To Love is to Give – Monthly

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

Thoughts of Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska
taken from the Selected Writings, Vol. I, II, III
s. M. Benwenuta Tomasiak CSSF

On the tenth anniversary of the beatification of
Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, our Beloved Foundress,
we hope to draw all persons to her spiritual mission, that is those
who imitate Christ, as she did, and desire to live out the Father’s Will daily.

To love is to give everything that love demands.
– Blessed Mary Angela

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

JANUARY

Teach me to suffer with such a love for your Divine Will, that I would not choose my own crosses, but accept those which you send me; that I would not seek relief even for a moment; that I would not even know how to long for heaven, unless you alone, O Lord, fill my heart with this longing. (III, 14)

Allow me to love you forever, to suffer for you forever; if it be your will. I only want to live in your love, to be yours forever; and to praise your Divine Will forever, Amen. (III, 15)

Should Almighty God ask me: What grace would you desire for your Congregation, I would respond: The virtue of perfect obedience. I hold this virtue above extraordinary graces, ecstacies, above the gift of prayer. (III, 70)

1.
The best way to please God is to submit yourself to His Holy Will. (III, 116)

2.
Don’t worry about yourself nor of what will happen to you; submit yourself to God’s will without reservation and you will merit His blessing. (I, 26)

3.
Your interior state, the inner resistance which you experience, not always depends on you. So you should not be anxious unless you react wrongly. (I, 38)

4.
Remember that the epitome of perfection is union with God, and that this union is two-fold; first, the union of our whole being with God; the other, the union of our will with the Will of God. The first union we will attain in heaven, the second union we ought to begin striving for in this life; and it is accomplished then when we desire and seek nothing but God’s Will, and when we cling to it with our whole heart. (I, 26)

5.
Strive only for constant conformity of your will with the Will of God and be satisfied with your portion — a small, but excellent one. Even to the saints the most wonderful transports would have no value were they not in every deed and desire united with God in heart and will. (I, 26)

6.
The fulfillment of God’s Will is worth more than the most exalted states of prayer or the most sublime raptures; it is, in the order of piety, an exercise par excellence. (I, 26)

7.
The most salutary practice for a soul who wants to please God is to obey His Will and accept with a willing heart all adversity, sickness, insults, loss of family and friends. (III 116)

8.
Everything which God wants is good. We should desire that what He wants. (III, 118)

9.
Practice submission to the Will of God, accepting everything that will happen during the day whether it comes directly from God or through persons. (III, 99)

10.
I am happy, my dear Sister, to see your readiness for everything that God will demand of you, because highest perfection depends on perfect conformity to God’s Will. (I, 97)

11.
I recommend as your main practice and as a special intention of your prayers: that you may never desire anything else but that which God wants, that you accept everything from Him with the conviction that what He sends you is the best for your soul, even if it appears difficult and painful or actually harmful. (I, 97-98)

12.
Remember, my dear daughter, that nothing harms our souls more and nothing delays our progress in perfection to a greater degree than the opposition to God’s Will or reluctance in fulfilling it. (I, 98)

13.
If you love the Will of God, if you desire only to fulfill it, the state of your soul cannot be dangerous. It may be troublesome, even painful, however, all that you now experience, both interiorly and exteriorly, will eventually turn out for your good. (I, 100)

14.
Jesus placed a burden on you, it is His hand that bears heavily upon you. Then don’t struggle to throw off the burden, but bear it quietly; indeed, I would say, joyfully, and if you are still too weak for this, then bear it gratefully and thank God that He has deigned to place His hand upon you. (I, 100-101)

15.
Look at everything with the eyes of faith and accept everything as coming from God. (I, 155)

16.
To be a saint should be the aim of every soul dedicating herself to God. (I, 105)

17.
Do not be disturbed with your failures; let them humiliate you, but not discourage you, because discouragement is a manifestation of self-love and not of the love of God. (I, 105)

18.
Remember that for those who love God everything turns out for the good, even failures and imperfections. Do not let temptations frighten you, regardless of how intense or prolonged they may be. Take advantage of them by practicing the opposite virtue. (I, 105)

19.
Protect yourself with prayer and constant ejaculatory petitions; submit to the Will of God and trust that He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. (I, 105)

20.
My wish for you is a continuously increasing life of grace, that is, that all your actions will be for God’s glory, out of love for Him; in other words, that you fulfill His most Holy Will. (I, 154)

21.
I am very happy, dear Sister, that you so fervently desire union with God, but remember that it does not depend on interior emotions, on the tangible presence of God, but on the union of our will with the Will of God, on accepting everything whatsoever befalls us, knowing that all that He sends us is only for the good of our souls and it is our fault if we respond inadequately to His designs. (I, 106)

22.
I sincerely believe that on this earth one should not worry about anything which was not one’s choice but in which one sees that Higher Will, which at every step directs us and dispenses everything in our regard with love and infinite wisdom. (I, 110)

23.
Believe me, I see nothing wrong in you; on the contrary, I see you well disposed for amidst the multiplicity of tasks you always have your spiritual good in mind. (I, 115)

24.
You will benefit more if you depend entirely on God than if you rely on your own means and desires. (I, 116)

25.
Do not fear, my dear, that your position or duties could impede your salvation; for in all your duties, you follow God’s Will, not your own, and you well know that God’s Will is our sanctification that only God knows what is profitable for our souls. (I, 115-116)

26.
Lack of confidence in your own strength is the best means of drawing down God’s help. God will be your strength and support, and you can confidently repeat with Saint Paul: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (I, 127)

27.
I won’t even try to give you any comfort, for I know how you love God’s Will and the very thought that by fulfilling obedience you do the Will of God is already sufficient comfort for you. (I, 127)

28.
Certainly you ought to believe that the Will of God placed you there where you are at present. Accept that Will then, not because you must, not slavishly, but with a ready heart. (I, 146)

29.
Do not be discouraged, when you do not see the fruit of your labors, do not consider that as a sign that God is not blessing them. You are expected to cultivate and sow and God will give growth and harvest. (I, 146)

30.
We ought to labor and do everything not for our own gratification or that of others but simply to fulfill the Will of God who wants us to do so. (I, 146)

31.
We must pray to see God’s will in this matter. (II, 264)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

FEBRUARY

If Jesus would allow me to carry out that to which He is drawing me, it will make me very happy. I have a special liking for that inconspicuously virtuous life because, after all, that is the imitation of Jesus and Mary in Nazareth. (III, 49)

I trust that with God’s grace I will persevere, even if my whole life should be a constant martyrdom. It is evident that God demands of me that I suffer without any relief or consolation. Let at least, in the absence of joy, this one consolation remain, namely, that I fulfilled my vow of obedience. (II, 137)

God requires something special and unique from every soul. As for me, it seems He asks for blind and perfect obedience because He gave me a special preference for that virtue. (II, 137)

1.
Do all that you can, my daughter, and God will supply what is lacking; serve Him with a willing heart and do not let your spirit lag. (I, 54)

2.
Do not despair because of your faults; do not demand too much of yourself nor too soon, remembering that perfection is not attained in one day, but is the work of a lifetime. Death alone will put an end to the strife. (I, 54)

3.
Your interior state, the inner resistance which you experience, not always depends on you. So you should not be anxious unless you react wrongly. (I, 38)

4.
It is obvious, my dear, that you understood well that if we ask you, for the glory of God and His Will, to work for the sanctification of others, we do not want you to neglect your own spiritual life. (I, 88)

5.
So, you too, my child, do not fear your momentary weakness; I trust that having once made of yourself a willing oblation, you will faithfully fulfill it in whatever manner God will ask of you. (I, 89)

6.
Do not be disquieted over your imperfections. Remember, that of yourself you can do nothing. (I, 90)

7.
My dear Sister, strive for perfection fervently, work, pray for grace, but do not let your inner peace be disturbed. Remember that as long as we are in the flesh we have many faults. We will never attain such perfection that we can say we have reached the zenith. (I, 90)

8.
The more we progress in the spiritual life, the more we will discover frailties in ourselves, because we will have more discernment, and as we come closer in spirit to the Highest Perfection, the more terrible will our misery appear to us, and so much more will it pain us. But let us lament it calmly and humbly, because vehement pain which leads us to despair, is a result of self-love rather than the love of God. Remember, my dear, that these two loves are incompatible. (I, 90)

9.
I realize that for one who loves God there is no greater burden than inner sadness and abandonment, but he who bears this with humility gathers inestimable merit, and gives evidence of the most perfect love of God. (I, 90)

10.
(. . .) because there ought not to be anything in us which we may not yield to God at the first manifestation of His Will not only willingly, but with joy. (I, 96-97)

11.
The greater and more difficult our sacrifice is, the greater the joy we will experience because we can do and suffer something for Him who did and suffered so much for us. (I, 97)

