Never let your heart grow old
176. Do not give your heart to God and then look for the heart of another to fill the apparent void. Neither God nor you is a surgeon working on heart
transplants.
177. The older saints get, the younger their hearts become.
178. Do not let your heart grow old with the passing of time. Love with a love which daily grows ever more intense, ever more new, ever more pure—that is, with the love which God pours into your heart.
179. Why are you so hesitant? If you are bound by any chain, even if it be of gold, cut yourself loose so that you can be free to progress down this road. Our Lord is waiting to welcome you at the end of your journey.
180. Every time you fall, you keep saying, “Oh, if only I had made a stronger resolution in the beginning!” I hope you do not keep having these belated regrets.
181. You feel that your heart is wavering. Well, this need not be a cause for fear.
The saints had the same feeling, but then turned it round and used it—with God’s grace and their own efforts—to become saints.
182. You offer God a heart which all sorts of disorderly things are struggling to possess. How can you expect God to accept such a heart?
183. How can you expect to be given the love of our Lord’s heart when all you will give him is that crumpled heart of yours?
184. You say that “friendship keeps me going.” But consider this: if you are making no progress on your spiritual journey, it may be because such friendship is
really a burden crushing you.
185. You peddle your heart to all comers. Then, when you find no buyers, you take it as an offering to our Lord. Don’t you think he can see through all this?
186. The Lord asks you to give yourself totally, not halfheartedly, to him.
187. If you will give up everything, you will win everything. Remember, Jesus himself said, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself”
(John 12:32).
188. Do not think that because you give everything up your heart will be cold or your life will be lonely or you will not be attractive. On the contrary, your heart will shine forth with the light and warmth of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Just look at the power of attraction which the saints have had through the centuries.
189. The saints gave up everything, but the whole world followed them wherever they went, no matter how isolated or deserted the place. Look at the example of St. John Vianney or Padre Pio.
190. You are not willing to follow the will of God, yet you allow other people to enslave you.
191. Heart or duty: which would you choose if you had to? Choose duty and then carry it out with all your heart.
192. To be motivated by one’s emotions to labor in the apostolate may appear to be very good, but upon closer examination we find that before long emotions will prevail over the apostle.
193. Many frivolous attachments chain you and prevent you from rising to better things.
194. What is important is not the number of your activities, but the degree of love which transforms them.
10 – Fortitude
Resolve to be steeped in one book, the Gospel, and to be inspired by one ideal, the life of Jesus Christ
195. God has given you the gift of life. He has also given you the freedom to make that life holy and wonderfully effective, or to misuse it so as to stunt that life, betraying God’s gift and turning it to evil.
196. Selfish people avoid responsibility and sacrifice, and shy away from occasions where they might tire themselves out. These people seek to create their own heaven in this world, but they will end by losing the paradise and happiness which lasts for all eternity.
197. The Christian regards everyone in the world as his brothers and sisters and is as concerned about their work as if it were his own. The selfish person, on the other hand, regards everyone else as rungs on a ladder to be climbed for his own advancement. Such a person knows only “my work” and “my possessions.”
198. To exploit people in order to advance your personal interests is unworthy of a leader. You will be a worthy leader only if you do not distance yourself from the people, but rather if you mix with them and are even willing to risk your life for their sake.
199. Do not regard cowardice as prudence. It is because so many people have this kind of “wisdom” that darkness prevails in so many situations.
200. A Christian is never self-satisfied. Self-satisfaction is a wall which separates one from God, from other people, and from all creation.
201. The great-hearted person does not boast; rather he or she has a spirit of self-sacrifice. Such a person is like the lump of sugar or grain of salt which, when dissolved, adds flavor to food.
202. A great-hearted person is straightforward and neither pries into the affairs of others nor acts deviously when dealing with them.
203. If you are a Christian you know your limitations and do not go about interfering in other people’s business.
204. Know when to keep quiet. Too much idle talk without thought of the consequences gives rise to disharmony. Useless words are the devil’s instrument to undermine charity.
