While St. Vincent de Paul is widely known for his countless charitable works, he also had a deep spiritual life that formed everything he did. In fact, the “Apostle of Charity” was only able to do what he did through a profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that propelled him to see others as Christ sees them.
Two hallmarks of Vincent’s spirituality are attention to the poor and a healthy dose of humility. These two staples of the spiritual life are very challenging, and if adopted into everyday life can entirely change a person’s trajectory.
Here are 10 powerful quotes from St. Vincent de Paul that provide much to think about as we consider ways that we can grow in holiness.
The poor are your masters. You are the servant.
Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.
Be careful to give no credit to yourself for anything; if you do, you are stealing from God, to whom alone every good thing is due.
The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.
Go to the poor: you will find God.
We should spend as much time in thanking God for his benefits as we do in asking him for them.
Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable light at all times and under all circumstances.
Fear not; calm will follow the storm, and perhaps soon.
Virtue is not found in extremes, but in prudence, which I recommend as strongly as I can.
There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections.
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And today we celebrate...