Traditional Catholic Faith => The Sacred: Catholic Liturgy, Chant, Prayers => Topic started by: Gray2023 on July 01, 2025, 08:58:48 PM
Title: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 01, 2025, 08:58:48 PM
Among those who make profession of following the maxims of Christ, simplicity ought to be held in great esteem; for, among the wise of this world there is nothing more contemptible or despicable than this. Yet it is a virtue most worthy of love, because it leads us straight to the Kingdom of God, and, at the same time, wins for us the affection of men; since one who is regarded as upright, sincere, and an enemy to tricks and fraud is loved by all, even by those who only seek from morning till night to cheat and deceive others.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Fiorenza on July 01, 2025, 09:47:46 PM
That is a very valuable quote and useful for interpreting
1 Corinthians 8:1 we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up; but charity edifieth.
Simplicity. Thank you
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 02, 2025, 11:12:10 AM
Simplicity is nothing but an act of charity pure and simple, which has but one sole end----that of gaining the love of God. Our soul is then truly simple, when we have no aim at all but this, in all we do.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 03, 2025, 09:17:43 PM
The office of simplicity is to make us go straight to God, without regard to human respect or our own interests. It leads us to tell things candidly and just as they exist in our hearts. It leads us to act simply, without admixture of hypocrisy and artifice----and, finally, keeps us at a distance from every kind of deceit and double-dealing.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 04, 2025, 03:27:01 PM
God loves the simple and converses with them willingly and communicates to them the understanding of His truths, because He disposes of these at His pleasure. He does not deal thus with lofty and subtle spirits.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 05, 2025, 09:14:42 PM
True simplicity is like that of children, who think, speak and act candidly and without craftiness. They believe whatever is told them; they have no care or thought for themselves, especially when with their parents; they cling to them, without going to seek their own satisfactions and consolations, which they take in good faith and enjoy with simplicity, without any curiosity about their causes and effects.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 06, 2025, 06:02:18 PM
Astuteness is nothing but a mass of artifices, inventions, craft and deceit, by which we endeavor to mislead the minds of those with whom we are dealing and make them believe that we have no knowledge or sentiment as to the matter in question, except what we manifest by our words. This is wholly contrary to simplicity, which requires our exterior to be perfectly in conformity with our interior.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 07, 2025, 12:09:06 PM
When a simple soul is to act, it considers only what it is suitable to do or say and then immediately begins the action, without losing time in thinking what others will do or say about it. And after doing what seemed right, it dismisses the subject; or if, perhaps, any thought of what others may say or do should arise, it instantly cuts short such reflections, for it has no other aim than to please God, and not creatures, except as the love of God requires it. Therefore, it cannot bear to be turned aside from its purpose of keeping close to God, and winning more and more of His love for itself.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 08, 2025, 09:54:17 AM
The chief point is to beware not of men, but to beware of displeasing the majesty of God.----St. Teresa
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 09, 2025, 09:05:25 AM
When one thinks he has done all that God requires of him for the success of any undertaking whether the result be good or bad, he ought always to remain in peace and great tranquillity of mind, contenting himself with the testimony of his own conscience.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 10, 2025, 05:18:25 PM
If you happen to say or do something that is not well received by all, you should not, on that account, set yourself to examine and scrutinize all your words and actions; for there is no doubt that it is self-love which makes us anxious to know whether what we have said or done is approved or not. Simplicity does not run after its actions, but leaves the result of them to Divine Providence, which it follows above all things, turning neither to the right nor to the left, but simply going on its way.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 11, 2025, 10:10:16 AM
Do not reason about afflictions and contradictions, but receive them with patience and sweetness, feeling that it is enough to know that they come from the hand of God.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 13, 2025, 01:34:02 PM
When one aims at pleasing his God through love, as his mind is always turned in that direction in which love urges him, he has neither heart nor opportunity to reflect upon himself, and to see what he is doing and whether he is satisfied with it. For such reflections are not pleasing in the eyes of God, and only serve to satisfy that wretched love and inordinate care that we have for ourselves. This self-love, it must be said, is a great busy-body, which takes up everything and holds to nothing.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 14, 2025, 05:30:40 PM
That we may not be deceived by self-love, in considering matters that concern us, we ought to look at them as if they belonged to others, and our only business with them was to give our judgment----not from interest, but in the cause of truth; and in the same way we should look on others' affairs as our own.----St. Ignatius Loyola
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 15, 2025, 08:30:26 AM
The dissatisfaction we often feel when we have passed a great part of the day without being retired and absorbed in God, though we have been employed in works of obedience or charity, proceeds from a very subtle self-love, which disguises and hides itself. For it is a wish on our part to please ourselves rather than God.----St. Teresa
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 16, 2025, 01:13:12 PM
What a great benefit it would be to us if God would plant in our hearts a holy aversion to our own satisfaction, to which nature attaches us so strongly that we desire that others would adapt themselves to us, and all succeed well with us. Let us ask Him to teach us to place all our happiness in Him, to love all that He loves, and to be pleased only with what pleases Him.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 17, 2025, 01:36:32 PM
With those who are perfect and walk with simplicity, there is nothing small and contemptible, if it be a thing that pleases God; for the pleasure of God is the object at which alone they aim, and which is the reason, the measure, and the reward of all their occupations, actions, and plans; and so, in whatever they find this, it is for them a great and important thing.----St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 18, 2025, 03:05:33 PM
When anyone has to choose a state of life, and wishes to know what he should do for the good of his soul, let him first strip himself of every inclination of his own, and place himself generously in the hands of God, equally ready for whatever He may call him to. Then let him apply some Gospel truths to the matter, draw from them their legitimate consequence, and see how they relate to the ultimate end for which God has created us. If he still remains uncertain, let him imagine himself on his death bed, or before the judgment seat, which will teach him to do what he will then wish he had done.----St. Ignatius Loyola
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on July 19, 2025, 11:15:01 AM
"Do not overburden yourself with rules of devotion, but persist in doing well those you have: your daily actions, your duty of state; in a word, let everything revolve around doing well what you are doing."
