November 21

“And then let us abandon ourselves entirely to the will of God, and, without losing courage, let us wait in patience the return of His consolations, following the path of prayer and of good works. Let us offer our heart to God, dry as it is; it will be as well-pleasing to Him as if it were melting with love, if only it is sincerely determined to love God. It is a mistake to think that to serve God without feeling any pleasure in it is not pleasing Him; fresh roses are the most beautiful, but they have the most strength and fragrance when they are dry; so though what we do for God is more agreeable to us when it is done with a lively tenderness of heart, because we judge of the pleasure that we feel, yet the fragrance of our actions is greater before God when they are done in a state of spiritual dryness. For then our will gives itself to the service of God in spite of all the repugnances which it has to overcome, and consequently it must have more strength and constancy than in a time of deeply felt devotion.”

St FRANCIS DE SALES

“Let it make no difference to you whether you are cold or warm, if you are doing your duty.”

MARCUS AURELIUS