12.
Jesus wants us to serve Him with a joyful heart. (I, 98)

13.
During this time of inner peace gather strength anew and prepare again for temptations and struggles which may await you so that when they do come you would not lose that tranquility which the faithful servants of the Lord enjoy even amidst the greatest oppression both interior and exterior. (I, 98)

14.
Take advantage of the time you are spending in the cloister to work for your sanctification. Be diligent about prayer, strive to cultivate that interior life which so few souls understand and which depends neither on unusual states of prayer nor on visions, but on putting to death the old man within us, on stifling our evil inclinations, on conformity of our will with the Will of God, on being permeated with the spirit of Christ, so that we may say: “I live now not I, but Christ lives within me.” (I, 99)

15.
I know that your soul is exposed to constant struggle and difficulties, but I do not fear because I see that you do not give up but exert continuous effort. I can advise you nothing more than to continue in those efforts, not to fear their immensity, but to trust Him who, exposing you to that struggle, will give you the necessary grace to triumph over it. (I, 105)

16.
So you too, my dear child, humble yourself before God and be glad that your miserableness serves as a throne of His mercy. (I, 143)

17.
Now I truly see and am firmly convinced that God is calling you to perfect union with Him, that He has destined you for a different mode of life, and under His guidance you are making an excellent novitiate for such a life, for which the best preparation is total abnegation and the loving abandonment to His Holy Will. (I, 137-138)

18.
Try to imagine that there is no one else on this earth but you and God. (III, 118)

19.
Empty your heart of all affections which would not be for God. (III, 113)

20.
Before each activity say, “May this be for your glory, O Lord.” (III, 113)

21.
Let this fill you with joy in your present state my dearest child; let it suffice that you do the Will of your Spouse, that for His love you lead others to Him, that in all this you suffer and yearn, because you love or at least with all your heart you desire to love Jesus. (I, 109)

22.
May Jesus bless you and help you at every moment, may He give you strength and perseverance, may He enlighten you so that you will carry on with zeal and prudence. (I, 115)

23.
You can see that Jesus is preparing you to receive His graces as He prepared Saint Francis. Be then as responsive to God’s workings as our Holy Father was. (I, 138)

24.
Forget about yourself and Jesus will think of you. (I, 81)

25.
Do not let your failures frighten you, just humble yourself, cover your failures with love, not emotional, but active and sanctified. (I, 81)

26.
Do not waste time; try to be always occupied. Do not give in to sloth. (III, 81)

27.
Do not worry about your disposition, my dear. You gave yourself to Jesus, He cares for you, then what should you fear? (I, 115)

28.
When fierce storms arise, let us not draw back, but let us fight all the more against the flesh, the world and the devil. The greater the struggle, the more splendid the wreath; the greater the persecution of the temper, the more glorious the virtue of the sufferer. (III, 125)

29.
Rather lose all than lose God. (III, 117)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

MARCH

I do not want any other love but the love of Jesus, the love of humility, suffering and the cross. (III, 17)

Teach me to love suffering as you loved the cross; teach me to want to suffer as you desired the cross. (III, 14)

My dear Lord, I desire and promise to carry the cross of religious life to my dying day. It will be my glory and delight. May I never boast of anything, but the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it, the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. (III, 16)

1.
There is a picture of the Crucified Christ and beneath it is the following statement: Behold the book of the Chosen, behold the school of perfection, behold the collection of all knowledge (. . .) Read this book often and study it and you will hate sin, you will be overcome with the fear of the judgment of God; you will learn about humility; obedience, patience, love of God and neighbor; you will hold all earthly things in contempt and you will imitate Jesus Christ . . . Who knows Him, knows all and will possess all. (III, 111)

2.
Let us love our Lord Jesus Christ, but let us love Him on the cross because His heart is overjoyed when He finds love, pain and silence in one and the same heart. (III, 110)

3.
What does it matter from what kind of wood our cross is hewed out as long as it is a cross to which love keeps us nailed. Let us try above all, to carry our cross in humility and silence because the cross is a great treasure which we must hide so that it is not taken away from us. I do not know what would console us in this long and difficult life nor what would be able to strengthen us more than constant suffering in love. (III, 110)

4.
Let us suffer without complaining, realizing that every moment not spent on the cross is lost. Oh, how good it is to live and to die on the cross! The cross is an expensive balm. Let us hide it carefully so that it would not lose its fragrance before God. (III, 110)

5.
Oh, how good and helpful is the cross at all times and in all places. Let us thank God if He sometimes sends it to us and let us ask Him to forgive us if we do not bear it well, and that possessing such a great treasure we still remain in such poverty of soul. (III, 110)

6.
The most perfect thing is never to ask for anything nor decline something, but leave it to the love of God so that it may crucify us according to its will and mercy. We should not look for any consolation but this: not to seek the joy of the world but to suffer with the Crucified Christ in silence. (III, 111)

7.
Every morning as soon as you open your eyes, offer yourself to God as willing to accept with your whole heart all the crosses which He may want to send you during the day. Keep repeating the words: May your Will be done. These words were constantly on the lips of the Saints. (III, 113)

8.
Blessed Father Avila teaches that one Glory Be prayed in misfortune has more value than a thousand thanksgivings in propitious moments. We must accept even those crosses which God sends us through people like: calumny, insults, humiliations, because everything comes from Him. (III, 117)

9.
Let Him crucify you; trust Him completely. He knows best your spiritual needs. (I, 27)

10.
Take up your cross, a heavy one, no doubt; but a blessed one, because you will carry it out of obedience to God’s Will and it will lead you to heaven if you bear it lovingly. (I, 42)

11.
Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and learn from Him how to carry your cross. (I, 42)

12.
You, too, my dear sister, with your gaze fixed on your Heavenly Spouse, carry the cross accepted out of obedience to God’s Will, carry it not from coercion but out of love and with a ready heart, never regretting your sacrifice. (I, 42)

13.
Yearn for the cross and in this valley of tears and exile love only the cross. (I, 43)

14.
Even if you should collapse from pain, do not abandon your cross, do not let go of those who are a cross to you even for a moment but love and respect them as instruments of your sanctification. (I, 43)

15.
Never release yourself from the cross, but wait patiently for God’s Will to free you. (I, 43)

16.
Our sadness is a joy, because truly, he who suffers shares a portion with Our Lord. And to have a portion with your Beloved, oh, my Sister, is that not happiness? (I, 151)

17.
Mainly, try to bear willingly those daily crosses of which there are so many in our lives from which no position is exempt. (I, 98)

18.
May Our Lord bless you beneath that cross, my dearest, may the Most Blessed Virgin Mary draw you to Her heart. Be calm and patient. (I, 101)

19.
That Jesus loves you very much there can be no doubt, for do you not have evidence of it in those daily crosses and tribulations which He sends you? (I, 131)

20.
From that what you write, I realize that Jesus is leading you along a difficult road, that you suffer much, that your state is very exhausting and yet, I cannot be sad but rather I rejoice that you are beyond childish delights of the spiritual life; that Jesus has already led you onto that royal road, the road of the cross, which is difficult and painful, yet leading directly to heaven. (I, 143)

21.
Let love and not compulsion or need stretch and hold you on the cross-not the love which manifests itself in consolations, in tears, in elation, in visions but in perfect and willing fulfillment of God’s Will. (I, 106)

22.
Look upon Christ as a sacrifice and try to emulate Him. From Him you will gather strength and courage. (I, 81)

23.
I know well, my dear Sister, that being a superior is a heavy burden for you. I trust, however, that Jesus who placed it on you will Himself help you carry it. (I, 127)

24.
I want with all my soul to console you, but you know, my dearest, that whom Jesus crucifies, human consolation will not help much, because He sometimes takes much delight in suffering souls, so pleasing to Him are His spouses on the cross, that He does not permit, and in a way prevents, any comfort from reaching them. It seems to me, dear daughter, that something similar is happening to you. Jesus is crucifying you, there is ever more sadness, ever more pain in your heart, from all sides you suffer affliction, you are forsaken interiorly and exteriorly, far from the place and persons which could offer you some comfort. (I, 134)

25.
During Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament I asked Jesus to bless you at every moment, to fill your soul with joy and peace, and that this blessing be the foretaste of that eternal blessing which He will give to His chosen ones. As Jesus who at His death entrusted us to His Mother, so I also entrust you to the Sorrowful Mother hoping that she may take you into her care and at every moment of your life show herself a Mother to you. (I, 163)

26.
Remain on the cross until the end, so that in the final hour you might be able to say: “Everything that you have asked of me has been fulfilled.” Let those be the last words with which you bid farewell to the cross on earth and then may be at once hear those consoling words in heaven: Come, my spouse, receive the crown. (I, 43)

