L-001. Take time for prayer, and ask God to let his holy will be done in you. I will often ask this of him too.
You must turn to God and work hard at your salvation. Do not misuse the means God gives you for this purpose.
(Letter # 58: January 13, 1708, to Brother Marthias)

L-002. Often recollect yourself in order to renew and strengthen in your mind the remembrance of the presence of God. The more you try to achieve this, the easier you find it to perform your actions and carry out your duties well.
(Letter # 72: January 28, 1711, to Brother Anastase)

L-003. Take care not to strike the students with your hand or with anything else.
(Letter # 9: January 30, 1708 [Paris], to Brother Hubert)

L-004. Take as your rule never to speak of the failings of others…
Whenever you see someone fall into some fault, call to mind what is said in the Gospel, "You can see the splinter in your brother's eye, but you cannot see the beam in your own…"
(Letter # 105: To a member of a religious community of men)

L-005. If you ought to speak to your Brothers with humility and gentleness, you ought to be no less careful to act in the same way toward people outside the community. Saint Paul requires this of all Christians.
So never speak rebuff anyone; that gives very bad example. On the contrary, speak politely, which is altogether in keeping with the Spirit of God.
(Letter # 49; January, 1706, to Brother Ponce)

L-006. You must be on your guard against speaking too freely with your students, for this takes away all respect.
In class you must avoid levity, for it does a lot of harm.
(Letter # 49: January, 1706, to Brother Ponce)

L-007. Please, do not make a great fuss over such trifles as you do.
Please don't give way to your whims or follow the first idea that comes into your head.
(Letter # 59: February 8, 1708, to Brother Mathias)

L-008. You must be assured that I will not fail to pray to God for you.
I know that you have plenty to do and am happy that you have a great number of students. Pray for God's blessing on our Institute…
(Letter # 27: February 14, 1710 [Paris], to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-009. You have to be led by the spirit of God and motivated by great zeal.
God be blessed and his will be done. I pray Our Lord will fill you with his Spirit and will do with you what he wills.
(Letter # 16: February 11, 1705[Paris], to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-010. You must be always be prudent in what you say … Take care never to tell untruths; that would certainly be a great fault. And don't give way to curiosity, for it is quite harmful.
(Letter # 42: February 26, 1709, to a Brother)

L-011. Do not have any anxiety about the future. Leave everything in God's hands, for he will take care of you…
(Letter # 101: To a Brother)

L-012. You must make it your concern to overcome your thoughtless behavior … It is a failing you need to be especially on your guard against because it is very harmful to you.
Take great care against routine in your actions. Develop the view of faith more than you apparently have.
(Letter # 43: March, 1709, to Brother Robert)

L-013. You must take care not to be disheartened by the trials you experience…
Firm courage and a little generosity will enable you to overcome all your difficulties. Take advantage of your times of fervor to buoy yourself up.
(Letter # 90: To a Brother)

L-014. The spirit of faith is a sharing in the Spirit of God who dwells in us, which leads us to regulate our conduct in all things by the sentiments and truths that faith teaches us. You should, therefore, be wholly occupied in acquiring it…
(Letter # 100: To a Brother)

L-015. Surely you see that it is very wrong to get angry and to harbor resentment. You also see that it is bad to lose your temper and follow your feelings; that is to act more like an animal than a reasonable being. Take care not to let yourself be carried away by impatience in class, for that is not the way to establish order or silence.
(Letter # 60: March 23, 1708, to Brother Mathias)

L-016. As you can see, Providence comes to your aid. Rest assured that it will not fail you so long as you serve God well.
(Letter # 69: 1709[Paris], to a Brother)

L-017. Exercise restraint when you are administering punishment, and don't do it when you feel moved to impatience.
(Letter # 43: 1709, to Brother Robert)

L-018. Often pray that God will bless this work of his.
(Letter # 26:April 1, 1707[Paris] to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-019. Take care not to let yourself give way to impatience and to outbursts of anger. There must be … genuine courtesy toward lay people, and great patience with your students.
(Letter # 41: December 7, 1708, to a Brother)

L-020. It is impossible to please God if you do not live amicably with others, nor will you have peace of soul unless you show consideration for those for whom you ought to be a source of edification.
Take pains to please him in all you do. For my part, I will also pray for this intention for you.
(Letter # 47: 1709, to a Brother)

L-021. Be careful never to strike the children; it is a serious fault.
Make sure you keep an even disposition in class, and don't give way to impatience. It is not good to throw the ferule at the students in class, but it is disgraceful to slap them, especially in church.
(Letter # 44: April 26, 1709, to a Brother)

L-022. One of your main preoccupations should be to apply yourself to prayer and to your class work, for there are … principal occupations and the ones for which you will have to give an account to God.
Be on guard against allowing yourself to act according to your whims for God detests such actions.
The principal virtue you must strive for it obedience.
(Letter # 7: May 5, 1702, to Brother Hubert)

