May 30, 2025
"We should assist the Poor in every way and do it both by ourselves and by enlisting the help of others ... to do this is to preach the gospel by word and by work." ~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, make my love for you be like a living flame which spreads itself to all in its path, its intensity transformed into loving care of your poor.
May 29, 2025
"... I think God gives you enough courage to make good use of all the slanders; provided he be not offended, what do you care?" ~ St. Louise de Marillac
It is painful to know someone hates or dislikes me. At those times, Lord, make me strong enough to forgive unconditionally as you would have me do.
May 29, 2025
"Picture to yourself that there are millions of souls with outstretched arms calling you!" ~ St. Vincent de Paul
The needs of the poor are so vast, it overwhelms me to think of who needs help the most. Instead of dwelling on what I am unable to do, Lord, inspire me with an awareness of the needs of those I meet today and what I can do to make a difference in their lives.
God’s wisdom has so well ordered things in this world that night follows day, sadness joy, and contradiction applause, so that our mind may dwell on God alone, who is above all these changes (VI:1-2).
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Our Lord Himself, who has entrusted you with the care of the family, will be your guide. Since it seems clear enough that He has been so until now, we may hope that it will be He who acts in and through you in the future, both at home and abroad. This presupposes your usual fidelity in consulting Him in your doubts, invoking Him in your needs, following His inspirations, trusting in His goodness, and having no other intention than His glory and good pleasure (V:642).
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May 28, 2025
"I see that faith is a gift of God to be diligently sought and earnestly desired, and groan to him for it in silence, since our Savior says I cannot come to him unless the Father draws me." ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
When my daily agenda is too full and a multitude of noisy distractions surround me, it is hard to hear your invitation to come apart and rest in you. Be with me as I once more reorder my priorities. Without you, nothing else matters.
We should consider that everything done for God is important, convinced that there are no insignificant duties in His house and that the least of them, when entrusted to us, honor us too greatly (V:626).
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God’s inspirations are gentle, attractive, and almost imperceptible, whereas the movements of nature and the suggestions of the devil upset and torment the soul by their violence (V:613).
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May 26, 2025
"... to give of one's means is nothing if one does not give oneself, and employ every moment of one's life, and even expose it to danger for the love of God, in serving the poor." ~ St. Louise de Marillac
Lord, you have been so generous to me. Show me how to serve without counting the cost.
May 24, 2025
"How can we live an interior life until some of our natural rubbish is removed?" ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, I want to be whole. Heal whatever in me is broken. In spite of the pain I sometimes feel in my life, I appreciate the freedom you give me to experience it and still place all my trust in you.
May 22, 2025
"Do not overburden yourself with rules and practices; strengthen yourself to fulfill well those you have, especially as regards you daily actions and employments; in short, let your greatest concern be to do well what you do." ~ ST. Vincent de Paul
Lord, sometimes my days are so hectic. I need your guidance in my decision making so that what I do is really necessary and for your glory and not my own.
May 21, 2025
"If only we have courage, we will go to heaven on horseback instead of idling and creeping along." ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
I will pray today for fortitude, that wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, which will enable me to overcome whatever stands in the way of my union with God and service to others.
The older I get the more convinced I am [of my unworthiness to be a priest] because day by day I discover how far removed I am from the state of perfection in which I should be living (V:569).
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If I had known what it was when I had the temerity to enter it [the priesthood]— I would have preferred to till the soil than to commit myself to such a formidable state of life (V:569).
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May 19, 2025
"You see a great deal of distress that you are unable to relieve. God sees it also. Bear the pains of the poor together with them, doing all you can to give them whatever help they need, and remain in peace." ~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, when I feel overwhelmed by the distress I am unable to relieve, help me to feel your presence and realize You are well aware of all those needs and provide me with the direction I need.
How blessed are those who give themselves to God in this way to do what Jesus Christ did and to practice, after His example, the virtues he practiced: poverty, obedience, humility, patience, zeal, and the other virtues (V:554).
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Since you are not being helped by men, you could not do what you are doing without the hand of God, who not only strengthens you in this heavy work, but also touches the hearts of those who come to you (V:544).
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May 17, 2025
"We must learn the hard lesson of submission; and once this has been accomplished, everything that comes after will be rendered easy." ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Why do I find it so hard to completely turn my life over to you, Lord? Drive away from the fear of what you might ask of me and replace it with the peace that only comes from a total gift of self to you.
May 15, 2025
"Our good God wishes that all which is past remain in oblivion. The only thing you have to do is make good use of the present, but you must ask this grace of him." ~ St. Louise de Marillac
How wonderful it is to know that I am forgiven so completely by you, Lord! Teach me to forgive others without holding on to resentment or bitterness.
What a great rest God is preparing for you in heaven, since you take so little on earth, where you are consuming your life for the love of Our Lord, who gave His own for our salvation (V:531).
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You will merit just as much by patiently awaiting the Master’s will as by doing it when it is made known to you, since you are ready for anything— ready to leave, ready to remain (V:528).
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May 13, 2025
"God is with us, and if sufferings abound in us, his consolations also greatly abound and far exceed an utterance." ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Father, you surround me with so many marks of your special care. Never let me be so overcome with self-pity that I neglect to thank you for what you constantly do for me.
I praise God for the zeal with which your workers are laboring and for the other graces He bestows on them and, through them, on the people. I ask His Infinite Goodness to grant them the strength of body and mind needed for such an important and arduous ministry as the mission. You are their Moses, raising your hands to heaven while they combat God’s enemies, and even their Joshua, since you fight with them by means of the weapons, assistance and encouragement, and talks you give them (V:505-506).
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May 11, 2025
"Blessed Guardians - be watchful. Help us to use well the grace of the moment in the care and instruction of the little ones under our charge. Watch over them with us." ~ St. Vincent de Paul
Heavenly guardian angels, keep watch over our families and especially our children. Let no harm come to them or those committed to our care.
May 10, 2025
"A charitable word is all that is sometimes necessary to convert an obdurate heart. In like manner one bitter word is capable of afflicting a soul and plunging it into a sadness that may be most injurious." ~ St. Vincent de Paul
Lord, help me to recognize the good in others and try to win them to you with kindness and encouragement.
Begin with something small and have great love for your own abjection. This is the spirit of Our Lord and that is how he acted and that is also the means of attracting his graces (V:485).
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You must act in such a way that you are also prompted to trust even more in God, for His grace is sufficient to help you overcome the assaults of rebellious nature (V:473).
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May 6, 2025
"We should read good and useful books and abstain from reading that that only gratify our curiosity." ~ St. Vincent de Paul
Help me, Lord, to be more discriminating in my reading and exposure to the media. I don't want my senses to be so loaded with what is useless, that I can't hear you speaking to me.
May 5, 2025
"Into whatever state of blindness or obscurity I may fail, in whatever ignorance of God's ways I may chance to be, if I seek out God in the simplicity of my heart, I will surely find him." ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Lord, I know you will not despise a contrite, sincere heart. I only want to love and praise you for your great goodness to me, today and all the days of my life.
