Be at peace. Do not look forward in fear
to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you thus far, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand, God will carry you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength
to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
***
Have patience with all things, but first
of all with yourself.
***
Half an hour's meditation each day is
essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.
***
Great occasions for serving God come
seldom, but little ones surround us daily.
***
Be who you are and be that well.
***
Every moment comes to us pregnant with a
command from God, only to pass on and plunge into eternity, there to remain
forever what we have made of it.
***
Reputation is rarely proportioned to
virtue.
***
One single act done with aridity of spirit
is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.
***
One can catch more flies with a spoonful
of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar.
We correct ourselves better by a calm and
lasting repentance than by one that is bitter and angry.
***
You must not only have a kind word for
your neighbors and for strangers, but also for the people
with whom you live and your closest friends.
***
Refrain from imputing imaginary faults to
your neighbor, from revealing those which are secret and from exaggerating
those which are obvious.
***
To speak little does not consist in uttering
few words, but in not speaking useless ones.
***
Those who believe themselves to be far
advanced in the spiritual life have not even made a good beginning.
***
We must not be astonished to see ourselves
imperfect, since we must never see ourselves otherwise in this life.
***
Great works do not always come our way, but
every moment presents us with opportunities to do little ones with excellence.
***
Sometimes we so much occupy ourselves with
trying to live like angels
that we neglect to be good men and women.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!
