List of points

I saw a blush on the face of that simple man; he was almost in tears. He had contributed generously to good works, giving honest money which he himself had earned, and then he heard that “good people” had called his actions dishonest.

With the candidness of a beginner in these battles of God, he murmured: “They see that I make a sacrifice… and they still sacrifice me!”

—I talked to him slowly: he kissed my crucifix, and his natural indignation was changed into peace and joy.

Are they scandalized because you have talked about their giving themselves to God to people who had never thought about that problem?

—Well, what does it matter, if you have the vocation of being an apostle of apostles?

Sometimes they didn’t want to understand: it is as if they were blind… But sometimes it has been you who did not manage to be understood properly. You must change that!

If you frequent the Master’s school, you will not be surprised at also having to fight against the misunderstandings of so very many people who could help you a great deal if only they made the effort to be a bit more understanding.

This is how a right-minded man summarised jealousy or envy: “They must be very ill-intentioned to want to stir up such clean waters.”

Criticisms of apostolic enterprises are usually of two kinds: the work is presented by some people as a most complicated structure; others deem it to be a comfortable and easy task.

In the end, such “objectivity” boils down to narrow-mindedness, with a good dose of idle chatter thrown in. —Don’t get annoyed, but ask them: “What is it that you do?”

Those people you heard speak ill of that loyal friend of God, will also speak ill of you when you decide to behave better.

Sectarians protest loudly against what they call “our fanaticism” because the centuries go by and the Catholic Faith remains immutable.

On the other hand, the fanaticism of the sectarians, since it bears no relation to the truth, changes its coat at different times. They raise against the Holy Church a bogey of mere words lacking in any factual content. Their “freedom” enchains men; their “progress” leads humanity back to the jungle; their “science” conceals ignorance. Behind their stall are hidden only old damaged goods.

May such “fanaticism” for the Faith as yours is become stronger every day, for it is the sole defence of the one Truth.