Saint Francis De Sales Quotes
Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage
Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.
Flowers often grow more beautifully on dung-hills than in gardens that look beautifully kept.
The Prayer of the sick person is his patience and his acceptance of his sickness for the love of Jesus Christ. Make sickness itself a prayer, for there is none more powerful, save martyrdom!
By giving yourself to God, You not only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal life as well.
He who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid worry multitude of affairs, is almost perfect.
Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.
Have Jesus always for your patron, His Cross for a mast on which you must spread your resolutions as a sail. Your anchor shall be a profound confidence in Him, and you shall sail prosperously.
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not "What a lovely sermon!" but "I will do something."
By turning your eyes on God in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with God. Begin all your prayers in the presence of God.
Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.
If you would fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists rigor, and yields to softness.
Don't get upset with your imperfections. Surrender to the Power of God's Love, which is greater than our weakness.
What son would not bring his mother back to life and would not bring her into paradise after her death if he could?
It matters little how one begins, provided that he be resolved to go on well, and to end well.
Examine from time to time what are the dominant passions of your soul, and having ascertained this, mold your life, so that in thought, word, and deed you may as far as possible counteract them.
It is wonderful how attractive a gentle, pleasant manner is, and how much it wins hearts.
Big fires flare up in a wind, but little ones are blown out unless they are carried in under cover.
The state of marriage is one that requires more virtue and constancy than any other; it is a perpetual exercise in mortification.
Work hard every day at increasing your purity of heart, which consists in appraising things and weighing them in the balance of God's will.
Souls do not wish to be bullied, but gently brought back; such is the nature of man.
God requires a faithful fulfillment of the merest trifle given us to do, rather than the most ardent aspiration to things to which we are not called.
He prays well who is so absorbed with God that he does not know he is praying.
Since God often sends us inspirations by means of His angels, we should frequently return our aspirations to him by means of the same messengers.
Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them.
Humility makes our lives acceptable to God, meekness makes us acceptable to men.
We are sometimes so busy being good angels that we neglect to be good men and women.
Consider all the past as nothing, and say, like David: Now I begin to love my God.
Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone.
Do not desire crosses, unless you have borne those already laid upon you well — it is an abuse to long after martyrdom while unable to bear an insult patiently.