L-023. You will get nowhere if you allow yourself to give way to discouragement.
It is shameful to slap [your pupils]. Be careful not to lose your patience.
(Letter # 39: May 1, 1708, to Brother Robert)

L-024. It would have been very distressing if you had abandoned your school, since it has appeared up to now that God wanted it.
You must, of course, teach catechism to your student every day.
I do not fail to pray for you and for the success of your work.
(Letter # 28: May 12, 1710, to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-025. Supervise the children carefully, for there will be no order in the school except insofar as you are watchful over them. That is what assures their progress.
Their imporvement will not be brought about by your impatience, but by your vigilance and prudent behavior.
(Letter # 40: May 21, 1708, to a Brother)

L-026. The remembrance of God's presence will be a great advantage in helping you and inspiring you to do all your actions well.
(Letter # 2: May 15, 1701, to a Brother)

L-027. When you feel yourself giving way to impatience in class, remain still and silent for a short time until the feeling has passed.
Take care to be always serious in class; the good order of the school depends a great deal on that.
(Letter # 8: June 1, 1706[Paris] to Brother Hubert)

L-028. Do not let yourself give way to curiosity, which is a great obstacle to progress in virtue. For the love of God be faithful to the practice of obedience.
Time is very precious. God will require an account of the time you have wasted.
(Letter # 40: May 21, 1708, to Brother Robert)

L-029. Carry out your work quietly without precipitous action; otherwise, I think that you will not have God's blessing.
Don't let slip the opportunities that come your way, but don't be overeager.
I beg Our Lord to shower his graces on you…
(Letter # 24: June 21, 1706 [Paris], to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-030. It is your duty to edify people.
(Letter # 39: May 1, 1708, to Brother Robert)

L-031. Dislike for our neighbor and resentment for wrongs done to us prevent our prayers from reaching God. If our hearts are torn by anger or hatred, it is impossible for us to maintain union with Jesus Christ…
(Letter # 105: to a member of a religious community of men)

L-032. It is a very useful practice to apply yourself to the remembrance of God's presence. Be faithful to it. Nothing will draw down on you the blessings of God so much as fidelity in carrying out small matters.
(Letter # 4: July 8, 1708, to Brother Denis)

L-033. Be careful … not to be led by your self-will. That is not right, and God will not bless you if you act this manner.
Always be completely frank and God will bless you.
Take care not to let yourself fall into thoughtless behavior, for this is harmful for you and dries up the heart.
(Letter # 2: May 15, 1701, to a Brother)

L-034. You must be particularly careful not to be lax with regard to your spiritual exercises. That is not the way to draw down God's blessing… Your virtue must be solid. It is not by taking your ease and seeking your comfort that you acquire virtue.
(Letter # 4: July 8, 1708, to Brother Denis)

L-035. You should be most careful not to speak so haughtily, as you tell me you sometimes do. The spirit of God does not allow that sort of talk. So let humility and gentleness be always evident in what you say. "A sort answer," breaks down the hardest nature." Nothing will make you more pleasing to God… than these two virtue.
(Letter # 49: January, 1706, to a Brother Ponce)

L-036. You should apply yourself to prayer as well as you can, for this is the exercise that ordinarily draws down graces on the others.
You know that it is a shame to speak in anger, so refrain from doing this. Don't get angry with anybody; it is neither polite nor Christian.
(Letter # 5: August 1, 1708, to Brother Denis)

L-037. Ask God in prayer to do with you as he wishes. You must abandon yourself completely to his guidance and you must do nothing without seeking advice.
(Letter # 13, 1704 [Paris], to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-038. The anxiety you have concerning your faults cannot do you any good. The only thing to do is to consider before God what means you can use to overcome them.
A little patience, and God will take care of everything.
You worry too much.
(Letter # 75: to a Brother Director)

L-039. You may suffer for a while, but it will not be for long… You may rest assured that God will always provide you with what you need if you serve him well.
(Letter # 37: 1705-1707, to Brother Thomas)

L-040. Take care never to get into arguments with anybody, for in doing so you can offend against charity, which should be outstanding among you.
(Letter # 71: 1710-1711, to Brother Charies)

L-041. You are well aware that we must have a great love for one another, and for that purpose we must bear with one another in the mistakes into which we often fall through human weakness.
It is in this way especially that we carry out the precept of charity, which we should all hold in great honor.
(Letter # 66: September 14, 1709, to a Brother Director)

L-042. I am delighted that you have a good number of student at present. Make sure that you keep them. Keep an eye on that Brother who slaps the students, and see to it that he stops doing it. This is most important.
(Letter # 4: July 8, 1708, to Brother Denis)

L-043. It is because of your zeal for the instruction of children that you understood this enterprise and that you have continued to carry it out in spite of the difficulties it has caused you.
(Letter # 99: to a Brother)

L-044. Take care not to give way to impatience in carrying out your ministry, otherwise it will be quite unproductive.
When you feel moved to impatience, control yourself and wait until he the impulse has passed before your act… This will be an effective way of bringing you to correct yourself of this failing.
(Letter # 99: to a Brother)

