Remember the maxim of the Romans which states that by union and counsel we can achieve anything.

Do not take on anything beyond your stregnth, do not be anxious, do not take things too much to heart, go gently, do not work too long or too hard. In a word, unburden yourself of all else except the direction of the house and whatever you can do by way of relaxation.

Practice humility and patience.

Do not be afraid of undertaking too much of what you can do without coming and going; but fear only the thought of doing more than you are doing and more than God is giving you the means to do.

Cast from your heart the bitterness.

Bear with him as Our Lord bore with His disciples, who gave Him good reason to complain – at least, some of them did. Yet, He allowed them to remain in His company and tried to bring them around gently.

As a rule, the most learned persons do not produce the greatest results. We see that only too often.

And what are we doing if we are not doing God’s Will?

An honorable man would never abandon his friend in time of need, especially if they were in a foreign country. Why? For fear of acting like a coward or of being boorish. I repeat, I admire the fact that, those persons have, through human respect, more courage than Christians and priests have, through charity or through their good intentions.

Peace is worth more than all worldly possessions; in addition, God rewards it even in this life.

A Superior must be firm as to the end and humble and gentle with regard to the means.

A sick mind cannot be cured by the sheer force of persuasion.

Peace is worth far more than anything they might take from you.

A great good is worth being long desired.

A doctor who keeps a person from becoming ill deserves more merit than one who cures him.

…bear with him as Our Lord bore with His disciples, who gave Him good reason to complain – at least, some of them did. Yet, He allowed them to remain in His company and tried to bring them around gently.

Remember, Monsieur, that Saint Augustine says that a person who does not obey the doctors is doing his best to kill himself.

The vine-stock bears fruit as long as it is attached to its stem; apart from that, no.

Our Lord is pleased to deprive us of temporal goods; may it please His Divine Goodness to give us spiritual ones!

Do not be surprised by your trials, since the Son of God has chosen them for our salvation.

A man who behaves poorly in a Community will not do well in a parish.

Let us allow God to act; He brings things to completion when we least expect it.

…Seek counsel of very pious, disinterested persons, and follow the call of O[ur] L[ord] and the advice of those persons.

…Omit nothing which can advance his work, and not blame others for the delay.

We must be firm but not rough in our guidance and avoid an insipid kind of meekness, which is ineffective. We will learn from Our Lord how our meekness should always be accompanied by humility and grace so as to attract hearts to Him and not cause anyone to turn away from Him.

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.

But the blessed Bishop of Geneva taught his nuns another kind of prayer, which even the sick can make: to remain peacefully in the presence of God, manifesting our needs to Him with no other mental effort, like a poor person who uncovers his sores and by this means is more effective in inciting passers-by to do him some good than if he wore himself out trying to convince them of his need.

I see that you are not sure of what you should do. You must remain steadfast, Monsieur. It would be a great wrong for you to leave and an irreparable scandal to the town and the Company. If you were to abandon the house, I do not think people would ever be willing to welcome us back. Fear not; calm will follow the storm, and perhaps soon.

The wisest persons, surprised by some passion, often say things they later regret.

It will be most pleasing to O[ur] L[ord] if you husband your strength in order to serve Him better.