27.
Therefore, on your road, the road of the cross, always have love and submission as your holy companions. (I, 145)

28.
. . . even if we had no crosses, already the putting up with our own misery is sufficient and is supposedly the heaviest cross from which nothing can free us. (I, 98)

29.
I do not approve of those, who, more in an ardor of self-love rather than out of love of God, call for great crosses and assert themselves strongly but when the Lord sends them the smallest trial, they grow weary. (I, 98)

30.
We must remember that we are exiles on this earth, that we always need something to keep us mindful of our heavenly home. (I, 110)

31.
Install Christ Crucified in your heart, then all your crosses will seem as roses. (III, 123)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

APRIL

My Lord, You bid us to suffer, therefore, my poor soul desires it. I want to suffer, O Jesus, but with You; to suffer, but for the love of You; to suffer, but in silence and in solitude; so that no one would know that I suffer, only You; so that only You would hear the groanings of my soul and only you would see my tears. Oh! Teach me, O Lord, to suffer in that way; teach me to suffer without seeking any consolation; to suffer without craving the sympathy of creatures; to suffer without even expecting the eternal joys of heaven. (III, 14)

Teach me to suffer with such silence, such purity and such love as Your Most Pure Mother suffered when you left her as an orphan on this earth. Allow me, O Jesus, as You allowed her to die from pain, from longing, and from love, and then do with me whatever you please. (III, 14-15)

It appears to me that my task is to keep silent, to suffer and endure things as they happen as long as Jesus will grant me the needed strength to bear it all. (II, 2, 257)

. . . yet I do not have the least conviction that it is meritorious since I don’t know how to suffer as Saints did, who by their suffering obtained graces for themselves and for others and were not a burden to anyone, but they even carried the burden of others, never ceasing in their work and duties, for they drew strength from their love of God and neighbor. (I, 178)

1.
Since Jesus has in a special way united our hearts, it is important that in this relationship we do not seek our own satisfaction, but rather the joy of the Hearts of Jesus and His Immaculate Mother; then these Hearts will find delight in us if our hearts grow in resemblance to them. Those Hearts suffered intensely, yet so silently, so humbly, with such totality, with such love, that the suffering of one encouraged the other to suffer. Let us then, too, mutually support each other in the same manner. (I, 160)

2.
Since Our Lord draws you to His sacred Passion do not resist that attraction, for following it you will proceed in the spirit of Saint Francis who, through contemplation of the Passion of Christ, arrived at such a high degree of sanctity. (I, 161)

3.
Your sacrifice of yourself is very pleasing to Him; try to persevere in that spirit of sacrifice and do not be overcome by adversity. Do not be discouraged, rather let all difficulties be an impetus to ever greater zeal and fidelity to God’s service. (I, 71)

4.
Rejoice even when Jesus gives you the opportunity to show Him how much you love Him, because true love manifests itself not in emotions but in suffering, in bearing much for the love of God. No wonder that Jesus sends you such an abundance of vexations, because you should be a rock on which future generations can rest, and the more the billows strike against this rock, the more durable and immovable it becomes. (I, 71)

5.
Be ready to rather die than deliberately commit even one venial sin. (III, 114)

6.
Let us patiently bear everything for Christ as did the Saints who, withstanding much greater pains than we, now rejoice in heaven and say: We went through fire and water but you have led us out to refreshment. (III, 125)

7.
We will not have peace and rest on earth no matter where we will be or no matter where we will look for human solace or for relief from loneliness, or for a reduction of a workload, unless we turn to Christ through prayer and sorrow for sins with sincere resolution of always doing penance, so that through some light work and short time of pain, we could escape eternal fire and punishment. (III, 125)

8.
In your small works and difficulties, reflect on the anguishes of the Holy Martyrs and yours will become as petty and insignificant. (III, 128)

9.
Wherever you may find yourself, there will always be something which you will not like or which will confound the peace of your soul. Prepare yourself then for patience and bear everything patiently whatever God allows to befall you because in this way you will gain a greater peace. (III, 126)

10.
If you are insulted or admonished, try to overcome your soul and learn to suffer this insult; you will then obtain God’s great grace and eternal glory. (III, 126)

11.
To want to love God and not to want to suffer is empty illusion, even though I do not know how one can say that one suffers if one really loves our Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart; He is the one who converts the deepest bitterness into sweetness and sends joy and consolation into the most painful and humiliating moments. (III, 110)

12.
Meditate frequently on the Lord’s Passion. Saint Bonaventure says that Christ’s Wounds cause pain to the soul and inflame the heart with holy love. (III, 112)

13.
Strive constantly to develop in yourself the image of your Divine Spouse. Do not merely accept suffering but desire it as He did. (I, 27)

14.
When you are ill, do not complain about the lack of care or medicine; as much as possible, conceal your suffering. (III, 114)

15.
Practice mortification as much as obedience allows it; especially pay attention to internal mortification, for instance, mortify your curiosity; keep silence when you are humiliated; do not speak about trivial matters; do not do those things which will bring you personal pleasure. (III, 114)

16.
Do not be sad. In all situations keep a pleasant mien and a peaceful and balanced mind. Whoever does not desire anything else but that what God wills, is never sad. (III, 114)

17.
We consider all afflictions as misfortunes because we bear them with impatience, yet, if we bore them with submission, they would become for us a genuine good and precious gems meant to adorn our immortal crown. (III, 117)

18.
If we were truly humble and took a close look at our sins, nothing would appear unbearable to us, instead, we would say that we are getting back one in a thousand. (III, 128)

19.
It was necessary that Christ (. . .) had to suffer. How considerably more it is needed for us miserable sinners, who hurt God each day with so many enormous sins. (III, 128-129)

20.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness. My dear sister, they are blessed because Jesus promises them satiation. In His name I too promise you the same if you will desire it humbly, fervently and perseveringly. (III, 130)

21.
Remember, my dear, that now you ought to base your perfection on a quiet submission to suffering and tribulations rather than in the performance of great deeds. (I, 27)

22.
In every circumstance, in the different spiritual trials endeavor to preserve interior peace which is the basis for perfection. (I, 27)

23.
Do not think that you suffer too much, because we can never work or suffer enough for Jesus. (I, 43)

24.
Desire to suffer, my dear, because love without suffering is not fulfilled; desire to suffer only what and when God sends to you. (I, 98)

25.
Our sadness is really a joy because we know and trust that it will not last forever, that sooner or later the Heart of Jesus will take pity on us and comfort us. (I, 101)

26.
I know and feel, my dear daughter, that you are suffering and perhaps you are afraid to admit it even to yourself.You suffer because you know how Our Lord loves the soul that suffers in secret and how beautiful in His eyes is she who is shrouded in pain. (I, 108)

27.
Tell me, my dearest, if a true servant of God, the Spouse of the Crucified, can be without pain on this earth. No, in no way, for wherever she goes, whither she turns, if with her whole heart she desires to live for the Lord, everywhere she will meet pain, because everywhere and in each event her Heavenly Spouse wants her to be like unto Himself, therefore pain-filled and suffering. (I, 109)

28.
You know, my dear sister, that there can be no sacrifice without suffering, and the greater the sacrifice, the more suffering it entails. You well know that Jesus and His Blessed Mother offered themselves to God voluntarily and out of love, and yet they suffered so much. (I, 121)

29.
Believe me, my dear daughter, that where there is obedience and suffering, there undoubtedly Jesus finds His delight; therefore, He finds it also in your heart, because you are obedient and at the same time you suffer. (I, 135)

30.
Out of obedience then, my dear daughter, be peaceful, bear with thanksgiving every affliction and believe that Jesus loves you very much and because He loves you, all that you do and suffer for Him is most pleasing to Him, even though what you do and suffer is very imperfect. (I, 135)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

MAY

Since I say fifteen decades of the rosary each day, I will recite each decade for a special intention. I want to do this so that I will be more attentive at praying the rosary . . . (III,86)

Unless God looks at me with a merciful eye as He did on Saint Peter; until then, I will not be able to life myself. O Mary, through that most joyful moment of your birth, so that through you the world would receive a Redeemer, obtain for me Christ’s merciful glance. (III, 95)

O Mary, my Mother, salvation came through you; let me be saved through you. I am yours; let me be yours forever. Obtain for me the grace to unite my will to the Will of God. (III, 106)

Maybe also I will be more capable of overcoming myself because I have consecrated myself to the Blessed Mother. I asked her to offer me to the Blessed Trinity and to guard me at every step. You know, Father, what special devotion I have to the Heart of Mary. Sometimes when I pray to her in this manner, I experience such deep emotion that, even if I do not feel it sensibly, I know that I really love the Most Holy Virgin. Today, while I was reciting the chaplet to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I felt a strong urge to propagate this devotion at least in our Congregation. (II, 81)

1.

