List of points

First, prayer; then, atonement; in the third place, very much 'in the third place', action.

Make this firm and determined resolution: to recall, when you receive honours and praise, all that brings a blush of shame to your cheek.

The shame is yours; the praise and glory, God's.

Purity of intention. You will have it always if, always and in everything, you seek only to please God.

In your apostolic undertakings you are right — it's your duty — to consider what means the world can offer you (2+2=4), but don't forget — ever! — that, fortunately, your calculations must include another term: God+2+2…

When we seek God only, we need not be afraid to promote works of zeal, by putting into practice the principle laid down by a good friend of ours: 'Spend all that you ought, though you owe all that you spend.'

It hurt you not to have been thanked for that favour. Answer me these two questions: Are you so grateful towards Christ Jesus? Did you actually do that favour in the hope of being thanked for it on earth?

It is good to give glory to God, without seeking foretastes (wife children, honours…) of that glory, which we will enjoy fully with him in the next Life.

Besides, he is generous. He returns a hundredfold; and he does so even in children. Many give them up for the sake of his glory, and they have thousands of children of their spirit. Children, as we are children of our Father who is in heaven.

Deo omnis gloria. All glory to God. It is an emphatic confession of our nothingness. He, Jesus, is everything. We, without him, are worth nothing: nothing. Our vainglory would be just that: vain glory; it would be sacrilegious robbery. There should be no room for that 'I' anywhere.

If life's purpose were not to give glory to God, how contemptible, how hateful it would be.

Give 'all' the glory to God. 'Squeeze' out each one of your actions with your will aided by grace, so that there remains in them nothing that smacks of human pride, of self-complacency.

May no other attachment bind you to earth than the divine desire of giving glory to Christ and, through him and with him and in him, to the Father and the holy Spirit.

Purity of intention. The suggestions of pride and the impulses of the flesh are not difficult to recognize… and you fight and, with grace, you conquer.

But the motives that inspire you, even in the holiest actions, do not seem clear; and deep down inside you hear a voice which makes you see human reasons in such a subtle way that your soul is invaded by the disturbing thought that you don't act as you should — for pure Love, solely and exclusively to give God all his glory.

React at once each time and say: 'Lord, for myself I want nothing. All for your glory and for Love.'