Daily Reflections

"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.

"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.

"It is not the 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.

"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 support them.

"...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 none the less 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.

"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.

"The good God will not fail to supply your need since it concerns his service, and he will do it in one way or another."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Dear Lord, you are so generous with your gifts and never fail to meet the needs of those who call on you. I praise and bless you for this.

"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.

"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 in my life, knowing you love me and are within me, Lord, gives me the greatest consolation and sense of peace.

"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 is comforting to know you suffered the same pain, Lord. At such times your presence consoles and encourages me.

"We belong to God by his grace. What else do we wish, then, but to please him? If we are contradicted, this is not surprising; what merit is there in not being crossed? And who is there that can escape it? For every little contradiction, should one stop doing good?...good which gives glory to God?"

- St. Vincent de Paul

There is no such thing as trouble-free life, devoid of conflict. When these situations do arise, Lord, provide me with the wisdom to view them as challenges rather than insurmountable obstacles.

"Men are so constituted that even the holiest are disposed to contradict each other."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Keep far away from me, O Lord, the desire to argue and contradict others. When I do fail, give me the grace to be the first to apologize.

"Every step we take all day long is a step of nature or a step of grace."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, I rejoice in my freedom to choose and in the knowledge that my life is formed by my choices. Help me to choose whatever is your will for me.

"A weathervane is not more subject to air currents than the mind of man to exterior agitations which draw him now to one thing, again to another. God permits this to test the good and to make them turn more strongly to him. Blessed are those who submit to his guidance, trusting his goodness and remaining peaceful amid these storms!"

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, in times of confusion, I thank you for being my rock of safety and the beacon leading me out of distress.

"May the good pleasure of God be forever the peace and calm of your afflicted hearts."

- St. Vincent de Paul

"Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. In the day of my distress I call upon you, for you will answer me." - Psalm 86:8

"What, my sister? You bear with me so much, why should I not support you?"

- St. Louise de Marillac

Heavenly Father, I ask you to help me live with my own brokenness and have the mercy to forgive and support those with whom I live or work, and who also bear the burden of their own brokenness. Lay your healing hand on us and unite us in a bond of mutual charity.

"Many contradictory things happen to us: unfavorable opinions about ourselves, our works, our intentions...These contractions have the advantage of preventing vain glory, of obliging us to throw ourselves more confidently into the arms of God."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Contradictions have a way of leveling my excessive pride and challenging me to rely more heavily on you, Lord. I place my confidence in you.

"You have a thousand reasons for rejoicing in God and for hoping for everything from him through Our Lord who dwells within you."

- St. Vincent de Paul

During the day, I will find at least one specific reason for rejoicing and make it a prayer to you, Lord.

"Our dear Savior was never in extremes."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

One of my greatest needs is for balance in my life, Lord. When I begin to go off on this or that tangent, bring me back to you, who are the center of my life and all things will fall into place.

"For very just reasons, God sometimes conceals from his servants the fruits of their labors, even though he blesses them with very great results."

- St. Vincent de Paul

When what I am doing doesn't seem to have much meaning or the outcome seems obscure, with you at my side I know, Lord, my efforts will be rewarded no matter the results.

"Is it to be expected that all the world approve our every proceeding and we never have occasion to find fault with the deportment of others? In that case, God would have to change human nature."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Heavenly Father, help me to ignore the disapproval and slights which sometimes come my way. Never let such things stand in the way of my moving ahead with the work I am doing for you.

"Religion does not limit the powers of the affections, for our Blessed Savior sanctifies and approves in us all the endearing ties and connections of our existence. Religion alone can bind the cord over which neither circumstances, time, nor death have any power."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

How fortunate I am to have family and friends who care about me. As death begins to claim these loved ones, console me in my grieving and keep the remembrance of them alive in my heart.

"We must never be surprised when those upon whom we relied fail us; it is then that God steps in to do his work."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, when those in whom I trust fail me and all seems lost, teach me to forgive from my heart. Be my strength at those difficult times.

