Aug. 31, 2025
"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, it is comforting to know you suffered the same pain, Lord. At such times your presence consoles and encourages me.
Aug. 30, 2025
"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.
Aug. 29, 2025
"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.
By binding yourself entirely to God, Our Lord will bind Himself to you more closely than ever and will be your strength in weakness, your joy in sorrow and your steadfastness in times of indecision (VII:310).
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Aug. 27, 2025
"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.
Aug. 26, 2025
" ... 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.
Aug. 25, 2025
"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.
Aug. 24, 2025
"It is not His 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 to 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.
Aug. 23, 2025
"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.
Aug. 22, 2025
"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. Vincent de Paul
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.
Aug. 19, 2025
"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.
Provided Missionaries are truly humble, very obedient, mortified, zealous, and filled with confidence in God, His Divine Goodness will use them effectively everywhere and will supply for other qualities they might lack (VII:251).
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SVDP QUOTE: August 18
"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.
Aug. 16, 2025
"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.
Since progress on your establishment is slow, you must be patient. In this world, things that of their nature must last longer are the ones that take the longest to develop (VII:235).
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Aug. 14, 2025
"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.
