Sisters of charity of Nazareth, Nazareth Ky

“ Pour down Thy blessing, O Lord, on Thy holy Church, on our holy Father, the Pope, on this Diocess, on our Right Reverend Bishop and on all Pastors of souls; on this country, on our rulers, and all superiors, temporal and spiritual; on this congregation,, on this family, on our parents, relatives, benefactors, friends and enemies. Help the poor, the sick, and those who are in their agony. Convert all sinners, and enlighten all heretics and infidels. ”

“ No more human friendships, no more dissipation, no more indulgence in reading light and useless books. She must be silent when she would like to speak; speak when silence would be agreeable; labor when she feels inclined to rest, and often rest when labor would seem to be more grateful. This is not all; when the victim has been immolated, it must be consumed; all that is opposed to God and to the perfection of His love, judgment, will, desires, all must be sacrificed in the religious soul. ”

“ LORD, God Almighty, Who art the Author of all good! grant, we beseech Thee, to us, and to all those for whom we pray to Thee, an increase of faith, hope and charity; and that we may obtain what Thou dost promise, make us love what Thou dost command. ”

“ OPEN Thy heart to me, my Saviour, and allow Thy unworthy child to live, to rest and to die in that safe asylum of peace and love, that even when I slumber, I may say with the holy Spouse, "I sleep, but my heart watches." ”

“ POUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. ”

“ The more you advance in perfection, the more you must fear vanity; other vices are nourished by sin, but virtue is often the food of vanity.
The religious state is one of sacrifice, in which one must expect to find only an altar, a sword and burning fire. The sword separates us from all that is dearest on earth and even from ourselves. ”

“ I give Thee thanks for having created me, for having preserved me, for having redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy Son, for having made me a child of the holy Catholic Church, and generally for all the favors I have received from Thy infinite goodness.
Let us foresee the sins to which we are most subject, and make a firm resolution to avoid them. ”

“ A straw, raised from the ground, in virtue of obedience, is worth more than martyrdom, suffered for self-love. (St. Teresa.)
When you perform good works, seek not to please creatures, desire only to please God. The eyes of men are like thieves who rob you of the merit of your good works. ”

“ May the Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen. May the Almighty and merciful Lord, grant us pardon, absolution and remission of all our sins.
Amen. Then all secretly invoke the Holy Ghost, and beg of Him the light, love and recollection to make a good meditation. After which the following prayer is said:
COME, O holy Spirit, replenish the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and our hearts shall be regenerated. ”

“ Charity is the cement of souls, which unites all the faithful together; it departs not when it can be useful, but it is neither rash nor hasty, by intruding itself at an unseasonable time. (St. Augustine.) ”

“ Who wiliest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, I humbly present myself before Thee, to give Thee an account of this day. Give light to my mind, that I may know my sins; and sorrow to my heart, that "I may detest them, as much as they deserve to be detested.
Let us examine our consciences on the sins which we have committed this day, by thoughts, words, actions and omissions; insisting, particularly, on the failings to which we are most subject. ”

“ The virtue of poverty consists not only in the privation of earthly goods but in the love of this privation. (St. Bernard.)
Sweetness and consolation are more likely to nourish pride than divine love. (Nepveu.)
The true love of God is not always that which is felt and is delightful to us; but that which humbles and disengages us from ourselves and from creatures. ”

“ When said for a month, a plenary indulgence may be gained on a day at option, by complying with the ordinary conditions.
MY Queen! my Mother! I give thee all myself; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day eyes, ears, mouth, heart, myself wholly, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as a thing of thine, thine own possession. ”

“ Impress our minds with the respect and attention which we owe to the presence of our God, our Father, and our Judge, before Whom we presume to appear and to Whom we dare to offer up our prayers, whereas we are but dust and ashes. ”

“ Humility does not consist in being ignorant of the graces which God bestows upon us, but in referring entirely to Him the gifts received from His hand, and in attributing to ourselves nothing but sin and weakness. ”

“ A Manual of this kind, it is believed, may find a welcome also in other Religious Communities, and prove itself perhaps better adapted to their wants than any other of the many Prayer Books which have been hitherto published in this country.
The volume may, in fine, recommend itself also to persons living in the world ”

“ Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. ”

“ The perfection of divine love does not consist in ecstasies; it consists in doing the will of God. (Id.)
Sickness is not an evil which we should fear, but a most efficacious means of sanctifying our souls. To murmur when God sends it, is to complain of His having done us good. ”

“ One of the greatest evils that can afflict a community is a member who will murmur at every thing, complain of and contradict every thing. (Id.)
The salvation of a soul is so important, that in order to secure it, we should expose not only our property, but our lives. ”

“ Thoughts that may Serve for Subjects of Meditation.
THE pleasure of dying without trouble is worth the trouble of living without pleasure.
Without esteem and respect for interior virtues, it is impossible to lead a perfect life. ”