Bloom where you are planted!  Be what you are, be at its best!! To be nothing, if not human!!!    -SFS

Salesian   References A Thematic easy-reference to Salesian Perspectives on different topics

Patience

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3

You have need of patience so that doing the will of God you may receive what he has promised (Heb. 10:36) says the Apostle.  Yes, for as the Saviour has declared, You shall possess your self in patience (Lk. 21:19).  It is the great happiness of man, Philothea, to possess himself.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3)

We must be patient as we seek perfection

  Letter to Mademoiselle de Soulfour

(Letters to Persons in the World, We must be patient as we seek perfection)

Know that the virtue of patience is the one that most assures us of perfection; and if we must have patience with others, so we must with ourselves.  Those who aspire to the pure love of God have not so much need of patience with others as with themselves.  We must suffer our imperfection in order to have perfection.  I say suffer, not love or pet; humility feeds on this suffering.

(Read further in Letter to Madammoiselle de  Soulfour, Letters to Persons in the World)

We must have patience with ourselves

  Letter to Mademoiselle de Soulfour

(Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Know that patience is the one virtue which gives greatest assurance of our reaching perfection, and, while we must have patience with others, we must also have it with ourselves.  Those who aspire to the pure love of God need to be more patient with themselves than with others.  We have to endure our own imperfections in order to attain perfection; I say ‘endure patiently’ not ‘love’ or ‘embrace’; humility is nurtured through such endurance.

(Read further in Letter to Madammoiselle de  Soulfour, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Arm yourself with the patience we should have toward ourselves

  Letter to de Chatel

(Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Stir up your courage, arm yourself with the patience we should have toward ourselves.  Often rouse your heart so that it may be rather on guard against a surprise attack; watch out for this other self; wherever you go, you’d do well to be aware of her, for this mean girl goes with you everywhere, and if you aren’t thinking about her she will think up something against you.

(Read further in Letter to de  Chatel, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

The Distractions of a busy life

  Letter to a Wife and Mother

I mention steadiness and calmness, because impetuous activity is harmful to our work and our souls.  It is not genuine activity at all, but merely turmoil and excitability … Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.  Don’t be disturbed, I mean, because of your imperfections; always have the courage to get up again after you falls.

(Read further in Letters to a Wife and Mother)

Holding God's hand

  Letter to a Wife and Mother

Mould yourself as far as possible along the lines of kindness and patient serenity: kindness towards your neighbour, however tiresome or disagreeable; patient serenity as regards yourself, however tempted or troubled, however worthless you may feel.

(Read further in Letters to a Wife and Mother)

The secret of inward peace

  Letter to a Wife and Mother

We shall see our mistake in longing for patience to put up with what are only trifles, when all that is needed to cope with them is just a grain of commonsense or an atom of self-control.

(Read further in Letters to a Wife and Mother)

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