Vincent de Paul Quotes

132 Sourced Quotes

The works of God are not accomplished when we wish them, but whenever it pleases Him.

Vincent de Paul
With God's help, you will continue to succeed in your leadership and in your duties, because Our Lord's work is accomplished not so much by the multitude of workers as by the fidelity of the small number whom He calls.

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

Vincent de Paul
I have made to God the offering you made to me of your heart and have asked him to unite mine with yours in that of Our Lord.

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

Vincent de Paul
To this end, we should help and support one another and strive for peace and union among ourselves. This is the wine that cheers and strengthens travelers along the narrow path of Jesus Christ.

Vincent de Paul
If we want to find the manna hidden in our vocation, let us restrict and confine all our desires within it.

Vincent de Paul
I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do.

Vincent de Paul
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
Rarely is any good done without difficulty; the devil is too subtle and the world too corrupt not to attempt to nip such a good work in the bud

Vincent de Paul
I have never come away from you without reflecting that the Spirit of God and His holy workings reside in you.

Vincent de Paul
.. It is God's plan that those who are to help others spiritually fall into the temptations of mind and body by which others can be tormented.... Scorn both these evil suggestions and the wickedness of their author, who is the devil.

Vincent de Paul
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
You say you experience great difficulty in the mission. Alas! Monsieur, there is no lot in life where there is nothing to be endured.

Vincent de Paul
O Monsieur de Sergis, how important a matter is submission of spirit to a superior!

Vincent de Paul
Put your trust in Him and following His example, always act humbly, graciously, and in good faith.

Vincent de Paul
If your men grow weary of the work or balk at obedience, you must bear with them. Get what you can gently from them. True, it is good to be firm in attaining your goal, but use appropriate, attractive, and agreeable means.

Vincent de Paul
There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections.

Vincent de Paul
Would that God, Monsieur, had rendered us worthy of spending our lives, as Our Lord did, for the salvation of those poor souls so far removed from all assistance.

Vincent de Paul
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
Laws must never be made compatible with crimes, no more than lying should be in harmony with the truth.

Vincent de Paul
Make an effort to serve good bread and good meat and not to sell the better wine so as to serve what is inferior...

Vincent de Paul
[A] truly humble spirit humbles itself as much amid honors as amid insults, acting like the honeybee which makes its honey equally as well from the dew that falls on the wormwood as from that which falls on the rose.

Vincent de Paul
It is not light they need but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example.

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

Vincent de Paul
Let us reflect that we shall always do God's Will and He will do ours when we carry out that of our Superiors.

Vincent de Paul
.. God is pleased to communicate himself to the simple and humble and to use the smallest and lowliest to make them great and exalted. In a word, it is He Himself who has called and approved them and even inspired their humble manner of living.

Vincent de Paul
I am sure that you are the first to do what you teach them.

Vincent de Paul
With whose imperfections will you bear, and what insult are you capable of enduring, if a thoughtless word from your own Superior is unbearable?

Vincent de Paul
All of you desire to belong entirely to God, and God also wants all of you to belong to Him

Vincent de Paul