List of points

The limited, miserable happiness of the egoist — who withdraws into his ivory tower, into his shell — is not difficult to attain in this world. But the happiness of the egoist is not lasting.

For this false semblance of heaven, are you going to forsake the happiness which will have no end?

You are too calculating. Don't tell me you are young. Youth gives all it can: it gives itself without reserve.

'Pray that I may never be satisfied with what is easy.' I have prayed. Now it is up to you to carry out that fine resolution.

Jesus isn't satisfied 'going halves': he wants the lot.

We must give ourselves in everything, we must deny ourselves in everything: the sacrifice must be a holocaust.

You are going to punish yourself voluntarily for your weakness and lack of generosity? Very good: but let it be a reasonable penance, imposed as it were, on an enemy who is at the same time your brother?

Fight against that weakness which makes you lazy and careless in your spiritual life. Remember that it might well be the beginning of lukewarmness… and, in the words of the Scripture, God will vomit the lukewarm out of his mouth.

You were too naive: you tell me that there are very few who really practise charity, and that to be charitable does not mean to give away old clothes or coppers…

And you tell me your tale of woe and your disillusionment.

Only one thing will I say: let you and me give and give ourselves unstintingly. And we will spare others your sad experience.

Don't fall into a vicious circle. You are thinking: when this is settled one way or another, I'll be very generous with my God.

Can't you see that Jesus is waiting for you to be generous without reserve, so that he can settle things far better than you imagine?

A firm resolution, as logical consequence: in each moment of each day I will try generously to carry out the will of God.

Is there any greater folly than to scatter the golden wheat on the ground to let it rot? Without that generous folly there would be no harvest.

Son, how do we stand as regards generosity?