Quote: November 30

 “Proceed quietly, pray a great deal and act together.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Lord, there is much to be gained by listening to the wisdom of others. Help me to be a good team member and find my peace in working for the common good.

Quote: November 29

 "Nothing can be worse than a state of dependence. But if it is my allotment it cannot be better than when supplied by the hand of real friendship."

~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

Heavenly Father, I offer to you, today, my independence which I value so much and place all my trust in your Divine Providence knowing it will always provide what I need.

Quote: November 28

 "Even though you are unaware of it, Our Lord will not fail to sanctify you if you remain faithful to Him."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Keep me faithful to you today, Lord, in everything I do, think, or say.

Quote: November 27

"A Sister of Charity's Rule of Life should be for her what wings are to a bird - motive force without weight."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Lord, we all need direction or a rule of life. May these structures provide us with a sure and simple way to you.

Quote: November 26

"Let us accustom ourselves to entreat rather than command; to instruct more by example than be precept."

~ St. Louise de Marillac

 

Heavenly Father, may my influence for good be felt more by my example than by my words.

Quote: November 25

 "I beg Our Lord to be pleased to renew his Spirit in you so that all your activities be his and the resulting fruits of everlasting life."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

Today Lord, I rededicate myself to you and ask for a fresh outlook on my work so the good resulting from it may give you glory.

Quote: November 24

 "You must not be surprised at being tempted since the Gospel assure us that Our Lord himself was tempted."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

When my humanity gets in the way and I am tempted to take the easy way out of something, be there, Lord, to show me the right way to go.

Quote: November 23

 "I have observed that any good resolutions or exercises begun at the recurring period of our birthday, are more seriously impressed upon the mind, when we reflect that a birthday on earth more easily transfers our thoughts to the birthday of our future existence."

~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of life, and when my next birthday comes around, will make a sincere effort to review my personal goals in the light of eternity.

Quote: November 22

 "What God asks of us in particular is to have great care to serve the Poor, who are our Lords. Oh yes! They are our Masters."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

O God, teach me how to serve the poor with great tenderness and compassion, realizing I am indeed their servant and owe them everything.

Quote: November 21

 "God makes use of the humblest instruments, for the extraordinary operation of his grace."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Loving Father, I believe you can do all things. Make me a worthy instrument of your grace so that the good you want done for others may be accomplished through me.

Quote: November 20

 "God rejects the gifts of those who are wedded to their own will."

~ St. Louise de Marillac

 

Lord, teach me how to be open and listen to the advice and opinions of others. Above all, the humility to compromise or change when wisdom shows me a better course of action.

Quote: November 19

 "Make use of God's gifts quite simply; if you think you have done anything good, attribute the glory to God."

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Lord, forgive me for the times I seem to forget that all my gifts and abilities come from you and didn't originate from me! Teach me humility and modesty in the use of my talents.

Quote: November 18

“The most excellent works are not those that have the most pomp, extent or renown, but rather those where you can most easily get at souls, and do them good.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Sometimes the work I do seems endless and without noticeable results. At those times, Lord, give me the grace to be satisfied that the good accomplished will only be realized over time.

Quote: November 17

 “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

 

Lord, it seems that I always call upon you with my needs, but seldom in times of joy. I will make an effort to remember that you are the cause of my consolation and joy.

Quote: November 16

 “If we are faithful in small things, God will entrust us with those that are greater.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Lord, nothing done for you is small in your sight. I praise you for gifting me with talents to place in the service of others. Help me to use them wisely.

Quote: November 15

 “We must ask God himself to perform our duty; then, if our strength fails, He will bear the burden.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Sometimes the burdens I carry seem too heavy to bear. Help me to realize you never leave me to carry my crosses alone, Lord.

Quote: November 14

 “I am satisfied to sow in tears if I may reap in joy.”

~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

Thank you, Lord, for the sorrows and pain in my life that help me to share more fully in your Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Quote: November 13

 “Trust our Lord to be your efficiency.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Sometimes I pride myself on my ability to “make things happen”. Remind me, Lord, that any success I have comes from you who are its source.

Quote: November 12

 “I beg you to consider all things in the design of Providence and, while humbly and carefully doing your share to contribute to success, leave the rest to the good pleasure of God.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Lord, the real test of faith is to remain in peace while awaiting the outcome of a proposal or other matter on which I’ve invested time and effort. Guide me through these times, leaving the outcome to you, knowing that even in failure, I’ve done my best.

Quote: November 11

 “Corporal maladies are advantageous to us when we suffer them for the love of God and with conformity to his holy will. We prove thereby that the soul, the nobler part of our being, is in perfect health.”

~ St. Louise de Marillac

 

Physical illness reminds me of my great dependence on you, Lord. At such times my prayer will be to accept whatever comes as a blessing and not a curse. May your holy will be done in me.

Quote: November 10

 “You should bring to the sick two kinds of food: corporal food and spiritual food; that is to say, some little word from your meditation, were it only five or six words, to help them to acquit themselves of their duty as Christians or to bear their sufferings patiently. God has called you to this.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

In the course of my day, may those I meet go away feeling blessed and encouraged because of their contact with me.

Quote: November 9

 “To serve the poor is to serve Jesus Christ. O my daughters, how true this is! You serve Jesus Christ in the person of the poor, and this is as true as that we are here present.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

May I see your image, Lord, in every person I come in contact with today.

Quote: November 8

 “This union of my soul with God is my wealth in poverty and joy in deepest afflictions.”

~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

Lord, let nothing today prevent me from enjoying your dwelling within me.

Quote: November 7

 “The good God always does our business when we do this.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Sometimes Lord, I have trouble keeping my priorities straight. When this happens, turn me around to the right path.

Quote: November 6

 “May the radiance of your charity be a beaming light, and may there never appear amongst you, either in the community, or with outsiders, or in speaking about them, any rivalry, jealously or that spirit of the world which inclines us to criticize, blame or contradict what others do, thinking that only to be right and good which we do ourselves as the outcome of our initiative.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Keep me, Lord, from giving in to motives of competition and too great a desire to get ahead which may cloud my vision and damage the good you wish to accomplish through me.

Quote: November 5

 “God communicates himself more fully to the soul deprived of human consolation.” 

~ St. Louise de Marillac

 

It is a great consolation to know you are always present within me, Lord, willing to listen, comfort and understand, even when there is no one else to support or care.

Quote: November 4

 “Changing places does not change a man.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

O Lord, when I am tempted to think that a change of place will change me, help me to see that I am the one who needs to do the changing.

Quote: November 3

 “Foresight is a good thing as long as it subjected to God and his plans – but it becomes excessive when we put ourselves out to avoid something we apprehend. We expect more from our own endeavors than from God’s Providence and we imagine we are doing much when we anticipate his orders by our disorders, showing that we rely more upon human prudence than upon his word.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Heavenly Father, free me from excessive fear and anxiety. Give me the courage to risk when necessary, knowing you will be my comfort and support, even if I fail.

Quote: November 2

 

“One of the first rules of my happiness is to be satisfied with good in whatever degree I can attain it.”

~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

Heavenly Father, even as an earthly father is pleased with the simplest show of affection from his child, I know you are pleased with what I offer you in love and am grateful.

Quote: November 1

 “Insensibility prevents us from being touched at the sight of the corporal and spiritual wretchedness of our neighbor; it leaves us without charity, without zeal, unmoved at the offenses committed against God.”

~ St. Vincent de Paul

 

Give me, Lord, a compassionate heart, sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of those around me.