The country in which I live is not my native country, that lies elsewhere, and it must always be the center of my longings.

For me, prayer means launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one's eyes, quite simply, to heaven, a cry of grateful love, from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it's a vast, supernatural force which opens out my heart, and binds me close to Jesus.

Nothing's done well when it's done out of self-interest.

Perfect love means putting up with other peoples shortcomings, feeling no surprise at their weaknesses, finding encouragement even in the slightest evidence of good qualities in them.

Why should we defend ourselves when we are misunderstood and misjudged? Let us leave that aside. Let us not say anything. It is so sweet to let others judge us in any way they like. O blessed silence, which gives so much peace to the soul!

Perfection consists in doing His will, in being that which He wants us to be.

I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.