Sin is the assassin of the soul.

The first thing about the angels that we ought to imitate, is their consciousness of the Presence of God.

How sweet it is to die if one has lived on the Cross!

The saints had no hatred, no bitterness; they forgive everything and think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.

Envy, my children, follows pride; whoever is envious is proud. See, envy comes to us from Hell; the devils having sinned through pride, sinned also through envy, envying our glory, our happiness. Why do we envy the happiness and the goods of others? Because we are proud; we should like to be the sole possessors of talents, riches, of the esteem and love of all the world! We hate our equals, because they are our equals; our inferiors, from the fear that they may equal us; our superiors, because they are above us.

We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived, we are sad. I remark that in a great many people; if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that - they were vexed if their virtues were known, and pleased that their imperfections should be seen.

Do not try to please everybody. Try to please God, the angels, and the saints - they are your public.