205. Do not be inquisitive about the affairs of others. Concentrate on knowing yourself first.
206. The habit of criticizing others is one of the greatest obstacles to the growth of a spiritual life. Blaming others serves only to irritate them and cultivates
bitterness in your own heart.
207. Never permit failures, trials, or sufferings to be an occasion for blaming others.
208. “Laissez-faire” is a word in the dictionary of cowards, those lazy persons who refuse to struggle because they have already accepted defeat.
209. Avoid false humility. It is necessary to be ambitious in the pursuit of
knowledge and the desire to act and take risks. Just remember, however, that these things are for God and his Church.
210. Refrain from violent arguments which lead to a loss of perspective. Passion is like a dark cloud which blocks out God’s light.
211. Friction with other people is a normal part of life. The only society without friction is the kingdom of heaven. By means of friction, a stone can become smoother, rounder, cleaner, and more beautiful.
212. Do not allow yourself to become contaminated with superficiality. This disease causes the gradual death of the will. Its symptoms are a constant changing of opinion or activity. To safeguard yourself against this malady, do not accumulate a stockpile of projects which will never be finished.
213. Superficial people are like dancing puppets, which in reality go nowhere and do nothing. This very day is when you must put your plans into action. Do not put things off until later.
214. God created you to lead others, and not to be led about like a sheep with the rest of the flock. To lead means to urge and encourage, to carry others along with you.
215. All the small things which you do are very important: do not despise them because they are small. If you conquer yourself in the small things, you will train your will to be rock-solid and truly become master of yourself.
216. Before you say anything, consider the way you will say it: your message will be heard only if you speak with charity and courtesy. The same message, spoken by two different people in two different ways, always produces two
different results.
217. Do not browbeat or nag someone who has made a mistake. Wait patiently.
You will achieve more good by speaking gently and with good will than by an outburst of abuse. By so acting, you will both make your point and control your temper.
218. Resolve to do what needs to be done neither with fear nor with hesitation.
Take courage and be full of hope; trust in God and in your own courage.
219. When confronted by obstacles, stand firm as a rock: the grace of God will never be lacking. And even if you must temporarily curtail your activities, do not worry. After all, the work you do is more God’s work than your own.
220. Time and energy belong to God. Do not squander them on unimportant obstacles. The ocean is full of waves, yet the well-built boat will continue on its way, gliding over the waters and ignoring the waves.
221. Do not allow yourself to become agitated and angry. Remain calm and self-composed. Agitation and anger offend God, irritate those around you, and make you unhappy as well. So what is their use if they leave you only with regrets once the incident has passed?
222. Do not say: “I was made like this, I can’t change.” No, we are talking about your faults and imperfections. You must be mature, you must become a true child of God; continuing in these faults and imperfections will prevent you becoming one.
223. Turn your back on those small-minded people who constantly whisper in your ear, “You are mad to put up with such a miserable life!” Remember how Jesus dismissed Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men” (Matthew 16:23).
224. You should acquire the habit of being able to refuse, of knowing how to say,
“No.”
225. Do not be particular or parochial in regard to where or with whom you live and work, but open wide your heart so that all humanity may find a place there.
Otherwise, you may be Christian in name, but not in reality.
226. Illumine your life with the virtues of faith and charity. Set fire to the world with the flame God has ignited in your heart.
227. Always act in such a way that your thoughts, words, and deeds will lead
others to conclude that, “This person is steeped in one book, the Gospel, and inspired by one ideal, the life of Jesus Christ.”
228. Be serious and constant. Your exterior demeanor should reflect the interior life of your soul—that is, your peace of soul and self-control, rather than childish fear.
229. When the father of Bernadette Soubirous took her to the convent she was to enter, he laid down one condition: “Don’t force my daughter to eat cheese—it would kill her.” Thereafter, day after day for seven long years, Bernadette struggled at meals: “I must eat the cheese…I can’t eat it…I must eat the
cheese ...” Eventually she triumphed over herself and such was her courage that she could eat it. That fortitude, evidenced in such small things, was what made her a saint.