I entrust you to the special care of the Most Blessed Virgin, so that she will not leave you for a moment, but that she will inspire you and bless you at every step, and obtain for you graces so that according to the wishes of your Director you may become a great saint. (I, 155)

2.
Try to recite the rosary every Saturday. Now more than ever before we must depend upon the Mother of God because only her patronage can save us from the abyss, the pains, and depressions which afflict us. (I, 133)

3.
The feast of the Name of mary is our community feast day therefore yours too. I cannot let the occasion go by without giving you my blessing and extending my wishes that you imitate Mary in everything especially in Her love of God and humankind, in Her willing and prompt fulfilling of the Will of God, and in the courageous carrying of the cross not for one day but throughout your whole life. (I, 126)

4.
Remember that Mary consented not only to the Incarnation but also the crucifixion of her Son. God in His omnipotence did not need Mary’s permission but in His love He asked for it in order to increase her glory. So it is with your soul too, God has all the right to it and He can crucify you according to His Will, yet to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your love, to fulfill your offering and to increase your merit. He asks and waits for you to acquiesce to that crucifixion. (I, 156)

5.
Follow Jesus perseveringly, my dear daughter; imitate the Blessed Virgin who kept falling beneath the burden of pain but who continually walked behind Jesus. (III, 147)

6.
Having received physical health through the intercession of Our Lady of Angels, the sick woman received the still greater grace of the cure of her soul. She realized how far she had strayed from the way of the Lord and her conversation was complete. She became an example to the entire neighboring community. (I, 168)

7.
Despite God’s clearly stated recommendation, a very small number of souls practice it. We could say that only the Blessed Virgin practiced it perfectly. On her were effected the words of Christ: Who belittles himself will be exalted because it was through humility that she rose to such great heights. (III, 75)

8.
Before each duty lift your heart to God, say one Hail Mary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask her blessing. Take her as your special patroness. At the beginning of each day place yourself in her care and all those who are dear to us. (III, 80)

9.
When tempted, go with trust to the Lord Jesus and to His Holy Mother; call upon those names constantly throughout the time that the temptation lasts. (III, 115)

10.
Put great trust in the merits of Jesus Christ and in the intercession of His Holy Mother. Ask the Lord to constantly preserve this trust in you. (III, 115)

11.
Pray to the Blessed Virgin and to all the Saints begging them to obtain for you the grace of the love of God. (III, 113)

12.
Commend yourself to the prayers of devout souls but especially have a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin; encourage others to this devotion also. Those who place their trust in her, may be sure of salvation. (III, 54)

13.
I place you completely under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin. I bury you in her heart. She will obtain for you all you desire. Allow her to be the Director of your soul and let her dispose you in such a way that you will be worthy to attain, as soon as possible, that what Jesus has prepared for you — the grace to rest at His feet for which you yearn so much. (III, 131)

14.
Just as Jesus pointed out the Blessed Virgin to John from the cross saying: There is your Mother, so I too, taking leave of you, say the same words: I commit you to her care and place you in her Immaculate Heart. May she protect you all the days of your life until she leads you to the feet of Jesus. (III, 133)

15.
Go to her with all your cares; seek her counsel in all your doubts and consolation in your sufferings. Let her take the place of everyone and everything in your life. Love her like a child. Think of her constantly. Work and suffer for her. At the moment of death commit your soul to God in her arms. (III, 133)

16.
Throughout your life look at Mary as your model which you must imitate. Let her be your Director; let her teach you the way of perfection. Let her be your strength in moments of weakness; your joy and consolation in suffering; your star and guide to heaven in the dark moments of life. (III, 141)

17.
Develop a love for solitude and silence; shun all empty conversations and the company of people. Perform all spiritual exercises in such a way as if for the last time. In bed, think about death, that last moment when you will take your last breath. (III, 114)

18.
May Mary be your refuge at every moment of your life; may she bless you; may she reward you a hundredfold on this earth and with eternal glory in heaven for all you have done for us unworthy servants. We can repay you only with prayer. (III, 140)

19.
O Mary, my mother, remember that I am yours, guard me and protect me as your possession. (III, 22)

20.
It is inconceivable that the Blessed Mother would not protect us from the impending evil or would not obtain graces for us when we trust her so. Certainly, her powerful intercession can obtain anything from God! (II, 103)

21.
My dear daughter, look upon Jesus interrelating with people; look at the Blessed Virgin accompanying Him in His public life. Tell me, were their Sacred Hearts free of suffering? Was that constant contact with people, so full of evil, deceit and hatred, pleasant? (I, 109)

22.
Let your spiritual reading center about the Blessed Mother so that you may develop ever greater devotion to her and imitate her life. (. . .) Let the Heart of the Most Blessed Virgin be a novitiate for you. Therein learn all perfection and all holiness. (I, 162)

23.
I see your goodness in placing me in this position — in which I have the opportunity to imitate the hidden, silent life of the Holy Virgin, her submission to the Will of God . . . (III, 106)

24.
At every moment of your life, even the most painful, repeat with Mary: “Oh, my God, let it be done to me according to your Will, ” and you will please ( . . . ) the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (I, 156)
25.
I permit you to yearn for your heaven, but long for it with a longing of the Blessed Mother after the death of Her Divine Son. She sighed for her Son, she desired the earliest reunion with Him whom she loved . . . (I, 122)

26.
Do not discontinue your devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin, but rather try to increase it. (I, 40)

27.
In this (abandonment to the Will of God) let Mary be your perfect exemplar; try to emulate her. Remember that Mary consented not only to the Incarnation but also the crucifixion of her Son. (I, 156)

28.
The more we trust the (Blessed Mother) and abandon ourselves completely to her care, the better we will fare in the end. (II, 231)

29.
Do not resist, my child, but allow God to do with you as He pleases. Trust Him with all your heart. Let your submission to God’s Will atone for so many people who rebel against that Most Holy Will. (I, 156)

30.
Calling you to His service, He selected the Feast of the Annunciation so that on this day, on which Mary with her one Fiat drew salvation down upon the earth, you also could make a total commitment of yourself to God. By this He wanted you to know that your mission, your whole salvation, your holiness depends on absolute abandonment to the Will of God. (I, 156)

31.
O Mary, our Mother! Remember that we are yours; guard and protect us as your only possession. O Mary, you are our Mother and our Superior. Rule over us and guide us. Preserve us and protect us from the enemies of the soul and body. Sanctify us. Obtain for us ( . . .) perseverance in the service of your Son and finally life everlasting. (III, 24)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

JUNE

In search for You everywhere, O Lord, in prayer, in meditation, in visits to the Blessed Sacrament, in Holy Communion, in duties performed for You, finally, in my heart. (III, 30)

Before you begin to pray concentrate respectfully on the presence of God. Pray with attention. Even if you are experiencing aridity, do not shorten the prayers but be accurate in reciting them, observing the method and hours scheduled for their recitation. (III, 80)

I have asked the Lord that He Himself should tell me what I should consider as the greatest grace and from what I will have to give the greatest account. It occurred to me that the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest grace because Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the Giver of all graces. He is the source from whom all graces flow. Therefore, it is from the frequent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and from daily Holy Communion that we will have to give the most terrible account. (III, 46)

1.
Prayer is our full treasure. Whoever prays, receives everything. (III, 118)

2.
Do not omit any prayers, any pious practices, no matter how you feel, even if you are experiencing the greatest aridity or distaste. Anyone who omits them even once, will eventually come to completely neglecting them. (III, 114)

3.
Remember always that we should never seek our own gratification in spiritual exercises but only God’s glory. (I, 32)

4.
Pay no attention to the difficulties which you experience in prayer and do not shorten your prayers but if possible prolong them. (I, 32)

5.
We should pray not for our own consolation but to glorify God, and we honor Him with nothing else as much as with suffering, so that the more our prayer seems tiresome, dry, difficult, fraught with temptation, so much the better it is. Remember, my dear, the less there is of our own personal satisfaction in it, so much the more it is pleasing to God. (I, 32)

6.
You have little time for prayer, you say, but is not your entire life a prayer? Why, you labor to promote God’s glory and to remove offenses against Him. You say you do not like your duties, but for that you have greater merit in performing them. (I, 81)

7.
Look frequently upon Him who did so much for you and then all that you do will seem as nothing. (I, 81)

8.
Try to heed the call of Jesus to pray always and never to cease. The Lord gave you the spirit of prayer, so try to maintain it during the day amidst your duties and try to practice constant interior prayer in union with Our Lord. (I, 154)

9.
Strive for an increasingly more perfect union with Jesus, but not for such which manifests itself in consolations, but in the union of your will with the Will of God. (I, 155)

10.
Try to have always on your lips the words and in your heart the attitude: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Your Will, oh my Jesus”. (I, 155)

