Even convicts, with whom I have spent some time, are not won over in any other way. Whenever I happened to speak sharply to them, I spoiled everything; on the contrary, when I praised them for their resignation and sympathized with them in their sufferings; when I told them they were fortunate to have their purgatory in this world, when I kissed their chains, showed compassion for their distress, and expressed sorrow for their misfortune, it was then that they listened to me, gave glory to God, and opened themselves to salvation.

Always be quite simple and sincere and ask God to grant me those two virtues.

May God be pleased to make it known to you, and fill you increasingly with His Spirit, so that through you it may be poured into the souls you guide, and your own soul may be more greatly sanctified!

Three can do more than ten when Our Lord puts His hand to things, and He always does so when He takes away the means of doing otherwise.

If, in order to succeed in an enterprise, I were obliged to choose between fifty deer commanded by a lion, and fifty lions commanded by a deer, I should consider myself more certain of success with the first group than with the second.

It will be easier for you to bring him around to where you want him more by gentleness and patience than by being too uncompromising.

I have made to God the offering you made to me of your heart and have asked him to unite mine with yours in that of Our Lord.