“Instead of measuring your difficulties with your strength you must measure them with the powerful help you have a right to expect from God.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Often I fail to realize that I am never alone to cope with my problems. I rely on your powerful help to carry me through, Lord.
“We respond more to the prick of a rose than to its fragrance.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, how true it is that I pray to you more often in adversity than in good times. Give me a grateful heart to praise your goodness when all is well.
“Bitter thoughts come from the evil spirit; those from Our Lord are gentle and mild.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, it is so easy to yield to anger and impatience when things are stressful. Calm my quick temper when things don’t go my way. Keep me mindful that I owe my coworkers encouragement and not angry words.
“When God takes from us the power to labor, we should receive the trial courageously, letting it serve to elevate us above the things on earth and remembering that Our Lord, having permitted us to work from our neighbor, now wishes us to prepare for heaven.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
As I approach the twilight of my life, be with me O compassionate Lord. Let me rest in your presence because with you at my side, I have nothing to fear from death.
“ … to be faithful is to persevere in the service of God right to the end, for without perseverance, all is lost.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Blessed Father, only through your power can I successfully complete the work entrusted to me. Give me the courage and grace to be faithful in the end.
“Renew once more the offering of yourself to God: give him a continual sacrifice of your thoughts, words and actions, desiring and praying only that I may be for his glory and the good of the hospital.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Dear God, be with me in a special way today. Help me to think positive thoughts so I can be a source of encouragement to those around me.
“Let us endeavor to grow more and more in confidence that in whatever state we are placed God we shall be secure, although we may think that we would be better off somewhere else.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, when my confidence sags, and I find myself dissatisfied with where I am and what I am doing, bolster my courage and lead me to where you want me to be.
“Take every day as a ring which you must engrave, adorn and embellish with your actions, to be offered up in the evening at the altar of God.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Although the actions of my day are usually so ordinary, I will make a conscious effort to do them as well as I can for your greater glory, Lord. Every evening I will take a few moments to review my day and the resolutions I made.
“I wish you a new heart and an entirely new love for him who loves us unceasingly and as tenderly as if he was just beginning to love us: all the delights of God are ever new and full of sweetness because he never changes.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stoney hearts and give you natural hearts.” – Ezekiel 36 : 26
“How obvious it is that God loves you since he gives you so many opportunities of serving him.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of serving you in the poor and needy, whether directly or indirectly. May there always be room in my heart for the homeless, the displaced and the suffering souls of the this world.
“Let us serve God as he wishes, leaving to him the disposal of all.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Today, Lord, I will be decisive and do something I’ve been putting off, leaving the outcome to you.
“We must know how to wait with patience and to expect more from God than from men.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
O God, your love for me is constant and true. Help me to be most fully the person you want me to be. I believe you will grant what I ask in your name.
“The greater my unworthiness, the more abundant is his mercy.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Heavenly Father, in spite of my great unworthiness you constantly favor me with your mercy. How can I ever thank you for so much love?
“May God remain forever in your heart and give you the strength necessary for every trial.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, you know well what is in my heart. You know every thought and desire. Strengthen what is weak and remove all that is unworthy of you.
“I ask God to be the heart of your heart.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, I confide to you the needs of my family and all those I love. Protect them with your strength and keep them in your heart of hearts. Amen.
“The power to sin greatly increases our merit, if we abstain from offending God.”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, you know everything about me – my thoughts, desires and faults. Have mercy on me, forgive my sins and give me the courage to keep on picking myself up so I can follow you, who are my way, my truth and my life.
"Charity is the cement that unites communities to God and individuals to each other, so that he who contributes to the union of hearts in a community binds it indissolubly to God."
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, give me a heart so filled with loving concern for those who make up my particular "community" that there is no room for criticism or self-seeking.
"We must never be surprised when those upon whome we relied fail us; it is then that God steps in to do his work."
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, when those in whom I trust fail me and all seems lost, teach me to forgive from my heart. Be my strength at those difficult times.
"Religion does not limit the powers of the affections, for our Blessed Savior sanctifies and approves in us all the endearing ties and connections of our existence. Religion alone can bind the cord over which neither circumstances, time, nor death have any power."
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
How fortunate I am to have family and friends who care about me. As death begins to claim these loved ones, console me in my grieving and keep the remembrance of them alive in my heart.
"It is to be expected that all the world approve our every proceeding and we never have occasion to find fault with the deportment of others? In that case, God would have to change human nature."
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Heavenly Father, help me to ignore the disapproval and slights which sometimes come my way. Never let such things stand in the way of my moving ahead with the work I am doing for you.
“For very just reasons, God sometimes conceals from his servants the fruits of their labors, even though he blesses them with very great results.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
When what I am doing doesn’t seem to have much meaning or the outcome seems obscure, with you at my side I know, Lord, my efforts will be rewarded no matter the results.
“Our dear Savior was never in extremes.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
One of my greatest needs is for balance in my life, Lord. When I begin to go off on this or that tangent, bring me back to you, who are the center of my life and all things will fall into place.
“You have a thousand reasons for rejoicing in God and for hoping for everything from him through Our Lord who dwells within you.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
During the day, I will find at least one specific reason for rejoicing and make it a prayer to you, Lord.
“Many contradictory things happen to us: unfavorable opinions about ourselves, our works, our intentions … these contradictions have the advantage of preventing vain – glory or obliging us to throw ourselves more confidently into the arms of God.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Contradictions have a way of leveling my excessive pride and challenging me to rely more heavily on you, Lord. I place my confidence in you.
“What, my sister? You bear with me so much, why should I not support you?”
~ St. Louise de Marillac
Heavenly Father, I ask you to help me live with my own brokenness and have the mercy to forgive and support those with whom I live or work, and who also bear the burden of their own brokenness. Lay your healing hand on us and unite us in a bond of mutual charity.
“May the good pleasure of God be forever the peace and calm of your afflicted hearts.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
“Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. In the day of my distress I call upon you, for you will answer me.” – Psalms 86:6
“A weathervane is not more subject to air currents than the mind of a man to exterior agitations which draw him now to one thing, again to another. God permits this to test the good and to make them turn more strongly to him. Blessed are those who submit to his guidance, trusting his goodness and remaining peaceful amid these storms!”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, in times of confusion, I thank you for being my rock of safety and the beacon leading me out to distress.
“Every step we take all day long is a step of nature or a step of grace.”
~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, I rejoice in my freedom to choose and in the knowledge that my life is formed by my choices. Help me to choose whatever is your will for me.
“Men are so constituted that even the holiest are disposed to contradict each other.”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
Keep far away from me, O Lord, the desire to argue and contradict others. When I do fail, give me the grace to be the first to apologize.
“We belong to God by his grace. What else do we wish, then, but to please him? If we are contradicted, this is not surprising; what merit is there in not being crossed?” And who is there than can escape it? For every little contradiction, should one stop doing good? Good which gives glory to God?”
~ St. Vincent de Paul
There is not such thing as a trouble-free life, devoid of conflict. When these situations do arise, Lord, provide me with the wisdom to view them as challenges rather than insurmountable obstacles.
