SPIRITUAL  GUIDANCE

The more you adorn your body externally, the uglier your soul becomes internally. Extravagant clothes please our nature very much, but they are not in the spirit of God at all.  Rather, He holds them in disgust.  Every desire comes from the heart, and lavish dress is a proof that the heart is empty and hankers for prestige.   

Never say anything about yourself, either good or bad.  Fear vainglory at all times, for it lurks in whatever we say.  People could think us humble if we speak ill about ourselves.  There is nothing more radiant than silence.    

In the morning say to yourself, "Who knows whether I shall live on until this evening?"  Thus, by thinking about the perils of life, you will be vigilant the whole day long, and so you avoid sin.  Nothing is more fearful than the thought of the future, which is full of insecurity.  

Recall to mind the places you went to, your friends and your enemies, how you used your senses, and also your state in life, particularly the fact that you are a Christian. By doing this, you will succeed in remembering all your sins for your confession.  

Pray God to give you the grace to overcome your human respect, which is a great weakness of our nature, especially in our dealing with our benefactors, or those from whom we hope to acquire some benefit.  Human respect makes us displease God to please fellow humans.   

God does not deny his grace to those who try their best (not to offend Him). Know well that whatever is impossible for us is possible for God, and through his grace we can do anything.  Seek his grace in prayer, for, without God's grace, we can do nothing.     

You should persuade yourself that we come into this world to do God's will. This is the one necessary thing.  We have come to wait for death, to deny ourselves, to bear our life in patience, to learn what our duties are, and to help one another.   

Here on earth you should work as if you will never die, but live as though you may die at any moment.  The thought of never dying encourages you to do your work, and the thought of a possible death at any moment may, through the fear of death itself, preserve you from sin.            

How we stand before our own eyes and before those of others has no value whatsoever.  The only thing that really matters is how we stand before God. For God sifts our heart to see whether we act with the right intention or not. All persons are so liable to deception!           

Whenever we desire a favour from others, we pave the way by offering them something that pleases them.  Now we, images of God, should do the same thing with God.  God is so much pleased with humility, with charity, and with the offering of the sacred wounds of Christ.                      

Examine yourself and see whether you have changed and become as a little child so as to be able to enter into heaven.    A little child is chaste, believes everything, is not irritable, does not bother about honours nor about disdain, does not suspect evil, is not capable of lying, and does not disparage anyone.      

From the Writings of St. George Preca, the Maltese saint.