Who will excuse us before God for the loss of such a great number of people, who could be saved by the slight assistance we could give them? Vincent de Paul More Quotes by Vincent de Paul More Quotes From Vincent de Paul In a word, we are like the servants of the centurion in the Gospel with regard to the bishops, insofar as when they say to us: go, we are obliged to go; if they say: come, we are obliged to come; do that, and we are obliged to do it. Vincent de Paul bishopsservantfaith [W]isdom consists in following Providence step by step. And you can be sure of the truth of a maxim which seems paradoxical, namely, that he who is hasty falls back in the interests of God. Vincent de Paul faithstepsfall ...Seek counsel of very pious, disinterested persons, and follow the call of O[ur] L[ord] and the advice of those persons. Vincent de Paul personsfaithadvice If you no longer have any income, you will not be neglected-you will not starve to death. . . . We panic at first, but God does not always allow the evil that is feared to happen. Vincent de Paul faithevildoe When we receive with an entire and perfect resignation the afflictions which God sends us they become for us favors and benefits; because conformity to the will of God is a gain far superior to all temporal advantages. Vincent de Paul favorsreligiousperfect A man who behaves poorly in a Community will not do well in a parish. Vincent de Paul communityfaithmen He is greatly honored by the time we take to weigh with mature deliberation matters having to do with his service, as are all those with which we deal. Vincent de Paul maturefaithmatter I thank God for having given the Company subjects who belong more to Him than to themselves, and who serve the neighbor at the risk of their lives! They are like unrefined gold, which becomes visible in fire and which would otherwise remain hidden under ordinary actions and sometimes under faults and failings. Vincent de Paul riskfirefaith I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your difficulties. It is in such circumstances that we acquire virtue; where there is no suffering, there is little merit. My wish is that God may grant us great indifference with regard to duties. O Monsieur, how sure we would then be of doing His Holy Will, which is our sole aspiration, and how much peace and contentment we would enjoy, or so it seems to me! Vincent de Paul contentmentsufferingwish O Monsieur de Sergis, how important a matter is submission of spirit to a superior! Vincent de Paul importantleadershipmatter Scorn both these evil suggestions and the wickedness of their author, who is the devil. Be very cheerful and humble yourself as much as you can. Ordinarily, God allows these things to happen to free us from some hidden pride and to engender in us holy humility. Vincent de Paul pridehumilityevil It is true that zeal is the soul of the virtues, but most certainly, Monsieur, it must be according to knowledge, as Saint Paul says; that means: according to knowledge of experience. And because young people ordinarily do not possess this experiential knowledge, their zeal goes to excess, especially in those who have a natural asperity. Vincent de Paul soulmeanpeople You can give me no greater consolation nor render greater service to your neighbor than to place yourself in a condition to serve him for a long time Vincent de Paul leadershipgivinglong So, we pray well when we remain in this way in the presence of God, with no exertion of the understanding or will. Therefore, you will do well to listen to God in the urge you feel to return to us. Vincent de Paul understandingfaithway I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do. Vincent de Paul wisdomlittlesthinking ...Omit nothing which can advance his work, and not blame others for the delay. Vincent de Paul delayblamefaith There is a vast difference between an Apostolic life and the solitude of the Carthusians. The latter is truly very holy but is not suited to those whom God has called to the former, which is in itself more excellent. Vincent de Paul differencessolitudefaith The angels would become incarnate if they could, so that they might come to earth to imitate the example and virtues of the Son of God! Vincent de Paul angelfaithson In a word, we owe obedience to the bishops in all things pertaining to our work in the missions, with ordinands, etc., but the spiritual and internal direction belongs to the Superior General. Vincent de Paul bishopsspiritualfaith I would rather him to bear patiently with it than to put himself in danger of a greater evil. Vincent de Paul faithevilbears
