When we are grieved at our powerlessness to do good, our only resource is to offer to God the works of others. In this you see the benefit of the communion of Saints.
COUNSEL AND REMINISCENCES
Though I do not undervalue beautiful thoughts that seem to unite us to God, I have long understood that we must carefully guard against leaning too much upon them. The most sublime inspirations are nothing without deeds.
Other souls, it is true, may draw therefrom much profit if they testify humble gratitude to God for being permitted to share the feast of one of His privileged children. But if the privileged one were to grow vain of her spiritual riches, if her prayer resembled that of the Pharisee, she herself would become like to a person starving to death before a well-served table while all her guests take from it abundant nourishment, and cast perhaps a look of envy on the possessor of so much wealth.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X
The Well-Beloved has no need of our glorious deeds nor of our fine thoughts. If He desire sublime conceptions has He not His Angels, whose knowledge surpasses infinitely that of the world’s greatest geniuses? It is not then either intellect or talent that He looks for here below.... He has called Himself the Flower of the Field[105] to show us how much He cherishes simplicity.
XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
To keep the word of Jesus, this is the sole condition of our happiness, the proof of our love for Him; and this word—it seems to me that it is Himself, since He is called the Uncreated Word of the Father.
XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
Jesus needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words.