glory, the fountainhead and source of all grace and beauty.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, I will be content to rest in the shelter of your wings and sing your praises!
“Let us labor together at God’s work with great meekness and humility; these are solid virtues.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Contrary to what we may think, it takes a lot of strength to act with calm gentleness in the face of adversity. Help me to grow in the practice of meekness and humility and make them a part of my life, Lord.
“I beg Our Lord that he may be the object of your thoughts and the rule of your actions.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, you are the way, the truth and the life for me. I direct all my thoughts and actions to you.
“If we had even a tiny hint of this love, would we remain with our arms folded? Would we allow to perish those whom we could assist? Oh no, charity cannot remain inert and inactive.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, the needs of the poor are so great. Today, I will find an opportunity to personally go out to someone in need.