14.
We cannot please God more than when we receive Holy Communion often in the state of grace. Love depends on a frequent union with the Beloved. Besides sacramental communion, it is beneficial to receive spiritual communion several times a day. (III, 112)

15.
Jesus Christ, Who immensely loves a soul in the state of grace, desires ardently to be united with her. Through Holy Communion Jesus Christ becomes one with our soul, for that reason we cannot do anything more pleasing for Him than to receive Him often. (III, 112)

16.
When you make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament evoke within yourself feelings of faith, thanksgiving, love, contrition and beg God earnestly for love and perseverance. (III, 112)

17.
Do not neglect prayer, particularly meditation. I am not sending you any prayers because I would rather that your prayers were spontaneous expression of your own feelings and thoughts and not those of others. (I, 27-28)

18.
Never omit meditation. Shorten rather the vocal prayers which are not obligatory. (III, 114)

19.
That day, in which we omit meditation, is a lost day. (III, 118)

20.
If two or three pray or read, Jesus wants to be the third one. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst. (III, 124)

21.
When you experience pain, disappointment, humiliation or some other misfortune, go before the Blessed Sacrament and drink deeply of strength and consolation: If you cannot be there in person, be there in thought and spirit. (III, 112)

22.
Pray for the souls of the departed and for the conversion of sinners. (III,113)

23.
“If any among you is sad”, says Saint James, “let him pray.” Follow this advice, my dearest sister, and even though your obligations leave you very little time for prayer, try to profit from every moment. When you are tempted with too much introspection, have recourse to prayer at once. (I, 101)

24.
Let us support each other with prayer; there let us seek strength and guidance. (I, 114)

25.
I ardently desire your holiness and I recommend that you remain faithful to prayer and meditation on the Passion of Our Lord which will most quickly restore your tranquility. (I, 159)

26.
Do not stop praying nor become weary in your practice of spiritual life. (III, 151)

27.
Offer yourself today to Jesus for whatever He will be pleased to send you. (I, 159)

28.
Before each activity say: May this be for your glory, O Lord. (III, 113)

29.
If obedience does not forbid you […] spend an hour and a half in meditation daily . . . but always concluding with a resolution. (I, 161)

30.
I need not tell you how much I love you in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, for you understand that better than I could express it. Let the Heart of Jesus tell you how many graces and blessings I desire for you. He alone knows the secrets and emotions of my heart and He alone can reveal them to you. (I,154)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

JULY

Tell me, O Lord, what I should do? On what road will I meet you and see you? I will go there and I will do everything You will demand of me. (III, 58)

I know, O my Lord, that all my thoughts, feelings and actions ought to center on You because You have given me life. You alone have power over me. I should belong to You completely. (III, 33)

My main task now is to think of my soul and my soul and to pray for the sanctification of the members of the Congregation so that it would respond to God’s designs for it, as well as to entrust it to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (II, part 2, 245)

The more fervently I turned to God, the more peace and joy I felt, the more I felt God’s presence. (III, 57)

1.
Perfection is not reached with folded hands. One must work at overcoming oneself; one must be guided by reason, obedience and the Rule and not be one’s own inclinations. (III, 121)

2.
One must necessarily put on the new man, and one accomplishes this through accurately carrying out regulations. I assure you that it you carry them out conscientiously you will reach your desired goal, that is, union with God. (III, 121)

3.
See, my dear Sister, how soon Our Lord has shown us mercy. Let our hearts be thankful, and let us demonstrate our gratitude by fidelity in His service. (I, 39)

4.
If God throws mud into your eyes, it is only so that you would regain your vision and spread His glory. Should He throw you to the ground like He did Saint Paul, it will be only to raise you to greater glory. (III, 121-122)

5.
He commanded Saint Peter to walk on the water. Saint Peter, seeing the wind and the storm, lost confidence and this doubt immersed him. When he called upon God, he was saved. If God tells you to walk on the waters of misfortune, do not doubt, do not be afraid, God is with you; trust Him to save you. (III, 122)

6.
God is close to those who call upon Him. He awakens the apathetic with a holy word, strengthens the weak, supports those who struggle against odds, crowns the victorious, threatens with punishment, admonishes through good examples, comforts with temporal graces freely given and consoles with a revealed heavenly and eternal glory. (III, 124)

7.
This sweet and silent Jesus is so gentle and merciful that the moment someone prepares a place for Him in his heart, indubitable, He will gladly show him the light of His grace and will sup with him. (III, 124)

8.
Frequently turn to God in heaven with a humble prayer and in the secret of your heart apologize to Him for your sins. (III, 127)

9.
Thank God because all good things come from Him. How blameworthy it is if we do little or no good and yet praise ourselves or crave to be praised and insist that we are acknowledged for virtues that we do not possess. (III, 128)

10.
Be humble in heart, pure, gentle, modest, compassionate, prudent in speech, diligent at your duties, fervent in prayer, patient in afflictions, obedient without delay, simple without quarreling, demure without pretense, silent without suspicion, cooperative without murmuring. (III, 128)

11.
If God in His goodness sends you inspirations or enlightenment during prayer or work, do not be proud, do not act superior towards others or think of yourself as a saint, but reflect and believe that God did not do this because of your virtues, work or merits but because of His great goodness. (III, 128)

12.
Sometimes God allows His chosen ones to suffer many afflictions, not to reject them but to cleanse them of their sins and to increase their merits. Let those, therefore, who want to enjoy peace of heart and who want to receive a crown of glory after death, arm themselves with patience. (III, 129)

13.
If you have a good thought, do a good deed, or say something that is worthwhile, do not give yourself credit even in the smallest things but attribute it all to God. (III, 128)

14.
Remain, as much as possible, in the most perfect contemplation, avoiding all deliberate distractions, mortifying yourself internally and especially the eyes, ears, lips and closing the heart very deeply and tightly in the Most Holy Heart of Jesus. (III, 131)

15.
May the blessing of Saint Francis accompany you everywhere and at every moment, may it sanctify all your endeavors, may it fill you with His spirit, that as His child you should perform His works. (III, 135)

16.
Do not be satisfied with only wearing his habit externally but above all, put on his spirit. May your life radiate his humility, contempt of the world, poverty and his love of God and neighbor. (III, 135)

17.
Accept everything from God with submission and gratitude, believing that everything which comes from God is for the good of your soul. If Jesus wants to shower you with consolations, accept them humbly, but neither desire them nor be proud of them. If He visits you with afflictions, thank Him for allowing you to be a participant in His cross. (III, 137)

18.
Desire a hidden life, but do not become weary with the life of dedication for others. Wait peacefully until the Lord Himself removes you from it and leads you to that hidden life. Wait calmly until your hour comes because if you try to hasten it even by one second, you will find neither peace nor happiness in this life. (I, 146)

19.
Everything we do for our own pleasure is lost. (III, 117)

20.
.. . . it is my wish that you show what a true Felician is and what dedication means. It is very evident that God is blessing you since you accomplish so much good in so short a time. (I, 85)

21.
May He continue to be the Master of your soul. Ask Him about everything and He will respond and enlighten you. You ask me for advice, for directives, but what are my instructions alongside those of the Holy Spirit? I prefer then to be silent and entrust you to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (I, 76)

22.
Remember that everything that disturbs our inner peace comes not from God but from satan. (I, 143)

23.
Like a good and faithful servant of Christ bear these difficulties which distress and afflict you, with a patient heart and with humility. (III, 128)

24.
Offer to God all the insults directed towards you; never complain about anything. (III, 115)

25.
Give credit to God for all good deeds, never your own strength and talents. (III, 127)

26.
Do not speak about yourself-whether good or bad. Sometimes when we speak about ourselves derisively we give in to pride. Humble yourself even before the lowliest persons. (III, 116)

27.
Time is given to us for doing good. (III, 126)

28.
I wish you courage for complete self-control, that is, for overcoming temptations, for not yielding to the inclinations of nature. (. . . ) may you bear all afflictions quietly in peace. (I, 154)

29.
May Jesus support you with His grace, so that you may persevere in that attitude, and that you may remain faithful to Him always. (I, 131)

30.
As Christ prayed for His beloved disciples, so also I pray not that He may free you from suffering, but that He may give you the grace to bear it with merit, thus drawing you nearer to Himself and helping you to grow more like unto Him. (I, 155)

31.
Desire perseveringly, that is, do not get discouraged with any adversity, any delay, any trial from God or people and do not become weary even if you must walk on the hard road of denying yourself the holiest and keenest desires. (III, 131)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

AUGUST

Let me desire only You, think about You and see only You in everything. Let my heart and my thoughts be detached from everything; let them concentrate only on You so that I could lead a life of solitude, silence, full of good deeds and especially that I should practice love of neighbor and detachment from creatures. (III, 101)

