QUOTATION: Zeal

Zeal does not consist in continual preaching, in giving good advice, in constantly exhorting to virtue, but rather in giving good example. Example impresses much more than words, and through it we often obtain astonishing results.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Trials

In sending us trials, God proportions them to our weakness.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Evangelization

Young and inexperienced religious often fall into the mistake of imagining they can convert souls by constant preaching. No, this is not a good way; it only wearies them. If you wish to gain their hearts soften their characters and correct their faults, you must first conciliate and take care of them, showing them much care and consideration. The greater number are ignorant when they come and take pleasure in evil. It is not possible to win them to God except by treating them with extreme consideration.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: The Dying

We should be as tender to the dying as we are to little children. We must take great care not to leave them alone; no one fears loneliness more than the dying.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Praying for the Dead

If you neglect your duty towards the dead, you will be neglected in your turn when you are no more. If you pray for them carelessly, you will be prayed for carelessly ; in a word, you will be treated as you have treated others.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Salvation

When I consider the labours of physicians to save the life of the body, the years of study which they devote to that end, I reproach myself that I do not work as much for the infinitely more precious life of the soul.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Charity

When a soul is filled with true charity, nothing appears difficult, because this charity becomes the principle of all its operations, and it acts only under this influence.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Your Vocation

Nothing should make you love your vocation more than being nailed to the Cross.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Hard Virtue

Melancholy, taciturn, sour or hard virtue-- one only in name-- is not inspired by the spirit of God, nor does it become a Christian soul.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: The Church Endures

Our Lord seems to sleep; then the tempest threatens, hell rises up against the Church and by persecution endeavours to annihilate it; but cry of distress is heard and our loving Saviour rises, with word appeases the storm, and the holy Ark of God continues its triumphant progress throughout all ages.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Humility

Not by humiliations alone will you obtain humility; but above all by prayer and by attaining to self-knowledge.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Religious Perfection

Religious perfection does not consist in having no failings, in never committing a fault, but in correcting our faults as soon as they are pointed out to us.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Charity

When a soul is filled with true charity, nothing appears difficult, because this charity becomes the principle of all its operations, and it acts only under this influence.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: False Conscience

The devil, our cruel enemy, takes pleasure in aiding us to form false conscience and in troubling our peace of soul; he sometimes succeeds in making us believe that there is sin in everything, in order that, thus deluded, we may deprive ourselves of the happiness of participating in the Eucharistic Banquet, and so lose the precious graces which Our Lord distributes to souls that receive Him worthily. Take care not to become the sport of the spirit of darkness.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Love

The Saints tell us that
Faith is love that believes.
Hope is love that expects.
Adoration is love that worships.
Prayer is love that petitions.
Mercy is love that pardons.
Charity is love that sacrifices itself.
Mortification, martyrdom, is love that immolates itself.

-- St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions

QUOTATION: Correction

It is human to fall but angelic to rise again. There is much more virtue in repairing a fault committed than in never needing correction.

--St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Conferences and Instructions