“What ordinarily deceives us is the appearance of good according to human reason which never, or rarely, falls in with the Divine.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Help me, O Lord, to look beyond appearances and hold fast to what is honest and true.

“Let us mistrust desires for change. Who are we who seek to choose our path? Let us abandon ourselves to Divine guidance.”
– St. Louise de Marillac

Lord, when I find myself envying others who are following what appears to be some other, more attractive path in life, remind me that your love will sustain me in my present situation which you have chosen for me. I place all my trust in you.

“Our Lord has no use for our knowledge or our good works if he does not possess our heart; and even this heart he does not wish if we do not give it to him when he asks.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Lord, I praise you with all my heart this day. Accept the work of my hands and make it pleasing to you.

“Our Lord wants us to serve him with judgment; all the rest is indiscreet zeal.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– It is hard, Lord, to make correct judgments. Be with me at those times when issues are serious and solutions hard to reach. Lord, you are my surety.

“O Lord, keep us in thy way, direct us in thy paths, recall our wanderings, make us to hear thy voice with gladness and to rejoice in thy salvation.”
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– Heavenly Father, when will I learn that only in you will I find true peace and contentment?

“The will of God cannot be made known to us more clearly than when events happen without our concurrence or contrary to what we had asked.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– When things don’t go as I planned, Lord, help me to see with the eyes of faith, that what did occur is indeed your plan.

“God is all powerful, while we are weak. We make virtue consist in what it is not; it cannot be found in excesses. How little the Son of God achieved; it was the apostles who had the greater results.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– When I am tempted to put too much stock in success and find myself not getting the recognition I think I deserve, Lord, let me find comfort in the example of your life.

“The holy will of God has assigned to us our present employment. We should perform our work with the fidelity of an ambassador executing the orders of his sovereign.”
– St. Louise de Marillac

– When I find myself straying away from what I know in my heart is your will for me, Lord, remind me that crosses and difficulties are a fact of life and not to give into such temptations. I rely on you to keep me faithful.

“As long as we are Christians we are obligated to support ill-humor of our neighbor and try to sweeten it.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– When tempted to resent the moody behavior of my neighbor today, remind me, Lord, that tomorrow my neighbor will be putting up with me.

“Have great trust in God. Ask Him to be always in your heart, in your words and in your actions and may everyone recognize that you are His.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Lord, be with me throughout this day that all I think do or say may identify me as belonging to you.