~St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 19, 2025, 03:17:17 PM
There is a kind of simplicity that causes a person to close his eyes to all the sentiments of nature and to human considerations, and fix them interiorly upon the holy maxims of the Faith that he may guide himself in every work by their means, in such a way that in all his actions, words, thoughts, interests and vicissitudes, at all times and in all places, he may always recur to them and do nothing except by them and according to them. This is an admirable simplicity.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 20, 2025, 07:16:57 PM
In human life prudence is indeed necessary, that we may be circuмspect in our actions and know how to adapt ourselves to the dispositions of others.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 22, 2025, 04:20:21 PM
Let us beware of worldly sentiments, for often by the pretext of zeal or the glory of God they cause us to adopt plans which never proceeded from Him and will not be prospered by His Divine Majesty.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on July 22, 2025, 06:30:47 PM
”For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me, for a necessity lieth upon me: for woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.“
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 23, 2025, 05:06:17 PM
Ah, how true it is that we love ourselves too much and proceed with too much human prudence, that we may not lose an atom of our consideration! Oh, what a great mistake that is! The Saints did not act thus.----St. Teresa
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on July 23, 2025, 11:07:38 PM
Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him? James 2:5
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 24, 2025, 04:00:01 PM
When we have to deal with astute and crafty persons, the best way to win them to God is to treat them with much candor and simplicity. This is the spirit of Christ the Lord; and whoever is destined to glorify Him must act according to His spirit.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 25, 2025, 09:26:41 AM
May God keep us from vain praise, flattery, and everything intended to attract the goodwill and protection of others. These are very low motives and far from the spirit of Jesus Christ, whose love ought to be the principal aim of all we do. Let these, then, be our maxims: To do much for the love of God, and not care at all for the esteem of men; to labor for their salvation, and not concern ourselves as to what they say of us.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 28, 2025, 12:17:27 PM
There is a certain simplicity of heart which is the perfection of all perfections. This is found when our soul fixes her glance solely upon God and restrains herself that she may apply all her powers, simply and with complete fidelity, to the observance of her Rules and the methods prescribed to her, without turning aside to desire or wish to undertake any other thing. In this way, as she does not work by her own will or do anything unusual or greater than others, she has no great satisfaction or high opinion of herself, but God alone greatly delights in her simplicity, by which she ravishes His heart and unites herself to Him.----St. Francis de Sales
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on July 28, 2025, 09:23:05 PM
Matthew 19:16-22
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
16 And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting? 17 Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me? 21 Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. 22 And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions.
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Viva Cristo Rey on July 28, 2025, 09:26:02 PM
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 29, 2025, 09:00:58 AM
Oh how lightly should we value a generous resolution to imitate the common and hidden life of Christ our Lord! It is easy to see that such a thought comes from God, as it is so utterly opposed tto flesh and blood.----St. Vincent de Paul
Title: Re: Saint Quotes on Simplicity
Post by: Gray2023 on July 30, 2025, 10:23:16 PM
The continual study of those, who, like missionaries, are destined to instruct others ought to be this: to take care to put off themselves and to put on Jesus Christ. For, as things, for the most part, produce results in accordance with their nature----if he who gives the spirit and form of life to others is animated by a merely human spirit, what can they do but imbibe the same spirit, and learn from him the appearance of virtue rather than its substance.----St. Vincent de Paul