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SPIRITUAL MAXIMS OF ST. VINCENT
DE PAUL FOR EACH DAY
OF THE MONTH
1
NONE are fit for the works of God but those who have profound
humility and a sincere contempt for themselves.
2
To bear sickness with impatience is to fall into a very great
defect.
3
The perfection of Divine love does not consist in ecstasies; it
consists in doing the will of God.
4
A Superior holds the place of Jesus Christ; he should, therefore,
after the example of this redeeming God, be a light which would
enlighten and warm. He should unite to God the souls that are
entrusted to his care.
5
How beautiful it is to behold the poor, when one considers them in
God, and in the light which Jesus Christ esteemed them!
6
Our perfection consists in uniting our will with that of God in
such a manner, as to will only what He wills. Whoever most conforms
his will to the will of God, will be the most perfect Christian.
7
As only a great necessity would decide us in giving remedies to a
sick man in a violent attack of fever, so we should not generally
reprove any one at the very time he commits a fault.
8
God having called us to our present condition, has attached, I
may say, to this state the graces that are necessary for our
salvation. He will refuse us those graces if we abandon our vocation
to embrace another to which He has not called us.
9
We should watch over the interests of others as well as our own, and
be careful to act on every occasion with uprightness and fidelity.
10
The best and most efficacious of all means to preserve union and
charity with our neighbour is holy humility, to place ourselves below
everyone, and to look upon ourselves as the most wicked and base of
all mankind.
11
Perfection consists in renouncing ourselves, in carrying our cross,
and in following Jesus Christ.
Now, he who renounces himself most, who carries his cross best,
and who follows nearest to Jesus Christ, is he who never does his own will, but always that
of God. 12
When humility is banished from a community, every one is
engaged with his own personal advantage, and hence arise
partialities, schisms, and divisions.
13
Curiosity is a pest in a spiritual life. It was by curiosity our
first parent fell, and that hunger, sickness, death and all other
evils entered into the world. We should, therefore, shun it as the
source of all vices.
14
The thought of God's presence familiarizes us with the practice of
doing His will in all things.
15
Voluntary and necessary poverty makes us turn to God, and have
recourse to Him, whilst abundance often makes us forget God.
16
Affability joined to love is an efficacious means of insinuating
ourselves into the minds of men, and of inducing them to embrace
things that are most repugnant to human nature.
17
Generally speaking, the works of God are accomplished by degrees.
They have their beginning and progress. We should not, therefore,
attempt to do everything at once, nor give up anything as lost,
because it requires some pains to succeed in it. We should proceed
step by step, and address frequent prayers to God.
18
Provided God be glorified, it little matters whether it is by means
of this or that person. If God ever grants us the favour of being in
Heaven, we will see that under the reign of perfect charity there
will be no mine, nor thine.
19
There is nothing more useful or necessary than mental prayer; we
should, therefore, be most careful to practice it well, and conceive
a real affection for it.
20
Mortification is necessary to acquire meekness, and to overcome the
difficulties which we meet in the service of God.
21
Oh! what a little thing is required to become a saint! We have only
to do in all things the will of God.
22
We charm the hearts of men, and gain them over by teaching them with
meekness, and in an humble manner.
23
It is necessary to have practised for a long time what we wish to
teach others. By this means, the word of God, when it proceeds from
our mouths, will produce fruit a hundredfold.
24
A charitable word is sometimes all that is 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.
25
We should not for all the wealth of the world, permit the least
thing against God or our own conscience.
26
Afflictions are the most certain pledge that God can give us of the
love He bears us.
27
Retreat and silence are absolutely necessary to those who labour for
the salvation of souls.
28
Interior recollection preserves us from dissipation, which is the
source of tepidity in those who, from their state of life, are bound
to inspire others with fervour and the fear of God.
29
He that wishes to acquire the fortunate habit of pleasing God in
great things, should begin by the practice of pleasing Him in little
things.
30
Fraternal charity is the seal of our predestination, as it shows
that we are the true disciples of Jesus Christ.
31
In addition to the grace which is merited by the practice of
obedience, the Lord is also pleased to do the will of those who
through love of Him, submit their will to that of their Superiors. |
