Saintly Sayings

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July 31, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 31

God is a simple Being in Whom there are no parts. Hence, if we want to become as much like Him as possible, we must strive to become by virtue what He is by nature, that is, we must be simple in spirit and action, natural in speech and behavior, without sham or deception. Our exterior must always be in conformity with our interior and only and always we must have no other intentions in mind than to please God.
– St. Vincent de Paul

Such was the simplicity of this saint. Always he was externally exactly what he was internally. Whoever heard him speak knew immediately what was in his heart, because he always meant what he said. In his numerous and varied occupations, his aim was always the same: to please God alone. Hence it can be said that he possessed this virtue of simplicity to such a degree that the powers of his soul were wholly penetrated by it and all that he said and did came from this source.

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July 30, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 30

All those who are destined to teach others should constantly endeavor to divest themselves of self and put on Jesus Christ. For in general, things produce effects in proportion to their nature, and hence, if the person imparting the spirit and way of living to others is animated only by a human spirit, will they not be imbued with the same spirit and learn from him the appearance of virtue rather than the substance?
– St. Vincent de Paul

This Saint's principal effort was precisely to divest himself of the human spirit and replace it with that of Christ, seeking to be like Him not only in his exterior conduct but also in all his interior dispositions, his desires and intentions. He desired and exacted only what Jesus had desired and exacted, that is, that God be known, loved and glorified by everyone, and that His most holy will be fully and perfectly fulfilled.

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July 29, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 29

Oh, how greatly is to be esteemed the generous resolve to imitate the ordinary, hidden life of our Lord Jesus Christ. This evidently is a thought which comes from God, because it is so far removed from flesh and blood.
– St. Vincent de Paul

One of St. Vincent's most cherished and constant aims was to imitate the hidden life of Christ. In fact, he had chosen a way of life apparently quite insignificant and ordinary.  Externally nothing uncommon or singular was evident, but his interior life was admirable and wholly divine. He let everyone know that he was the son of a poor farmer and sought to be considered a simple village priest, hiding as much as possible his wonderful God-given gifts of nature and grace, which made him worthy of veneration.  He was an excellent theologian, yet he called himself a poor ignorant student. He made as much effort to avoid honors and high offices as the ambitious make to obtain them. He absolutely abhorred all ostentation and found satisfaction in humiliations and self-abasement.

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July 28, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 28

There is a type of simplicity of heart in which the perfection of all perfection consists. It obtains when our soul fixes its gaze solely on God and withdraws into itself in order to concentrate simply and conscientiously on obeying its rule and taking the means prescribed for it, without desiring to undertake anything else. In this way since it is not doing its own will or anything more than others, our soul receives little satisfaction and cannot nourish a high opinion of itself. But God takes great delight in this simplicity, and by it the soul steals His Heart and unites itself to Him.
– St. Francis de Sales

St. Jane Frances de Chantal practiced this type of simplicity excellently and experienced its effects in abundance. Simplicity was the virtue she inculcated the most and which she most desired to see established in the hearts of her spiritual daughters. To one of the Sisters who wrote to ask her for a good way of acquiring perfection she answered: "My daughter, the many means you seek daily to acquire perfection, will only make you lose time and become more and more confused. The best means I can teach you is to concentrate all your efforts and diligence on the faithful observance of the Rules, and on carrying out exactly, moment by moment, every command you are given."

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July 27, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 27

A particular characteristic of the dove is that she does everything to please her mate. When she is hatching her eggs she leaves it up to him to care for her and provide what she needs. Her one thought is to hatch her little ones so as to please her mate and give him offspring. How delightful a rule of life it is never to do anything except for God, to please Him, and leave entirely to Him the task of caring for us!
– St. Francis de Sales

Thus lived St. Vincent de Paul. He was unceasingly occupied in promoting the glory of God and providing for the needs of his neighbor for the love of Him, without thinking of his own needs or those of his Congregation, which he left entirely in the hands of God.

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July 26, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 26

If one forgets to do something he should have done, let him sincerely admit his error. And if something is asked of him which he does not know or does not have, he should openly confess his ignorance or his poverty, leaving deception to the prudent of the world.
– St. Vincent de Paul

St. Charles Borromeo never flattered anyone with compliments. When an opinion, advice or favor was asked of him, he would manifest in all simplicity his ideas and intention. He never promised anything when he judged it best not to do so and he would say so openly, giving the reason prompting him not to do it, in order to satisfy the one who had made the request. In this manner he conducted himself with all types of persons.

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July 25, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 25

May God preserve us from bestowing empty praise and flattery or doing anything else to win someone's esteem or support. These motives are very low and foreign to the spirit of Jesus Christ, to Whose love everything we do must be mainly directed. Let us live by the following motto: do a great deal for the love of God and pay no attention to the esteem of men; work for their salvation without worrying about what they say.
– St. Vincent de Paul

The same Saint was very courteous with everyone, but never flattered anyone. He said that there is nothing more contemptible and unworthy of a Christian or more detestable in spiritual persons than adulation. He was careful never to praise people in their presence unless he deemed it necessary to encourage them to continue the good work they had begun, or to hearten the weak. He never did anything to obtain the esteem or support of anyone, nor would he permit his religious to do so. In a letter to one of them, he wrote: "I praise your having won the friendship of those individuals of whom your wrote to me, but I do not praise the purpose for which you told me you did it, that is, so they might support and defend you when necessary! Your motive is very low and far removed from the spirit of Christ, for Whose love we must do all that we do."

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July 24, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 24

When it is necessary to deal with cunning, shrewd people, the best way to win them to God is to approach them with great sincerity and simplicity. This is the spirit of Christ our Lord, and he who is destined to glorify Him, must act according to His spirit.
– St. Vincent de Paul

In sending one of his religious to a certain region, this saint said to him: "You are going among people who are said to be shrewd. If this is so, the best way to win them to God is to treat them with great simplicity, since the maxims of the Gospel are exactly the opposite of those of the world. And as you are going in the service of Our Lord, you must act according to His spirit, which is all uprightness and sincerity." For this same reason, when after some time the Congregation founded a house in that province, he made it a point to select for superior one who was noted particularly for sincerity and ingeniousness.

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July 23, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 23

Ah, we love ourselves too much, and we have too much human prudence to relinquish any reasons of ours! What a great mistake this is! The saints did not act thus!
– St. Teresa of Avila

St. Francis Xavier was going to India with the title of Apostolic Delegate. On the ship he washed his own clothes. When someone advised him that this was detrimental to his dignity, he answered that the only thing he considered degrading and unworthy of a Christian was sin.

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July 22, 2011
 

Simplicity: July 22

Let us be wary of human feelings, because frequently, under the pretext of zeal or the glory of God, they make us undertake projects which neither come from God nor have his blessing.
– St. Vincent de Paul

A member of his Congregation wrote to St. Vincent de Paul to say that it would be well to begin the missions among the well-to-do people. But the Saint answered: "It seems to me that your designs are human and contrary to Christian simplicity. God forbid that we should do anything for such low reasons. Divine Goodness requires of us never to do things to be seen and praised, but rather for God alone."

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