“To serve the poor is to serve Jesus Christ. O my daughters, how true this is! You serve Jesus Christ in the person of the poor, and this is as true as that we are here present.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– May I see your image, Lord, in every person I come in contact with today.

“This union of my soul with God is my wealth in poverty and joy in deepest afflictions.”
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– Lord, let nothing today prevent me from enjoying your dwelling within me.

“The good God always does our business when we do His.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Sometimes Lord, I have trouble keeping my priorities straight. When this happens, turn me around to the right path.

“May the radiance of your charity be a beaming light, and may there never appear amongst you, either in the community, or with outsiders, or in speaking about them, any rivalry, jealousy or that spirit of the world which inclines us to criticize, blame or contradict what others do, thinking that only to be right and good which we do ourselves as the outcome of our initiative.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Keep me, Lord, from giving in to motives of competition and too great a desire to get ahead which may cloud my vision and damage the good you wish to accomplish through me.

“God communicates himself more fully to the soul deprived of human consolation.”
– St. Louise de Marillac

It is a great consolation to know you are always present within me, Lord, willing to listen, comfort and understand, even when there is no one else to support or care.

“Changing places does not change a man.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– O Lord, when I am tempted to think that a change of place will change me, help me to see that I am the one who needs to do the changing.

“Foresight is a good thing as long as it is subjected to God and His plans– but it becomes excessive when we put ourselves out to avoid something we apprehend. We expect more from our own endeavors than from God’s Providence and we imagine we are doing much when we anticipate His orders by our disorders, showing that we rely more upon human prudence than upon His word.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Heavenly Father, free me from excessive fear and anxiety. Give me the courage to risk when necessary, knowing you will be my comfort and support, even if I fail.

“One of the first rules of my happiness is to be satisfied with good in whatever degree I can attain it.”
– St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

– Heavenly Father, even as an earthly father is pleased with the simplest show of affection from his child, I know you are pleased with what I offer you in love, and are grateful.

“Insensibility prevents us from being touched at the sight of the corporal and spiritual wretchedness of our neighbor; it leaves us without charity, without zeal, unmoved at the offenses committed against God.”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– Give me, Lord, a compassionate heart, sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of those around me.

“Do you think this will discredit you? We would have to keep ourselves shut up in a box not to be exposed to some annoyance or other!”
– St. Vincent de Paul

– O Father, sometimes I am overly sensitive about the opinions of others. Never let these feelings prevent me from moving ahead and doing what is right.