May 17

“We ought to cherish the small virtues which grow at the foot of the Cross, for they are watered with the blood of the Son of God. These virtues are humility, patience, sweet-temper, kindness, helpfulness to our neighbours, graciousness, good will, heartiness, sympathy, readiness to forgive, simplicity, truthfulness, and others like them. The virtues are like the violets which love the coolness of the shade, which are fed with dew, and which, though they have no brilliancy, cease not to shed fragrance around. There are great virtues on the top of the Cross, which have great splendour, especially when they are accompanied with love; such are wisdom, justice, zeal, liberality, and such like; and everyone wishes to have these virtues because they are the most esteemed and make us the most thought of. But we should not judge of the greatness or littleness of a virtue by that which it appears to the outward eye; for a virtue that is very small in appearance may be practiced with great love to God, while one that is more shining may go along with very little love; yet this is the measure of their true value before God. I put more value on prayer, which is the torch of all the virtues; on devotion, which consecrates all our actions to the service of God; on humility, which makes us have a low esteem of ourselves and of our actions; on sweet temper, which makes us kind to all the world; on patience, which makes us bear all things; than on heroism, magnanimity, liberality, virtues which do not cover so much ground and are more seldom in use. And these more splendid virtues are a little dangerous, because their brilliancy gives more occasion for vain glory, which is the true poison of all the virtues.”

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

May 16

“There is no action so slight or so mean but it may be done to a great purpose and ennobled thereby, nor is any purpose so great but that it may be helped by slight actions and may be so done as to be helped much, most especially, the chief of all purposes, the pleasing of God. His is not the finest authority or intelligence which cannot be troubled with small things. There is nothing so small but that we may honour God by asking His guidance of it, or insult Him by taking it into our own hands.”

RUSKIN

“Exactness in little duties is a wonderful source of cheerfulness.”

F. W. FABER

“It matters nothing what the particular duties are to which the individual is called – how minute or obscure in their outward form. Greatness in God’s sight lies, not in the extent of the sphere which is filled, or of the effect which is produced, but altogether in the power of virtue in the soul, in the energy with which God’s will is chosen, with which trial is borne, and goodness loved and pursued.”

CHANNING

May 14

“It is the small things of the world that colour the lives of those around us, and it is on persistent effort to reform them that progress depends; and we may rest assured that they who see with greater eyes than ours have a due estimate of the service, and that if we did but perceive the mighty principles underlying these tiny things, we should rather feel awed that we are entrusted with them at all, than scornful and impatient that they are no larger.”

OCTAVIA HILL

“Therefore, though few may praise, or help, or heed us,
Let us work on with head, or heart, or hand.
For that we know the future ages need us;
And we must help our time to take its stand.

“Each single struggle hath its far vibration,
Working results that work results again;
Failure and death are no annihilation,
Our tears exhaled will make some future rain.”

R. A. VAUGHAN

March 24

“His friends sometimes remonstrated at the way in which he allowed people to consume his precious time about comparative trifles: ‘But they are important to those whom they concern,’ he would reply, ‘ and the persons in question want help as much as others. Such work is quite sufficient for me. I care not how I am employed so long as I am at work for God’s service.”

From Life of S. Francis de Sales

“Very slight deeds and words may have a sacramental efficacy, if we can cast our self-love behind us in order to do and say them.”

GEORGE ELIOT [pen-name of Mary Ann Evans]

“Nothing is too little to be ordered by our Father; nothing too little in which to see His Hand; nothing which touches our souls, too little to accept from Him; nothing too little to be done to Him.”

E. B. PUSEY