CADIZ-SV-et-pauvresAm I showing signs of burnout and an indifference in my dealings with others? St. Vincent believed that God never required any response from us that (with the assistance of His grace) was “unreasonable”. In fact Vincent was very specific about what he believed God did require of us with regard to our poverty reduction efforts: “our good will and honest efforts.”

Quotes of St. Vincent de Paul

“Blessed be God that you have arrived in good health! Oh! take great care to preserve it for the love of Our Lord and His poor members and be careful not to do too much. It is a ruse of the devil, by which he deceives good people, to induce them to do more than they are able, so that they end up not being able to do anything. The spirit of God urges one gently to do the good that can reasonably be done, so that it may be done perseveringly and for a long time.” Coste, Vol. 1, Letter 109. – To Saint Louise, June 1632, p. 160.

“Our Lord wants us to serve him with common sense, and the opposite is called indiscreet zeal.” Coste, Vol. 1, Letter 85. – To Saint Louise, 12 October 1631, p. 128.

“Although God commands us to love Him with our whole heart and with all our strength, in His goodness He does not however desire that this should go so far as to injure and ruin our health through making all those acts [of excessive zeal to acquire virtue]. No, no, God does not wish us to slay ourselves in that fashion.”

“You will see a great amount of misery that you cannot relieve. God sees it as well and does not want to give those who suffer greater abundance. Share their trials with them; do all you can to provide them with a little assistance and remain at peace.”



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