Draw me to yourself, O Lord, because without you I will not come to you (. . .) Tell me, O Lord, what obstacle stands in the way of my possessing you, of being perfectly united with you? What separates me from You? I have given myself completely to Your service; I have given You my heart. (III, 34)

You know, O Lord, that I do not desire a love which is sentimental, exclusive, casual or sympathetic, but a love which is dedicated because I understand love to be a sacrifice. (III, 72)

I do not ask You for an ideal love but for a love like Yours which depends on sacrifice, on complete using up of oneself, on absolute forgetting of oneself, on never seeking consideration for myself in anything or anywhere. (III, 73)

1.
You lament the fact that you love God inadequately and rightly so, for who among mortals can love Him with the love of which He is worthy? But He is a gracious Lord, a good Father, and has regard for our helplessness. He pays more attention to the heart than to sacrifice and even accepts a desire for a good deed. And certainly you desire to love God without limit. (I, 144)

2.
Do not worry about not being able to experience love and about finding it hard at times to elicit even a single act of love. Remember that when the emotion is very strong, we lack words even to express it. (I, 144)

3.
Remember that that love is real which does not seek its own gratification in anything, but longs to satisfy the beloved. And you know well that we really satisfy those whom we love when we do their will without regard for self. (I, 145)

4.
Therefore, you too will satisfy the Heart of Your Divine Spouse when in all things you will do only His Will, even in the manner of serving and loving Him. (I, 145)

5.
Yes, my dear daughter, love and submission are two golden wings on which the suffering soul, the crucified soul rises to heaven. Love and submission are two angels of God transporting that crucified soul to heaven. (I, 145)

6.
I encourage you, my dear daughter, to nothing more than to this love and submission because they encompass the entire religious life. (I, 145)

7.
You know that love is insatiable. The more the soul loves, the more she yearns, the more she is aware of the weakness and limitations of her love. The more a soul in love accomplishes, the more she sees how inadequate she is. Only in heaven will we love God with true love. (I, 144)

8.
I wish you especially the love with which Jesus loved us; so that your every step, every deed, every suffering may be an act and proof of that love, so that you might be able to say: “I live now, not I, Christ lives in me.” (I, 154)

9.
Desire more and more to grow in the love of God; holy desires are like wings which transport the soul to heaven. (III, 112)

10.
Continuously beg Jesus Christ for His holy love. The gift of love of God is a grace which embraces all other graces and is above all of them, because whoever loves God sincerely, guards against everything which would hurt Him. (III, 112)

11.
Rejoice in the fact that god is perfectly happy in Himself. If you love God more than you love yourself, you will rejoice more in His happiness than in your own. (III, 113)

12.
Speak often about the love which Christ showed us and how obliged we are to love Him. (III, 113)

13.
Keep giving yourself to God completely; do not refuse Him anything; choose those things which bring Him most joy and with which you can become most pleasing to Him. (III, 113)

14.
During the day offer yourself several times to Christ, telling Him that out of love for Him, you are willing to accept all pain and work. Frequently repeat: My Jesus, I give myself to you completely; do with me whatever you wish. (III, 113)

15.
Our happiness depends on the love of God. The love of God contained in doing His Will. (III, 118)

16.
Love usually brings about a resemblance in souls who love one another. Love the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but love it also on the Cross because it delights in a heart where there is much love, pain and silence. (III, 132)

17.
You are telling me that you feel so far removed from Him, and I assure you that you are presently closer to Him than ever, and do you know why? Because you have united your will with His most Holy Will. (I, 85)

18.
It seems to you that you do not love Him, but you have little reason to be so concerned for now your love is genuine since it manifests itself in work and suffering and abnegation. (I, 85)

19.
It is then by two signs that we can tell whether we have love for God, and these are work and patience. Do we always work for God, or at least do we have a sincere desire to do His Will in everything? Do we willingly bear for Him all trials such as: poverty, afflictions, illness and other misfortunes? (III, 119)

20.
The love of God, like fire, destroys all obstacles. If it does not produce these results, it is not true love but a false one; it is only on the lips but not in the heart. If love is not active, it is not love. Jesus Christ said: He who obeys the commandments from Me is the man who loves Me. (III, 119

21.
Never look for self in anything but always seek the glory of God and the good of your neighbor. (III, 137)

22.
Our Lord opened heaven to us through suffering, that suffering which is a beaten path, the true road which the saints traveled. Walk it bravely, my dear sister, Jesus Himself has placed you upon it because He wants you to become a saint. (I, 105)

23.
Love does not depend on tender, fruitless feeling, offering itself in thought for all sacrifices which perhaps will never happen. Such a love does not cost us any effort, or maybe we do not want it to cost us anything. To love is to give. (III, 119)

24.
To love is to bear everything for love – everything that is unpleasant to our human nature, mental, emotional or physical suffering. We ought to want to suffer in the way that love demands, preferring those crosses which are of our own choosing; bearing them in the way that love demands without relief, without consolation either from people or God. (III, 119-120)

25.
Love Our Lord and do what you please. (I, 81)

26.
You complain also that you reaped no benefit from the retreat, but can there be greater gain than to renounce oneself and to submit to the Will of God? (I, 85)

27.
May God be your All, and for the love of God, may you be all things to everyone. (I, 155)

28.
Motivate yourself to ever increasing love, being mindful that love heals everything and most readily obtains pardon, because Jesus speaking of Saint Magdalen says that much was forgiven her because she loved much. (I, 143)

29.
To those who love God all things work out for the good. The saints even used their failures for the benefit of their souls which moved them to deep humility as well as love and gratitude to God. (I, 143)

30.
Allow love to elevate your heart to heaven pointing out an end to suffering. Let submission remind you that this earth is a place of exile and penance. Let love direct you to cherish and imitate the suffering Jesus and let holy submission call out to you: “Be obedient until death.” (I, 145)

31.
May the Lord be your everything everywhere in place of everyone. May He fill your soul with all kinds of consolations. (III, 134)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

SEPTEMBER

As I meditated on what virtue God demands of me, I thought of one for which God always admonishes me, and that is, the love of neighbor, meekness, gentleness, understanding of others, forgetfulness of self, equanimity of disposition and a precise performance of my duties. (III, 49)

I desire a love which is impartial and universal because I have been especially impressed with the words of Saint Paul that he be everything to everyone. (III, 72)

O Lord, you yourself recommend renunciation. I desire to renounce myself for others; I do not want to belong to myself but to sacrifice myself completely for others even though it would cost me a great deal, even though I would suffer much; however, help me to hide this suffering; help me not to show it. (III, 73-74)

1.
Practice love of neighbor by being amiable and in general doing good to others. In order to acquire this virtue, make a meditation about the love of neighbor, do a lot of reading on this topic, and make an examination of conscience; do this for a whole month. (III, 108)

2.
I need not encourage you to love your neighbor, because where love of God dwells, there love of neighbor will be found, since one flows from the other. Both are inseparable; both are embraced in one commandment. (I, 76-77)

3.
Our Lord obviously demands of you the virtue of the love of neighbor, since He gives you the opportunity to practice it. Genuine love of neighbor can be attained in a relationship such as yours. (I, 37-38)

4.
Try to treat that sister with love and forbearance, look at her faults through your fingers, because we cannot expect the same degree of perfection from everyone. Commend that soul to God who can affect a change in her and dispose her more favorably. (I, 38)

5.
You love God with an ardent love, which although yet imperfect, abounds in desires, and these will undoubtedly imbue your heart with that fervent love, for when a soul zealously yearns for it, she will without fail possess it. Therefore, do not cease in those desires, let them continue to intensify in your soul. And do you know how you will most quickly obtain that grace from God? By forgetting about yourself and sacrificing self for others, because Our Lord has said: Whatsover you did to the least of these little ones, you did it unto me. (I, 78)

6.
Give aid to all without exception; your vocation obliges you not to exclude anyone, for everybody is our neighbor. (I, 112)

7.
Desire and endeavor to have all peoples know and love our Lord Jesus Christ. (III, 113)

8.
Offer to God all the insults directed towards you; never complain about anything. (III, 115)

9.
Try to be gentle not only in behavior but also in the tone of your voice; do not raise it without cause, neither be so gentle as to overlook misdemeanors. (III, 82)

10.
Try to do good to everyone for the love of Jesus; do a small favor for someone every day and if possible, at least recite seven ejaculations in that intention. (III, 107)

11.
In order to be at peace, one must practice self denial, perform the duties of one’s state of life, be at peace with one’s neighbor even though he/she would be the most eccentric and demanding. Oh! What self-denial and forgetfulness one needs in order to practice this virtue! (III, 108)

12.
Respond gently to those who treat you severely and who aggravate you. (III, 115)

13.
When you feel angry, remain silent until you have composed yourself; otherwise, you may commit many more sins. (III, 115)

