List of points

There are some people who, when they speak about God or the apostolate, seem to feel the need to apologise. Perhaps it is because they have not discovered the value of human virtues, but, on the other hand, have been greatly deformed spiritually, and are too cowardly.

Don’t behave like someone frightened by an enemy whose only strength is his “aggressive voice”.

You understand the work that is being carried out…, you have nothing against it (!). But you are very careful not to take part in it, and even more careful to ensure that others do not see or suspect you are lending a hand.

—You told me that you were afraid that people might think you are better than you are! —Is it not rather that you are afraid God and men might ask you to be more consistent?

I am not the apostle I should be. I am… too timid.

Could it not be that you are fainthearted, because your love is small? It is time to change!

When one is working to extend an apostolic undertaking, “No” must never be taken for a final answer: you have to insist!

You are too “cautious” and not very “supernatural” and that is why you are a bit too clever: don’t start inventing your own “snags” and trying to solve them all.

—Perhaps the person you speak to is less “clever” or maybe more generous than you are, and as he can count on God, he won’t raise so many objections.

There are some ways of acting that are so careful that, in a word, they are just pusillanimous.

Rest assured: when you work for God, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome, nor discouragements that will make you abandon the task, nor failures worthy of the name, however unfruitful the results may seem.

Your faith is not operative enough; it seems that you are over-pious, rather than a man who is struggling to be a saint.

Be calm! Be daring!

With these virtues you must rout the fifth column of people who are lukewarm, who are cowards or traitors.

You assured me that you wanted to fight without respite, and now you come to me with a long face.

Look, even humanly speaking, it is good not to find it all done for you, with no hitches. Something — a lot! — depends on you. Otherwise, how could you become a saint?

You won’t commit yourself to working in that supernatural enterprise, because — you say — you are afraid of not knowing how to please, or of making some unfortunate mistake. If you thought more about God, those excuses would disappear.

Sometimes I think that a few enemies of God and his Church live off the fear of many good people, and I am filled with shame.

Be daring in your prayer, and the Lord will turn you from a pessimist into an optimist; from being timid, to being daring, from being feeble-spirited to being a man of faith, an apostle!

Naturalness, sincerity and cheerfulness are indispensable conditions for the apostle to attract people.

You should always be well-mannered towards everybody, especially towards those who present themselves as your adversaries (you should never have enemies) when you are trying to let them see their mistake.

Why, you asked indignantly, should the surroundings in which the apostolate has to be carried out and the things used to do it be ugly, dirty… and complicated? And you added: It takes the same effort!

—I thought your indignation very reasonable. And I pondered how Jesus talked to everyone and attracted them all: poor and rich, wise and ignorant, cheerful and sad, young and old. How lovable and natural —supernatural — is his figure!

Your agreeable behaviour should become more attractive by improving in kind and intensity. Otherwise, your apostolate will die out in lifeless and inward-looking circles.

You have the agreeable manner of an intelligent conversationalist… But you are also very apathetic. “Nobody has come to look for me” is your excuse.

—Let me be more specific: if you don’t change and seek out those who are waiting for you, you will never be an effective apostle.

Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self-surrender, being up-to-date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity.

—Nobody can give what he does not have.