A “letter” to you from Saint Mother Theodore

In re-reading Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s Journals and Letters, I realized how so many things she wrote seem like they could have been written to someone today who is looking for guidance.

So I’ve compiled some quotes from our dear Mother Theodore into a “letter.” Whether you are discerning where God is calling you next, or grappling with living well in the here and now, perhaps this “letter” from Saint Mother Theodore will speak to you.

My very dear child,

“Have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful.”

“And rest assured, my dear daughters [and sons], if you lean with all your weight upon Providence, you will find yourself well supported.”

“Follow the inspirations of your God, who is so greatly occupied with you, who loves you so much as to interest Himself in your true happiness as if He had no one else in the world to take care of but you.”

“Come then, to refresh your souls alone with your God. Come to purify your hearts in order to work again at your perfection with more zeal and fervor.”

“Pray, pray much for yourself, for your mission … but resign yourself to what it will please God to order.”

“Reflect seriously on what you desire to do. Above all pray much that our dear Lord may make known to you what He wishes you to do.”

“May God’s holy will be done! This is what we must come back to under all circumstances, and this is what we must start out with — ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

“When we are cold is not the time to keep away from the fire.” … “Do not yield to discouragement.”

“I do not say this to cause you pain, or to discourage you. No, no, but to show you that you yourself are often the cause of what you suffer.”

“For when we seek only God He generally arranges things so that all good is found with Him.”

“No one wishes you well more than I do, nor more happiness in time and in eternity.”

“Oh if you could understand the feelings of a mother’s heart for a child which is not hers by nature but by grace — the feelings of the heart, I say for the temporal but more especially for the eternal happiness of her child — you would understand what I feel for you.”

“Confidence in God, peace in His arms, no fretting, no fantastiques, and you will find happiness.”

“Oh if you would only love Our Lord, very soon all your fears would vanish and give place to unbounded confidence.”

“You know that I love you much.”

Mother T.