List of points

You seek the company of friends who, with their conversation and affection, with their friendship, make the exile of this world more bearable for you. There is nothing wrong with that, although friends sometimes let you down.

But how is it you don't frequent daily with greater intensity the company, the conversation, of the great Friend, who never lets you down?

He has become so small — you see: a Child-so that you can approach him with confidence.

I had to smile at the impatience of your prayer. You were telling him: 'I don't want to grow old, Jesus… To have to wait so long to see you! Then, perhaps I won't have a heart as inflamed as mine is now. "Then" seems too late. Now, my union would be more ardent for I love you now with the pure Love of youth.'

'Minutes of silence'. Leave silence for those whose hearts are dry.

We Catholics, children of God, speak with our Father who is in heaven.

Don't be afraid to call our Lord by his name — Jesus — and to tell him that you love him.

Don't be content to ask Jesus pardon just for your own faults: don't love him just with your own heart…

Console him for every offence that has been, is, or will be done to him. Love him with all the strength of all the hearts of all those who have most loved him.

Be daring: tell him that you are crazier about him than Mary Magdalen, than either of his two Teresas, that you love him madly, more than Augustine and Dominic and Francis, more than Ignatius and Xavier.

Be more daring still, and, when you need something, don't ask, but — always mindful of the Fiat — say, 'Jesus, I want that… and that… and that', for this is the way children ask.

Let your prayer be manly. To be a child does not mean to be effeminate.

You are distracted in prayer. — Try to avoid distractions, but don't worry if in spite of everything your mind still wanders.

Don't you see how in ordinary life even the most considerate children play with the things about them, and often pay no attention to what their father is saying? This does not imply a lack of love or respect: it is the weakness and littleness peculiar to a child.

Then, look: you are a child before God.

What a wonderful thing it is to be a child! When a man asks a favour, his request must be backed by a list of his qualifications.

When it is a child who asks — since children haven't any qualifications — it's enough for him to say: I'm a son of So-and-so.

Ah, Lord, — say it to him with all your heart! — I am a son of God!

Have you seen the gratitude of little children? Imitate them, saying to Jesus, when things are favourable and when they are adverse: 'How good you are! How good!…'

These words, if you mean them, are the way of childhood, and will bring you peace, with due measure of tears and laughter, and without measure of Love.

Work tires you out and leaves you unable to pray. You are always in the presence of your Father. If you can't speak to him, look at him every now and then like a little child… and he'll smile at you.