Daily Reflections

 

We offer you these daily quotes from St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac and others of the Vincentian family. Along with the quote you will find a brief reflection which you may find helpful to your prayer life. Our hope is that these Daily Reflections renew your spirit, bring you closer to God and lead to a deeper understanding of the Vincentian Charism.

July Daily Reflections

 

"Provided He reigns, that suffices."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Heavenly Father, I want to give my whole life to you yet I am afraid of what you might ask of me. Extend your hand so I can overcome my fear of the unknown. With you at my side, I will find the courage to "launch out into your deep and let the shoreline go."

"God never fails to come to our help in due time after we, on our part, have done all we can."

- St. Vincent de Paul

When I catch myself worrying, Lord, let me feel your presence within me.

"He knows all our weakness and the failings of our hearts. As a father pities his own children, he pities us, and has himself declared that he never will forsake the soul that confides in his name."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Heavenly Lord, I rely on your promises and confide to you all my cares, concerns and needs. I do this in your most powerful name of Jesus.

"God's work is accomplished little by little and almost as it were, imperceptibly, and His Spirit is neither violent nor unreasonable."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, teach me how to be patient with myself, especially when I want quick and easy solutions to my problems.

"In the name of God, Sir, let your trust in God be greater than it is! Let him steer your little boat. If it be useful and pleasing to him, he will save it from shipwreck and there will be no danger that the multitude and size of other craft will cause it to be submerged."

- St. Vincent de Paul

In times of personal stress I will trust that your guidance will bring me through the waters of self-pity and restore peace to my soul.

"God is satisfied with a soul of good will."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Heavenly Lord, help me to be satisfied with the person I am. Reveal the talents you have given me and how you want me to use them in your service. I am so grateful that you see my intentions as well as my deeds and love me as I am.

"There are very few for so much work! Our Lord will have to labor with you!"

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, the size of a task or situation may sometimes seem overwhelming. At those times I will be comforted by your own words, "Take courage, I have overcome the world."

"O, my Heavenly Father, I know that these contradicting events are permitted and guided by thy wisdom, which alone is right."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

In the confusion of this present age, it is often difficult to discern the best path to take in dealing with troublesome situations. Lord, I need the wisdom of your spirit to guide my decision making so your holy will can be accomplished through me.

"Our Lord always has a share in replies which we make honestly, stating things just as they are, and He blesses them."

- St. Vincent de Paul

When I am tempted to avoid dealing with situations directly and openly, come to my assistance, Lord, and grant me the grace to be honest and straightforward.

"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

So often, Lord, I turn to you with my needs and don't remember to thank you for the many joys and successes of my life. Today, I offer you praise and thanksgiving for the blessings you continually shower upon me as well as the countless little joys I experience every day.

"We do not put faith in a man because he is learned, but we esteem and love him because he is good."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Knowledge without integrity isn't worth very much. Lord, keep this truth ever before me.

"The greater my unworthiness, the more abundant his mercy."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, I know you have a special love for the poor and the little in the eyes of the world, so I ask you, today, for the openness and candor of a little child who is totally dependent on your love and mercy. In you I place all my trust.

"By love, Our Lord won over those he wanted to believe in him. No matter how much we exert ourselves, people will never have faith in us unless we show charity and compassion to those whom we wish to believe in us."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Good works, no matter how praiseworthy, will never engender trust. Knowing your unconditional love for me, Lord, makes it possible for me to love others and reveal to them how blessed they are in your sight.

"Sufferings well received will prove our passport to eternity."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Suffering the pain of misunderstanding is hard to bear. Heal, O Lord, the broken and troubled relationships in my life. Teach me to forgive as you want me to forgive - completely and whole-heartedly being the first to make amends.

"There is no charity without justice, nor does it permit us to do more than we reasonably can."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Working for the poor without also doing what I can to root out the causes of injustice to them is not very effective. This truth should be a guiding principle for me as I go about my work, Lord.

"What can shut us out from the love of Him, who will ever dwell within us through love?"

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Heavenly Father, soften my heart when anger closes me off from those who have upset me. Help me to overlook and forget these incidents just as you are constantly forgiving me.