"Charity is the cement that unites communities to God and individuals to each other, so that he who contributes to the union of hearts in a community binds it indissolubly to God."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, give me a heart so filled with loving concern for those who make up my particular "community" that there is no room for criticism or self-seeking.

"The power to sin greatly increases our merit, if we abstain from offending God."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Lord, you know everything about me - my thoughts, desires and faults. Have mercy on me, forgive my sins and give me the courage to keep on picking myself up so I can follow you, who are my way, my truth and my life.

"I ask God to be the heart of your heart."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, I confide to you the needs of my family and all those I love. Protect them with your strength and keep them safe in your heart of hearts. Amen.

"May God remain forever in your heart and give you the strength necessary for every trial."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, you know well what is in my heart. You know my every thought and desire. Strengthen what is weak and remove all that is unworthy of you.

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

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Heavenly Father, in spite of my great unworthiness you constantly favor me with your mercy. How can I ever thank you for so much love?

"We must know how to wait with patience and to expect more from God than from men."

- St. Vincent de Paul

O God, your love for me is constant and true. Help me to be most fully the person you want me to be. I believe you will grant what I ask in your name.

"Let us serve God as he wishes, leaving to him the disposal of all."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Today, Lord, I will be decisive and do something I've been putting off, leaving the outcome to you.

"How obvious it is that God loves you since he give you so many opportunities of serving him."

- St. Louise de Marillac

Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of serving you in the poor and needy, whether directly of indirectly. May there always be room in my heart for the homeless, the displaced and the suffering souls of this world.

"I wish you a new heart and an entirely new love for him who loves us unceasingly and as tenderly as if he were just beginning to love us: all the delights of God are ever new and full of sweetness because he never changes."

- St. Vincent de Paul

"I Will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stoney hearts and giving you natural hearts." - Ezechiel 36:26

"Take every day as a ring which you must engrave, adorn and embellish with your actions, to be offered up in the evening at the altar of God."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Although the actions of my day are usually so ordinary, I will make a conscious effort to do them as well as I can for your greater glory, Lord. Every evening I will take a few moments to review my day and the resolutions I made.

"Let us endeavor to grow more and more in the confidence that in whatever state we are placed by God we shall be secure, although we may think that we would be better off somewhere else."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, when my confidence sags, and I find myself dissatisfied with where I am and what I am doing, bolster my courage and lead me to where you want me to be.

"Renew once more the offering of yourself to God: give him a continual sacrifice of your thoughts, words and actions, desiring and praying only that all may be for his glory and the good of the hospital."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Dear God, be with me in a special way today. Help me to think positive thoughts so I can be a source of encouragement to those around me.

"...to be faithful is to persevere in the service of God right to the end, for without perseverance, all is lost."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Blessed Father, only through your power can I successfully complete the work entrusted to me. Give me the courage and grace to be faithful to the end.

"When God takes from us the power to labor, we should receive the trial courageously, letting it serve to elevate us above the things of earth and remembering that Our Lord, having permitted us to work for our neighbor, now wishes us to prepare for heaven."

- St. Vincent de Paul

As I approached the twilight of my life, be with me O compassionate Lord. Let me rest in your presence because with you at my side, I have nothing to fear from death.

"Bitter thoughts come from the evil spirit; those from Our Lord are gentle and mild."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, it is so easy to yield to anger and impatience when things are stressful. Calm my quick temper when things don't go my way. Keep me mindful that I owe my coworkers encouragement and not angry words.

"We respond more to the prick of a rose than to its fragrance."

- St. Vincent de Paul

Lord, how true it is that I pray to you more often in adversity than in good times. Give me a grateful heart to praise your goodness when all is well.

"Instead of measuring your difficulties with your strength you must measure them with the powerful help you have a right to expect from God."

- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Often I fail to realize that I am never alone to cope with my problems. I rely on your powerful help to carry me through, Lord.