“Duplicity is not pleasing to God and to be truly simple we should propose to ourselves no other end but to please God alone.” (CCD 4:471)
– 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.

“If our abode is on Calvary, let us be assured that Jesus crucified is pleased to see us there.” (SW: 570)
– St. Louise de Marillac

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

“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.” (possibly CCD 7:400)
– 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.

“Am I in full Charity with all?” (CW 2:588)
– 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.

“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.

“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, C.M.

– 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.

“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.

– Writing to the rich, Bl. Frederic wrote:
“Thrift is not the first of virtues. Spend freely and wisely where money can provide work and relieve distress.”
– Bl. Frederic Ozanam

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

“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.

“We cannot have peace with God, with our neighbor and with ourselves, unless Jesus Christ grants it to us.” (SW: 197)
– 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.