Charity Wisdom from Our Founders
From centuries ago, the words of our founders still resound, full of wisdom and insight for today. Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, Louise de Marillac, and Vincent de Paul had special devotion to the Holy Spirit and to the Blessed Mother. As we celebrate Mary’s month and look forward to Pentecost, may we learn from our wisdom figures how to meet our grace anew.
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ST. ELIZABETH SETON
[God] fills us with his mercies which are new every morning, he covers us with his wings, carries us on his shoulders, and cherishes us as a mother nurses the child of her bosom.
Mary teaching Patience with life – its commonest offices – daily miseries – a heart of Mary for all duty – above all in communion – Mary the first Sister of Charity on Earth….
I think had it pleased God I could have been a Grandmother. I would have been more tied to this life by a 2nd generation than a first.
ST. LOUISE DE MARILLAC
The Holy Spirit…will certainly remove any obstacle to his divine operations by the ardor of his love. He will establish the laws of holy charity by en-dowing them with the strength to accomplish tasks beyond their human powers so long as they remain in a state of total detachment.
I must labor diligently to let the grace, with which the Holy Spirit wills to fill all the powers of my being, act in me.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
The Spirit of God incites us gently to do the good we can reasonably do, so that good might be done effectively and for a long time.
