List of points

Because we shall always have to put up with this little donkey which is our body, to conquer sensuality you have to practise daily and generously little mortifications — and sometimes big ones as well. And you must live in the presence of God, who never ceases to watch over you.

To preserve holy purity and live a clean life you have to love and practise daily mortification.

Whenever you feel the stirrings of your poor flesh, which sometimes attacks with violent assaults, kiss your crucifix, kiss it many times with firm resolve, even if it seems to you that you are doing so without love.

There is a Spanish saying which speaks clearly enough: Entre santa y santo, pared de cal y canto (“Twixt holy man and holy maid, a wall of solid stone be laid”).

—We have to watch over our hearts and our senses, and pull ourselves away from all occasions of sin. No matter how holy it may appear, passion must not have its way!

Dear Lord, I find beauty and charm in everything I see! I will guard my sight at every moment, for the sake of Love.

Be lovingly on your guard, to live holy purity, because a spark is more easily put out than a roaring blaze.

But all human care, and mortification, and the cilice, and fasting — which are essential weapons! — how little all these are worth without you, my God!

Have recourse to the sweet Lady, Mary, Mother of God and our Mother also, entrusting to her care the cleanliness of soul and body of all mankind.

Tell her that you want to call upon her, and want others to call upon her continually. And that you want to conquer always, in the bad moments — or the good, and very good moments — of your struggle against those who are hostile to our being children of God.