A Rule for Everyday Life

'Here is a rule for everyday life: 
do not do anything which you cannot offer to God.' 

St. John Vianney

Waterhouse painting

Whenever a Storm Threatens...

                    'Do as vinedressers or gardeners whenever a storm threatens...
                    They run to a shelter and stay there in peace until the storm passes.
                    That is what I want you to do with the grace of God.
                    Always remain quiet and calm in the shelter of God's will,
                    under the almighty protection of the Most High.'

                           St. Paul of the Cross

                           Painting:  Walter Withers, The Storm, Google Art Project

Like a Grain of Sand

    'Our faults are like a grain of sand beside the great mountain of the mercies of the good God.'

St. John Vianney

      Painting: John George Brown, in US public domain due to age

As Much as it is Possible!

"During the day, 

and even at night if you wake, 

say to God: 

'My God, give me the grace to love You 

as much as it is possible to love You!'"

Cure' D'ars

Painting:  Paul Peel, The Young Botanist

A Certain Way

'There is a certain way 

of living in the presence of God 

through which, if the soul so desires, 

it can remain always in prayer 

and continually aflame with love of God.  

It is realized by carrying out one's duties 

with the thought of doing God's will, 

and taking delight in that.'  

  St. Alphonsus Rodriguiz

Painting:  Hanna Pauli, Frukostdags, in US public domain due to age (PD-US)

What Would Have Become of Me?

My God,

Jesus my love,

uncreated Goodness,

what would have 

become of me

if You had not

drawn me to 

Yourself?

St. Gertrude

Painting:  Carl Vilhelm Holsoe,

in US public domain due to age

Fill in the Blanks

Lord God, You are holy and merciful and ___________________________________

I thank You for ________________________________________________________

The people I bring before You today are____________________________________

Please forgive me for ___________________________________________________

Please help with _______________________________________________________

I would like to talk with You about ________________________________________

I adore You because____________________________________________________

Throughout this day ____________________________________________________ 

May You be glorified in me, Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

  

Painting: Anna Ancher, in US public domain due to age  (PD-US)

As Pilgrims and Foreigners

'O that we felt with groans our state 

as pilgrims and foreigners, 

and did not so love the world; 

but rather, at the door of Him Who called us, 

did with pious mind keep up a perpetual knocking!'

St. Augustine

Painting:  Anna Bilińska-Bohdanowicz, Breton woman

Learning from Trees

'The trees and the stones will teach you what you will never learn from the masters.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Painting:  Winslow Homer, 1894, in US public domain due to age

Be Not Astonished

 

'Do not be either astonished or discouraged 

at the difficulties you find in prayer.  

Only be constant and submissive 

and God will be pleased with you.'

St. Claude de Colombiere

Painting:  Winslow Homer, At the Window, 1872, cropped

Better Than a Fast

'Conquering the tongue is better than fasting on bread and water.'

St. John of the Cross 

Painting:  Albert Anker, 1897, in US public domain due to age

In the Home Where....

'Happiness is to be found only in the home where God is loved 

and honored, where each one loves, and helps, and cares for the others.'

St. Theophane Venard

Painting:  Helen Allingham

Jesus, To Me.....

 
'Jesus to me 
     is 
honey 
     in the mouth, 
music
     in the ear, 
a song 
     in the heart.'

       St. Bernard










Painting: Edmund Charles Tarbell, 
in US public domain due to age (PD-US)

The Path to Unbelief

'This is the path which leads to death: 
Men first leave off private prayer;
then they neglect 
the due observance of the Lord's day;
then they gradually let slip 
from their minds the very idea 
of obedience to a fixed law;
then they actually allow 
themselves things which 
their conscience condemns; 
then they lose the direction 
of their conscience, which, 
being ill used, 
at length refuses to direct them.
And thus, being left by 
their true inward guide, 
they are obliged to take 
another guide, their reason, 
which by itself knows little 
or nothing about religion;
then their blind reason 
forms a system of right or wrong 
for them, as well as it can,
flattering to their own desires,
and presumptuous 
where it is not actually corrupt.
No wonder 
such a scheme contradicts Scripture, 
which it is soon found to do; 
not that they are certain to perceive this themselves;
they often do not know it, 
and think themselves still believers in the Gospel,
while they maintain doctrines which the Gospel condemns.
But sometimes they perceive that their system is contrary to Scripture; 
and then, instead of giving it up, they give up Scripture, and profess themselves unbelievers.  
Such is the course of disobedience, beginning in slight omissions, and ending in open unbelief.'

John Henry Cardinal Newman

Painting by Blonskaya, in US public domain due to age (PD-US)

Only Because Of

'We can touch the souls of others

only because of our own personal contact with Jesus.  

If that communication is cut off, no virtue will go forth out of us.' 

From The Living Pyx of Jesus by A Religious, Pellegrini, 1941, p. 303

Painting:  Janez Šubic

The Purpose

'Life's purpose 
is not
to gratify us, 
but 
to purify us.' 

from The Living Pyx of Jesus 
by A Religious, Pellegrini

























Painting:  Nikolaj Alexejewitsch Kassatkin, Girl near Fence