14.
Do not omit any good deed out of human respect. (III, 114)

15.
Never do or say anything which will hurt someone, unless it would curtain offending God. (III, 115)

16.
If you do a good deed, do not be proud of it or praise yourself but humble your heart before God so that through vain glory and love of self you will not lose eternal glory and your reward. (III, 127)

17.
Reflect on your words first before you utter them so that you will not say something inappropriate or something which will offend another and perhaps which you will later regret for saying. (III, 126)

18.
Try to please God alone and give your neighbor a good example so that the devil will not accuse you or throw it up to you that you are like a whited sepulcher. (III, 127)

19.
Without love for our neighbor, the greatest deeds, most highly praised by people, do not bring us any merit. (III, 127)

20.
Do not let a moment go by uselessly and if you have permissions to speak, let it not be spent on useless talk. Just as you will give an account to God for every idle word, so you will be responsible to Him for every moment spent badly and uselessly. (III, 126)

21.
Jesus accepted your sacrifice and is now giving you the opportunity to fulfill it. Love prompted you to make this sacrifice, let love then give you the strength to persevere in it. (I, 158)

22.
God usually pours out His blessings upon the weakest and least suitable instruments, but on the contrary, He withholds His blessings from the one who trusts his own talents and strength. (I, 94)

23.
It seems to me that desiring to preserve unity and peace, we ought to recommend rather that each one mind only herself, and even in the case of obvious failure in others, not to perceive the evil but try to justify all, without imitating the wrong done. (II, 234)

24.
If not now, then at some future time your work will bear fruit, and even if you helped to save just one soul, would it not be worth the effort and suffering? (I, 146)

25.
Extend the same love and respect to your Superiors as you would to Jesus Christ. (III, 115)

26.
May [the Lord] give you a humble love which expends itself; a generous love which forgets itself; a strong love which is not afraid of pain; a stable love which does not change; a patient love which can bear everything; a fervent love which never weakens; a constant love which never falters. (III, 134)

27.
Whenever you have to admonish anyone, choose a moment when you yourself and the other are completely calm; admonitions given at an inappropriate time will bring about more harm than help. (III, 115)

28.
Speak well about others. If you cannot justify an action, at least praise the intention. (III, 115)

29.
Possessing the whole world would not be enough for satisfying our desires; only God can satisfy them. (III, 118)
30.
Whether near or far I always have you in my heart. I will always commend you to Jesus and His Most Blessed Mother asking that they keep you in their care, daily increasing their grace and love for you, so that you may become more perfect, more pleasing in their sight. (I, 96)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

OCTOBER

Remember that I am always at your service, that there is no sacrifice I would not make for you, and that I will consider myself most fortunate if I can be of use to you in any way. Be assured that even from a distance my heart will watch over you, and that I will try to prevent any evil insofar as I can. (I, 72)

I desire to renounce myself for others; I do not want to belong to myself but to sacrifice myself completely for others even though it would cost me a great deal. (III, 74)

I cannot help myself, neither can I discern between good and evil, but with others, it is entirely different. If I wanted to do so, I do not think there is a person on whom I could not have some influence. It is a gift certainly not for me personally, but for others. (III, 48)

1.
The common life is very difficult but almost beneficial, for that life shows us what we are, what we lack, what virtues we must practice. (I, 31)

2.
May Saint Felix be the guardian of your vows, may he obtain for you the virtues of humility and simplicity, and may your Guardian Angel keep you in his care. (I, 155)

3.
(. . ) rejoice in imitating the poverty of Jesus and our Holy Father Francis, living like the birds who rely on the Providence of God. (I, 138)

4.
I also ask our Holy Father Francis that he imbue you with his spirit so that with all your heart you may love the rule and live it fully. (I, 155)

5.
That attraction to the life of Saint Francis which you felt during retreat ought to confirm you in the belief that God wants you to increasingly be permeated with the spirit of Francis so that you may imitate him not so much in mortifying the flesh, but in mortifying the spirit, in prayer and in humility. (I, 161)

6.
(. . .) ours is a seraphic spirit, different from that of other communities, which can be nurtured only with self denial and prayer. (I, 48)

7.
(. . .) seeing how the behavior of this sister tortures and annoys you, you can readily conclude that you do not yet possess that perfect love of neighbor, that forbearance and understanding of others, that patience which is needed in every circumstance. On the other hand, you ought to see that God permits these temptations to give you the opportunity to acquire those virtues. (I, 32)

8.
Do not worry about the emotions you experience, because they are solely determined by us. Try only to avoid deliberately harboring them. (. . . ) the stronger the resentment you experience inwardly, the more you should outwardly demonstrate kindness and graciousness. (I, 32)

9.
Do not be attached to any duty or spiritual exercises. (III, 82)

10.
Guard against impatience in words and behavior and as much as possible, work on internal impatience. (III, 89)

11.
Be friendly and pleasant towards the sisters; try to gain their confidence. Work at an equanimity of disposition. (III, 82)

12.
Guard against contemptuous thoughts about others, and all deliberate feelings of resentment towards others. Pray for those who are the cause of such feelings. (III, 89)

13.
Whoever keeps silence about things which are unfamiliar to him, experiences peace in everything. (III, 123)

14.
Inasmuch as your duty permits, try to lead the common life and at least occasionally be present in community. [recreation] (I, 161)

15.
Ask God to remove the temptation to pass judgment on others and strive not to give in to it. (III, 89)

16.
Religious should be aware of the presence of Christ the Lord in all places wherever they gather-whether for prayer or work, so that they would not disturb one another in word nor offend one another with frivolous behavior. (III, 114)

17.
You will edify others more by your good conduct than by the most intelligent conversations. (III, 124)

18.
Without obedience and love of neighbor our good deeds mean nothing. (III, 127)

19.
Just think, how much good you waste through idleness and empty talk in one hour, which on the other hand, you would have gained through work, silence and prayer. (III, 127)

20.
Each sister will not burden another one with her own duties, excusing herself that it does not belong to her; instead, all sisters should help one another, indeed, each sister should try to do another a favor. (III, 155)

21.
Through silence learn how and to whom you should speak. (III, 124)

22.
They will not dwell on each other’s imperfections, instead they will explain each other. (III, 155)

23.
If anyone is obedient or helps a brother in God’s name, she then gives the greatest glory to God through her docility, and at the end of her life she will have Christ as her reward. Christ Himself assured us of this when He said: I assure you as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me. (III, 126-127)

24.
The sisters will try to preserve among themselves a unity, peace, love and kindness. They should refrain from quarrelling, mean, sarcastic or insulting words; instead, they should practice towards one another gentleness, meekness, understanding and cooperation. (III, 155)

25.
The sisters are advised to avoid extraordinary actions which might call out scandal rather than edification, or might turn away others from the service of God rather than attract them to it. (III, 153)

26.
(. . . ) since it is not in our power to change someone; we must rather accept the person as she is, being mindful that Holy Scripture recommends that we bear one another’s burdens, and that therein lies our merit and proof of our profound spirituality. (I, 37)

27.
It would be a good thing for the sisters to study the life of Christ and to see how ordinary and simple it seemed and yet how great it was before God, how instructive for others because humility, obedience, and patience were so visible in it. The sisters, therefore, should also radiate the same virtues. (III, 153)

28.
May she [Mary] protect you all the days of your life until she leads you to the feet of Jesus. (III, 133)

29.
Do not stop to examine the wounds of your soul but call on the Divine Physician to heal those wounds: My Jesus, mercy! (I, 101)

30.
Pious conversions generate love of God, edification of one’s neighbor, a hatred of worldly matters, a desire for the kingdom of heaven, contrition, a control over passions and a whole internal renewal of person in imitation of the holy life of our Savior. (III, 124)

31.
The sisters will not be haughty towards one another, instead, they will humble themselves before one another, not only externally but in spirit, remembering that they did not enter the Congregation to be served but to serve. (III, 155)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

NOVEMBER

Do not choose any duty but carry out accurately and fervently those assigned to you. See to it that others fulfill their charges. (III, 82)

If the Superior allows it, take care of the sick, in free moments and even at night to bestir yourself to a greater love of neighbor, to acquire patience and to rid yourself of a loathing towards illness. (III, 83)

1.
Everything has an end; only eternity is endless. (III, 117)

2.
Often renew your resolutions to become a saint, even in the most arid of moments. (III, 116)

3.
Everything which is not for eternity is vanity. (III, 123)

4.
Keep silence during the appointed hours. Practice love of neighbor and humility. Try to think about death often and prepare for it. (III, 83)

5.
Empty your heart of all affections which would not be for God. (III, 113)

6.
I can’t tell you what a joy it is for me to see in you in such a desire to save souls, for this is the best and undeniable evidence that you love God. (I, 106)

