Daily Reflections

"To commit ourselves to Him for strength and refuge is the only relief from thoughts which would overpower the mind that did not resist them."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, teach me how to let go and trust you, so my faith can grow and my hope increase.

"Every ward of a hospital is a chapel wherein Jesus resides."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Whenever I visit a hospital, Lord, your presence is very near. May everything I say or do for the sick be done to comfort and console as you would have me do.

"God makes the interests of the afflicted his own."

- St. Louise de Marillac

"The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves."

- Psalm 34:18

"God wishes you to attend to your patients spiritual necessities as well as their physical needs."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Sickness is a very vulnerable time in anyone's life. Heavenly Father, keep me aware that you are at work in those who are suffering and how necessary it is to support the spiritual healing that may be taking place.

"Overcome your timidity and go out boldly into the slums and visit those unknown to you who have never come near your parish church."

- Blessed Frederic Ozanam

What is my attitude toward the homeless, the derelict, the abused or the AIDS sufferer? Lord, give me the courage and compassion to seek out the poor more directly.

"It is an obligation for us to inconvenience ourselves for the service of the poor."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, teach me patience in the face of obstacles I sometimes meet as I perform my daily work. Help me to do this work even when it is unappealing. With you all things are possible!

"Always, the hand of God is outstretched for those who wish to clasp it."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, what would I ever do without your support? Take my hand and lead me because so often I don't know where to go or what to do.

"Charity opens the heart and triggers dialogue so much desired by the Church. It unveils to the poor man, the true image of God."

- Rev. Joseph Jamet, CM

Lord, keep me mindful that few problems will not respond to dialogue undertaken with good will and respect.

"Have courage to own up to one's omissions and blunders."

- St. Vincent de Paul

To admit to my failures takes a lot of humility and courage. Rather than yielding to despondency, let me see these occasions as times of growth, painful as they may be.

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

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Divine Lord, let nothing ever separate me from your love, on which I greatly depend.

"We should consider that day happy in which we have either prevented any evil or done any good."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, empower me to be your instrument of peace today, realizing that even one person can make a difference.

"We cannot have peace with God, with our neighbor and with ourselves, unless Jesus Christ grant it to us."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Teach me how to pray, Lord, remembering that you are always willing to provide me with what I need if I but ask.

"Some persons look and never see, others see and never look."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, is it possible to have sight and yet be blind? Never let me be so preoccupied with my own temporal concerns that I blot out the needs of my poor brothers and sisters who have so little, while I have so much.

To the rich: "Thrift is not the first of virtues. Spend freely and wisely where money can provide work and relieve distress."

- Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Lord, help me to be open-handed in giving my time and resources to the service of those most in need.

"Small negligences create the greatest useless expense."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Being a faithful steward involves attention to many details if useless expense is to be prevented. Lord, teach me how to properly care for what is placed in my charge because these things belong to the poor and not to me.

"God does not ask us to keep an account of the visible fruits of our charity; he asks us simply to love 'with all our strength'. He does not ask us to give him the world, but to 'give him ourselves'."

- Rev. Joseph Jamet, CM

Today, Lord, I offer myself to you with all my gifts, desires and good intentions. I am grateful that you accept me and love me as I am.

"The perfection of prayer, as well as an interior perfection, does not consist in prayer of more or less sublimity, but in Charity."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, sometimes I am more caught up in the feelings I experience in prayer than in its end result. Teach me how to pray so I may love those I serve as much as I know you love me.

"Am I in full Charity with all?"

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Today, I will examine my relationships in your presence, Lord, and see if my love for others is truly 'full', or if there are areas in need of improvement.

"When we are satisfied that we have done everything in our power for the happy issue of any affair, we should preserve our tranquility and peace, whatever may be the result."

- St. Vincent de Paul

How hard it is for me to remain at peace when everything around me seems to be falling apart. At those times comfort me with your healing presence and bring peace to my soul.

"If our abode is on Calvary, let us be assured that Jesus crucified is pleased to see us there."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Lord, when I reflect on how much you were willing to give to redeem me, the sufferings I have to endure seem so very small in comparison.

"Duplicity is not pleasing to God and to be truly simple we should propose to ourselves no other end but to please God alone."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Heavenly Father, I ask for a conscience that is sensitive to all the nuances of honesty and truthfulness. Forgive my past failures in this regard.

To his students: "Gentlemen, have faith in the era in which you are living. If you see that the old walls of Christian civilization fall down, destroyed, trust that new, solid parapets will be raised for your protection and defense. For this civilization, which has cost a great deal for the martyrs, saints and popes to build will never perish. With these words of hope, I bid you goodbye."

- Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Lord, you are the God of all hope. When I feel tired or depressed, I will remember the great price you paid that I may have hope.

"You must not be surprised or frightened by one bad year or by several. God is infinitely rich. Until now, nothing has been wanting to you, why fear for the future?"

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, when I reflect on all you have done for me in the past and continue to do for me now, I put all my confidence in you as to the future.

"He is with me and what can I fear? I look neither behind nor before, only up."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, with you at my side, fear has no place in my life. Increase my faith in you.

"I see nothing more common than poor results from things done with precipitation."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Heavenly Father, slow me down and calm my steps when impatience to succeed causes me to look for quick and easy solutions.

"Our Lord's suffering made his words fruitful, and your crosses will do the same to the holy seed that you sow in hearts."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Sometimes, Lord, I fail to see your loving hand in the events of each day, especially the painful ones. When will I learn to rely on you and not on myself?

"Those who have the management of anything are obliged to manage it well and to use it faithfully, because it belongs to our good God, in as much as it belongs to the poor."

- St. Vincent de Paul

I will approach my work today with renewed energy, Lord, and make it a matter of conscience to carry it out responsibly.

"These means, press, radio, television, etc., so prodigiously developed, should be utilized to spread the message of Christ. Make friend and servants of them but don't be enslaved by them."

- Rev. Joseph Jamet, CM

How do I use mass media, Lord? Am I attached to them, or do I use them to spread your word? If changes are needed, give me the courage to make them.

"If God is the center of your life, no words will be needed. Your mere presence will touch their hearts."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, I am grateful for the difference you make in my life. Use me today, that others may see your presence within me and be drawn to you.

"Blessed are they who wear themselves out for Charity."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, give me a generous heart, always ready to give freely without counting the cost.

"We must redouble our efforts and our ordinary duties on certain occasion when the service of God requires it; then God will not fail to increase our strength and our courage."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, when your service requires extraordinary effort, my willingness to 'go the extra mile' is so often rewarded with peace and joy. Thank you for this.