“How fortunate you are to have such a large number of sick to look after! Oh how obvious it is that God loves you since he gives you so many opportunities of serving him! Continue to do this for love of him, with all the necessary gentleness, care, and charity.” (SW:507)
– St. Louise de Marillac

– Lord, I am grateful for all the opportunities you give me to show your compassion and love to the sick and those entrusted to my care.

“Our Lord will be your consolation; this I ask of him for you with all my heart.” (CCD 1:574)
– St. Vincent de Paul

– How comforting it is to know that in all the times of my life, the good and the bad, you are here and your presence brings peace and healing to my spirit.

“To correspond to the grace of the moment means a wonderful union between you and God all day.”
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– It is hard to comprehend how much you are concerned with all the details of my life, Lord. I will consult you often in the course of my day.

“The sufferings of Our Lord gave fecundity to His words, and your crosses will also give it to the holy seed you plant in hearts.” (CCD 5:547)
– St. Vincent de Paul.

– Create in me, Lord, a compassionate heart, softened and not embittered by the sufferings of my life.

“I beg of you to show the poor great gentleness.” (SW:303)
– St. Louise de Marillac

– True affection comes from respect for the whole person. Lord, grant that my service of the poor be rooted in reverence for the dignity of the human person, your special creation.

“The blessing of God rests more on humble beginnings than on those that are blazoned with glory.” (CCD 2:315)
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Lord, keep me content with the routine of my life and the simple satisfactions it brings.

“Fervor is a fire that makes things boil and grow hot, just as fire causes water to boil. It is, properly speaking, charity on fire, and that is what you should have, because a Daughter without Charity is like a body without a soul.” (CCD X:449)
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Fervor requires that I go out of my way, over and beyond what is ordinarily asked of me. In prayer I will ask you for this grace, Lord.

“Truth does not depend on the people around us or the place we are in.” (CW 1:371)
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– Even though I value truth, yet there are occasions when I fail to live up to my ideals. Forgive these shortcomings and inspire me to do better in the future.

“It is in silence that we can hear God speak to our hearts.” (CCD 9:98)
– St. Vincent de Paul

– You speak to me, Lord, but often I can’t hear you because I don’t take time to listen in silence. I will plan to take time today for quiet reflection.

“Every good action is a grain of seed for eternal life.” (CW 3a:488)
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– Time seems to fly by these days and now I am painfully aware of the missed opportunities for good I could have done. Help me to be less concerned about temporal matters and more about the things of the spirit.