7.
Allow Jesus to do what He pleases with your soul as well as with your body. (I, 107)

8.
Be ready at all times for God’s call, that is, do what He demands of you at each moment and do not worry about the next. (I, 107)

9.
Do not be disheartened if you do not see the fruit of your work; after all, you know that Christ Himself taught the multitudes and not everyone listened to His voice. (I, 106)

10.
Remember, it is for us to toil and on God depends the fruit of our labors. (I, 106)

11.
Keep in mind your vocation. Take to heart its seriousness and constantly incite yourself to a greater fervor. (III, 82)

12.
Our Sisters, who are called not only to save themselves but to save others, should lead a life of perfection adhering to the words of the Savior: Your light must shine before men so that they may see the goodness in your acts and give praise to your Heavenly Father. (III, 152)

13.
When they [the sisters] make an examination of conscience or admit their faults, (. . .) they should not only accuse themselves of them but of the fact that they did not do it better because of neglect or carelessness. (III, 152)

14.
All the sisters should be everything to one another: meek, pleasant, patient and not excusing themselves from any sacrifice. (III, 155)

15.
They should help everyone with advice, consolation, work, favors and prayers. They should have understanding for the children. (III, 155)

16.
They should not be indifferent to any wretchedness whether moral or material. (III, 155)

17.
Towards the sick they should show patience and care; they should console them, bear with them patiently, take care of their needs, trying not to show any disgust. (III, 155-156)

18.
God has entrusted to your care the souls of those simple folk, so do not desert them, do not be deterred by any hardship from saving their souls. (I, 138)

19.
Willingly perform the humblest chores. (III, 116)

20.
I praise you for the care of the church, that you grieve because it is neglected, but I trust that since you are there, it will not remain so for long. (I, 82)

21.
It seems to me that the worse a child is, the more it is necessary to work with her in order to help her overcome those evil tendencies. (II, 29)

22.
Visit and help the sick especially those who are most abandoned. (III, 116)

23.
Help everyone, especially those who resent you. (III, 115)

24.
Do all things with the intention of pleasing Jesus Christ. (III, 113)

25.
Let your love be like Christ’s love, revealing itself not only in feelings but in deeds. (III, 137)

26.
All the sisters will try to learn all the jobs of the peasants so that at all times and in all the works they could be a good example. This, above all else, will help to bring them close to the sisters. In this way the sisters will gain their confidence. (III, 156)

27.
The more the sisters will be given to external duties, the more they should attend to their spiritual exercises. (III, 198)

28.
(. . . ) our people are asking for us here where there is such a broad scope for services. As I deduce from the letter, the need there is not as great as it is here where evil is so rampant. The moral influence of the sisters is needed right here. (II, 222)

29.
This seems to me contrary to our vocation which obliges us to a dedication without limits. It certainly does not behoove the sisters to excuse themselves whenever they are called, unless there is a real impossibility. All the more, that in ministering to the sick, the sisters can bring help not only for the body but they can also influence the soul. (II, 240)

30.
Should they ask for our help in either visiting the sick or exerting a moral influence, we should not excuse ourselves. Let us not consider it a duty but only have a desire to serve. (III, 167)

TO LOVE IS TO GIVE – Each Day with Bl. Mary Angela

DECEMBER

Erase from my soul all the sins of my whole life and those of the past year, and invigorate me with your grace and strength so that I will sin no more. Help me to be faithful to you in observing the Constitutions, in prayer, in humility, in love of neighbor and in making amends for wasted time. (III, 101)

Obedience was never a burden for me; rather, I believed I would be unable to live without it. Maybe my self-love blinds me, but I think that orders given by superiors were sacred to me. Not only did I strive to fulfill them perfectly so far as my weaknesses allowed, but I submitted to them with my mind and heart. (II, 194)

1.
All your deeds, thoughts and words belong to Him. It is your duty to strive to perform everything perfectly, for to the Spouses of Christ above all do these words of the Divine Master refer: “Be ye perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (I, 90)

2.
I believe it would be best if we express our gratitude in silent prayer at the feet of Christ and His Blessed Mother. (II, 62)

3.
I am sure, (. . . ) that not only to me, but to every other, even the youngest sister, you will submit and obey in all things with equal faith, humility, love and joy as you do to me. (I, 97)

4.
Remember that your whole life ought to be a carrying out of that what you promised at your First Profession because not for those who promise but for those who keep their promises is eternal life assured. (III, 135)

5.
In all your endeavors have a good intention; do everything for God without being influenced by human respect. (III, 81)

6.
As long as Our Lord grants me life and strength, and obedience permits it, I am ready whether near or far to give you my counsel as often as you will need it. (I, 97)

7.
The grace of God is dependent not on guidance but on obedience. (I, 39)

8.
I am sure you realize that progress depends on the faithful and accurate observance of the rule, on performing spiritual exercises and on perfect obedience. (I, 147)

9.
Often entertain within yourself desires of constantly advancing towards perfection. (III, 116)

10.
Every religious is obliged to practice poverty, above all, every son and daughter of Saint Francis. He practiced this virtue in a special way, loved it above all others, desired it most, pursued it constantly and considered it the greatest treasure. (. . . ) He advocated this virtue in a special way to his spiritual sons and daughters and left it to them as a singular legacy. (III, 62)

11.
In your small works and difficulties, reflect on the anguishes of the Holy Martyrs and yours will become petty and insignificant. (III, 128)

12.
O my Holy Father! (. . .) You understood well that only the poor and those who are dispossessed of everything have the easiest access to a poor and stripped Christ; that his first blessing was for the poor; that this was his most beloved virtue; that it appealed most to his Sacred Heart. (III, 62)

13.
Christ practiced poverty from His birth to His death. He had nowhere to lay His head. He chose a poor virgin to be His Mother, poor fishermen to be His apostles and a poor carpenter to be His foster father. All of this showed you the beauty and the nobility of this virtue and encouraged you to strive after it. (III, 62)

14.
(. . .) the beauty of poverty is hidden. Many people cannot see beyond it or understand it except those who are blessed by God with this grace. (III, 63)

15.
I reflected, dear Father, upon the manner in which the Lord led you to this perfect understanding of the virtue and I could not help thinking that it was through love. Just as the love of Christ for His people stripped Him of His glory and majesty and led Him to leave the bliss of heaven for the utmost poverty and wretchedness of earth, so too, the love of Christ stripped you of worldly goods and led you to poverty and contempt. (III, 63)

16.
If you hear someone speaking about wealth, entertainment or fun, say to God: Lord, I do not desire anything but You. (III, 114)

17.
It is better that we feel financially insecure rather than if we had the largest funds guaranteed because our capital is in heaven and our Treasurer is God Himself. He will never disappoint us; His treasury will never run dry. (III, 64)

18.
Our congregation was founded and developed in poverty. The Sacred Heart evidently must be pleased because from the beginning up to this moment we have experienced the providential care of God and His obvious blessings. (III, 64)

19.
We should, therefore, not fear poverty as much as riches, so that the latter would not keep away from us the blessings of God. (III, 64)

20.
Humility draws down on us God’s grace because Scripture tell us that: God resists the proud but bestows His favor on the lowly. (III, 75)

21.
Many preach about humility but hardly anyone practices it. It is one thing to have an understanding and a desire for humility but another thing to really have it. We do not know whether we possess the virtue or not because in the long run it is circumstances that show us who we really are. (III, 76)

22.
A truly and perfectly obedient person does not get late, or when summoned, does not excuse herself by saying that she is busy or tired. (III, 127)

23.
I now resolve to bear every lack and inconvenience in silence without complaining or being irritated. (III, 103)

24.
Obedience, after all, is the shortest way through which one advances in all virtues. (III, 154)

25.
You now belong completely, exclusively, and totally to God. You are truly a Spouse of Jesus and now more than ever you are obliged to submit lovingly to His most Holy Will. (I, 27)

26.
Joined with a humble obedience [our good deeds] are pleasing to God even when they are lowly and small favors. (III, 127)

27.
I enclose you in the Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. May they bless your every step, every action, your every thought, just as I, your unworthy mother but loving you in God, bless you and will not cease to bless you until the end of my life. (I, 162)

28.
Should it be difficult for a human being to be obedient for God’s sake in good and useful matters if Christ became obedient even unto death on the cross? (III, 126)

29.
Religious should renew their vows daily. The Doctors of the Church claim that whoever renews his/her vows, receives a plenary indulgence just as she/he did at the First Profession. (III, 116)

30.
Do we willingly bear for Him all trials such as: poverty, afflictions, illness and other misfortunes? Do adversities bring us closer to God or do they drive us away from Him? (III, 119)

31.
Follow the road of obedience and the regulations of the Congregation: these will lead you to God. It is not enough, however, to move forward; you must do it accurately and faithfully because all your happiness depends on perseverance. We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love God . . . (III, 121)