Quotes & Themes – Sickness

Sickness

There is no soil so barren, but that diligent tenderness brings forth some fruit. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, II, 13)

The most perfect care is that which approaches nearest to the care which God has of us, which is a care full of peace and quietness, and which in its highest activity has still no emotion. (Letters to Persons in Religion, IV, 27)

It is not a good excuse to say: I have no breasts; I have no milk; for it is not with our own milk or our own breasts that we feed the children of God. (Letters to Persons in Religion, III, 46)

There are many good doctors who are far from being in good health, and there are many beautiful paintings made by ugly painters. (Letters to Persons in Religion, IV, 1)

The care of souls is as a burden of 5\veet cinnamon, which, by its invigorat­ing scent, revives those who bear it. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XXII, 8)

A very impure soul can attain a perfect purity if well assisted. (Letters to Persons in Religion, V, 6)

Do the Seraphim despise the little Angels, do the great saints despise the less? (Letters to Persons in Religion, III, 43)

He who seeks only the glory of God finds it in poverty as in abundance. (Letters to Persons in Religion, III, 15)

Remember that the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, the em­ployment, and the duties of each one in particular. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, Chapter 3)

We must not marvel that each herb and flower in a garden requires its special care. (Letters to Persons in Religion, II, 23)

Do not require more perfection from others than from yourself. (Letters to Persons in Religion, I, 2)

Be more indulgent toward others and more disciplinary with yourself. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 2)

True zeal pardons certain things, or at least winks at them until the appropriate time and place for correcting them. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 7)

If you press a man, you oppress him; if you oppress him, you irritate him; if you irritate him, you lose hold of him. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XX, 4)

Admonition is naturally bitter, but then mixed with the sugar of loving-kindness, and warmed by the fire of charity, it becomes acceptable, gracious and very cordial. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, II, 13)

One can catch more flies with a spoon­ful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, II, 13)

Love is a magistrate who exercises his authority without noise, without police­men or sergeants. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 8, Chapter 1)

Do you know how I test the value of a preacher? If the listeners go away striking their breasts, saying: “Today I will do better”; not by their saying: “What a wonderful sermon.” (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XIX, 12)

The remonstrances of a father given gently and affectionately have much more power to correct the child than those which are given angrily and wrathfully. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 8)

We must fight back with affection and not with reason. (Letters to Persons in the World, III, 11)

What you see can be done with love you must do; what can only be done with debate must be left alone. (Letters to Persons in the World, II, 10)

He who preaches with love preaches sufficiently against heretics, though he say not a single word of controversy against them. (Letters to Persons in the World, VI, 59 )

One single good work done with a tranquil spirit is worth far more than several done with eagerness. (Spiritual Conferences, 7)

All the defects which occur in a good work do not spoil its essential goodness; wherever good comes from we must love it. (Letters to Persons in Religion, IV, 23)

Make sickness itself a prayer. (Letters to Persons in the World, II, 31)

What do you think the bed of tribula­tion is? It is simply the school of humility. (Letters to Persons in Religion, I, 8)

God never permits anything to come upon us as a trial or test of our virtue without desiring that we should profit by it. (Spiritual Conferences, 21)

Our misery is the throne of God’s mercy. (Letters to Persons in the World, VI, 12)

To love sufferings and afflictions for the love of God is the supreme point of most holy charity, for there is nothing therein to receive our affection save the will of God only. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 2)

It is not enough to be afflicted because God wills it; but we must be so as He wills it, when He wills, for as long as He wills, and exactly in the manner in which it pleases Him. (Spiritual Conferences, 21)

If it be God’s will that the remedies overcome the sickness, return to Him thanks with humility; but if it be His will that the sickness overcome the reme­dies, bless Him with patience. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3)

Look at afflictions in themselves, and they are dreadful; behold them in the will of God, and they are love and de­lights. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 2)
God’s will is as much in sickness as in health. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 10)

The truly loving heart loves God’s good pleasure not in consolations only, but, and especially, in afflictions also. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 2)

Many would be willing to have afflic­tions provided that they be not incon­venienced by them. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3)

Desire to grow well, so that you may serve Him, but do not refuse to continue sick, that you may obey Him, and dispose yourself for death, if it be His pleasure, that you may praise Him. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 3)

One ounce of patient suffering is worth far more than a pound of action. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, IX, 9)

Long illnesses are good schools of mercy for those who tend the sick, and of loving patience for those who suffer. (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, IX, 7)

If done lovingly, there is no danger in complaining, nor in begging cure of your illness; only do this with love. (Letters to Persons in the World, II, 18)

If you cannot easily communicate often really, you can communicate as often as you like spiritually. (Letters to Persons in Religion, VI, 19)

Disquietude arises from an inordinate desire to be delivered from the will which we experience, or to obtain the good for which we hope. (In IV 11)

Take care of your health, that it may serve you to serve God. (Letters to Persons in Religion, I, 12)

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