Selecting the Virtues

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 1

The queen of the bees never goes to the fields without being accompanied by her little subjects. Similarly charity never enters a heart without finding a lodging there for itself as well as for a retinue of other virtues which it exercises and sets to work as a captain does his soldiers.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 1)

Further Advice on selection of Virtues

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2

St. Augustine says very well that beginners in devotion commit certain faults which are blameworthy according to the strict laws of perfection.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2)

The Little Virtues needed everywhere

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2)

Little virtues prepare for contemplation of God

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 2)

How to practise real poverty while remaining rich

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 15

Have much greater care than the worldly people to make your wealth useful and profitable.  Tell me, are not the gardeners of the great princes more careful and diligent in cultivating and beautifying the gardens they have in their charge than if they were their own?

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 15)

How to practise richness of spirit in real poverty

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 16

If you are really poor, dearest Philothea, be such also in spirit.  Make a virtue of necessity and make use of this precious stone of poverty for what it is worth.  Its brilliance is not discovered in this world, nevertheless it is exceedingly beautiful and rich.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 16)

Virtues needed for living in the midst of things

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 10

Care without Anxiety concerning what one has to do:

The care and diligence we should have in our affairs are quite different from solicitude, anxiety and eagerness.  The Angels are concerned about our salvation and they obtain it with diligence but they do not have solicitude, anxiety or eagerness.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 10)

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 14

Care without Anxiety concerning what one has:

Happy are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.  Accursed then are the rich in spirit for theirs is the misery of hell.  He is rich in spirit who has riches in his spirit or his spirit in riches.  He is poor in spirit who has neither riches in his spirit nor his spirit in riches.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 14)

Virtues needed for living in the midst of people

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 24

Being alone and being with others:

To seek the company of others and to shun it are two blame-worthy extremes in the devotion of people living in the society of which I am going to speak to you.  To keep away from such company shows disdain and contempt of our neighbour and to search for it manifest idleness and aimlessness.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 24)

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 27

Advice on Conversation:

Take great care that you do not let slip any unbecoming words from your lips.  Even though you may not say them with an evil intention, those who hear them may take them in a different way.  An unbecoming word which falls into a feeble heart spreads and extends like a drop of oil on a piece of cloth.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 27)

Rash judgements

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 28

The judgements of the children of men are rash because they are not judges of one another.  In judging they take over the function of our Lord.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 28)

Further advice on conversation

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 30

In your speech be gentle, free, sincere, straightforward, simple and truthful.  Be on your guard against duplicity, cunning and pretence.  Although it is not good to say always all kinds of truths, yet is never allowed to go against truth.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 30)

We must have a just and reasonable mind

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 36

We are men only through reason.  Yet it is a rare thing to find men truly reasonable.  All the more so, since self-love generally confuses reason, it leads us unnoticeably into a thousand kinds of small but dangerous injustices and unfair dealings.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 36)

Friendship

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 17

Love holds the first rank among the emotions of the soul.  It is the king of all the movements of the heart.  Love changes all the rest to itself and makes us such as what is loved.  Be on your guard then, dear Philothea, that there is no evil whatever in your love because if there is, soon you will become completely evil.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 17)

Genuine friendships

  Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 19

Philothea, love everyone with a great love of charity but have friendship with those capable of communicating virtuous things to you.  The more exquisite the virtue you put in your exchange the more perfect will your friendship be.

(Read further in Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 19)

Spiritual Friendship

  Letter to Madame de Chantal

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, The bond of friendship)

What difference does it make if you know whether or not you can consider me your spiritual father, as long as you know how my soul is disposed toward yours, and I know how yours is toward mine?

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Chantal, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

  Letter to Madame de Chantal

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Staying in God's presence)

All the little complications and hidden contradictions that come up unexpectedly to disturb my peace actually fill me with an even more serene peace and, it seems to me, are a sign that my soul will soon be settled in God.

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Chantal, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Living a life of prayer

  Letter to Madame de Villesavin

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Living a life of prayer)

Don’t ever believe, my dearest daughter, that great distances can separate those whom God has united by the bonds of His love.  The children of this world are all separated one from another because their hearts are in different places; but the children of God whose hearts are where their treasure is (cf. Lk. 12:34) and who all have the same treasure – which is the same God – are consequently always bound and united together.

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Villesavin, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

A Constant Challenge

  Letter to a Wife and Mother

If you want to acquire virtues, it’s better to practise them when there is most opposition.  Don’t be discouraged by the obstacles; treat them as a constant challenge to do your best.

(Read further in Letters to a Wife and Mother)

Little virtues prepare for contemplation of God

  Letter to Madame de Chantal

(Letters to Persons in the World, Little Virtues prepare for contemplation of God)

Each one must love the virtues that are suitable to him, each according to his vocation.  The virtues of a widow are humility, contempt of the world and of oneself, and simplicity.  Her exercises are love of her abjection, the service of the poor and ill; her place, the foot of the Cross; her rank, the last; her glory, to be scorned; her crown must be her misery: these are small virtues.

(Read further in Letters to Persons in the World)

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