"Today's efforts will make tomorrow's easier."

- St. Vincent de Paul

How easy it is for me to put off what is difficult and waste time on non-essentials. Lord, teach me to discipline myself and keep my priorities straight, that your work may be accomplished through me.

"Let us patiently bear the contradictions and repugnances we encounter in the discharge of duty, since our actions are thereby rendered more agreeable to God."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Teach me, Lord, the discipline of patience, which I find harder than work. Maybe then, in the quietness of reflection I will begin to understand that you speak to me through the very difficulties I am facing.

"We must receive with respect whatever God presents to us, and then examine the situation with its circumstances in order to do what is most expedient."

- St. Vincent de Paul

In resolving situations in my work, Lord, nothing can be accomplished without objectivity and reflection. In those circumstances, quiet my mind and calm my anxiety so I can be a part of the solution and not the problem.

"O sir, what a faithful image of Our Lord is participation in the meekness and humility of his heart! How it portrays his manner of acting, especially when firmness accompanies it."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, in imitation of you, teach me how to be firm, yet gentle and loving when I have to take an unpopular stand I know to be right.

"You know how unwilling we are to deny ourselves, how unwilling to be reproved and contradicted, how a trifling thing will make us sad, how we delight to be commended while, with a sort of natural cruelty we see blame and faults in others which we are scarcely willing to excuse."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Holy Spirit, come with your gift of wisdom and enlighten me that I may become so aware of the inconsistencies in my own life, there will be little time to find fault with anyone else.

"No matter what others say or do, even if the wicked succeed, do not be troubled: commit everything to God and put your trust in him."

- St. Vincent de Paul

If I place my trust in you, Lord, I will not be concerned about what others think or do.

"The virtue of gratitude will prepare our hearts to receive the graces we need to serve the sick and poor with meekness and compassion."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Lord, I am humbled by the many ways you continually bless me and the great privilege I have of serving you in the poor. May I always treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve.

..."Our vocation is to set the hearts of men on fire, to do what the Son of God did, - who came to set the world on fire..."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Inspire me with enthusiasm for your work, Lord, that others may be drawn closer to you by my example.

"Evenness of temper is a particular virtue, a state which supposes an aggregate of all the virtues, an external manifestation of the peace and beauty of the interior."

- St. Vincent de Paul

How many occasions for petty aggravation come up during the course of my fast moving days! When I am aware of this, I will try to pause, take a break and "lighten up". Lord, help me to become patient with others and also with myself.

"How liable we are to err in our judgment respecting others unless we thoroughly know the motives of their actions."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

How easy it is to rashly judge the actions of others! Lord, if I err regarding others, let it be on the side of charity.

"It may come to your mind that you have not enough intelligence to conduct so large and difficult a house. To this I shall reply that there will be two of you to do it: Our Lord and yourself, and with him, all is possible."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, you have said that your grace is sufficiently given for whatever you ask of us. Knowing that is a comfort to me and I will ask for what I need, in your most powerful name.

"Free your mind of anything that troubles you; God will take care of it."

- St. Vincent de Paul

When my worries loom heavily on me, I will surrender them all to your care, Lord, and place myself under your loving protection.

"Though truth and sincerity should ever guard our words, yet we should be careful never to offend others."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Lord, in the name of "sincerity" never let my words injure or embarrass others. Teach me to be sensitive to their feelings and treat them as I would want to be treated.

"Rely upon God, and you will have the fulfillment of whatever your heart desires."

- St. Vincent de Paul

What is my hearts' desire? Sometimes I'm not even sure, but of this I am very sure, God's love for me is unconditional and in surrendering myself to it I know my needs will be satisfied.

"Perseverance is a great grace. To go on gaining and advancing every day, we must be resolute, and bear and suffer as our blessed forerunners did. Which of them gained heaven without a struggle?"

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, when I am struggling with pain in my life, remind me that I am never left to face it alone.

 

 

Exploring | Daily Reflections | Is God Calling You | Prayer | Discerning | Steps in Becoming a Daughter | FAQ | Vocation Office