L-045. Offer yourself every day to God with all your sufferings, so that he may accomplish by them whatever he wishes.
When we give ourselves to God, we must be more steadfast and seek him alone. Inconstancy is a sign that we often pay a great deal of attention to our own wishes.
(Letter # 70: September 21, 1709[Rheims] to a Brother)

L-046. Take the means to see that there is among you a great love for seeking the salvation of your neighbor, and that all is done with kindness and propriety as among Brothers who should have mutual love for each other and bear with each other’s faults.
This is what will draw down on you the grace and blessings of God. For that to happen, you must bear with one another.
Often ask God for this peace and union.
(Letter # 74: to a Brother Director)

L-047. I do not know if you fear putting yourself in the hands of Providence. Never think that I will abandon you.
Place more trust in God.
(Letter # 14: October, 1704, to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-048. Do not forget to thank God for all the blessings he bestows for all the blessings he bestows on you, for ingratitude for favors is most displeasing to him.
(Letter # 76: to a Brother Director)

L-049. For the love of God, do not slap your students. It is not by dint of blows that people are drawn to good or to God.
Therefore watch yourself very closely in class in order not to give way to impatience.
(Letter # 92: to a Brother)

L-050. You must expect to have troubles all through your life, wherever and in whatever situation you may find yourself. That is why you need to be disposed to bear calmly all those that God sends you…
(Letter # 36: October 25, 1705)

L-051. Take care that you often recall the presence of God, for this is the principal fruit of prayer; it will be of little benefit to you if you do not take pains to practice mortification but rather seek your own comfort.
(Letter # 3: 1701, to Brother Denis)

L-052. With regard to the teaching of catechism, it seems to me that the right thing and the important thing is to teach it in your school. I do not like our Brothers teaching catechism in church. However, if it is forbidden to do so in the school. It is better to do it in the church than not at all.
(Letter # 8: 1705[Paris], to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-053. It is disgraceful to call [the student] hurtful names. Be careful not to let human respect prevent you from doing good. It is really disgraceful to call your pupils by insulting names, and it also gives them bad example.
(Letter # 4: 1708, to Brother Denis)

L-054. Take care not to get upset over trivialities. It is neither wise nor sensible to allow your mind to be disturbed over mere trifles.
Don’t give in so easily to your hasty temper. A little patience and God will take care of everything.
(Letter # 90: to a Brother)

L-055. Apply yourself often to remember the presence of God… Look upon this practice as your greatest happiness.
Try, please, to perform all your actions with the thought of God’s presence in mind and through sentiments of faith.
(Letter #87: to a Brother)

L-056. Take care not to slap your students; you know that is forbidden in the rules.
I think we must dismiss the students who are not regular in their attendance or who come late, for to tolerate either the one or the other brings about disorder in the school.
(Letter #50: 1706, to Brother Clement)

L-057. Be careful not to give way to impatience… This is very important, for it could bring the disfavor of God…
It is fault that we often have the occasion to commit. We have to keep careful watch over ourselves so that we do not lose control of ourselves.
(Letter # 92: to a Brother)

L-058. You will do well to work hard at your lessons in religious instruction … To give them well you must begin courageously, even giving them poorly, for no one does anything well the first time.
As long as you teach your students to the best of your ability, you can have a clear conscience in the matter.
(Letter #94: to a Brother)

L-059. Writing is necessary, but religious studies are surely more in keeping with your profession. It must be the first of your daily occupations, since you first care is to instill a Christian spirit into your students.
(Letter # 49: to a Brother)

L-060. Be watchful that you do not give way to impatience in class, for far from bringing order to the class, it prevents you from achieving it
(Letter # 2: to a Brother)

L-061. I assure that I have a great tenderness and affection for you and often pray to God for you. I have been greatly encouraged by your last letter, and the assurance of your wholehearted affection gives me much joy.
Please let me know how you are getting along.
(Letter # 32: 1716[Saint Yon, suburb of Rouen to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-062. Be sure to be warmly affable toward everyone, to speak to and to answer everyone with a very great gentleness and deference, keeping in mind the way Our Lord spoke and replied to others, even when he was most harshly treated.
(Letter # 105: to a member of a religious community of men)

L-063. Writing is necessary, but religious studies are surely more in keeping with your profession. It must be the first of your daily occupations, since you first care is to instill a Christian spirit into your students.
(Letter # 49: to a Brother)

L-064. Be watchful that you do not give way to impatience in class, for far from bringing order to the class, it prevents you from achieving it
(Letter # 2: to a Brother)

L-065. I assure that I have a great tenderness and affection for you and often pray to God for you. I have been greatly encouraged by your last letter, and the assurance of your wholehearted affection gives me much joy.
Please let me know how you are getting along.
(Letter # 32: 1716[Saint Yon, suburb of Rouen to Brother Gabriel Drolin)

L-066. Be sure to be warmly affable toward everyone, to speak to and to answer everyone with a very great gentleness and deference, keeping in mind the way Our Lord spoke and replied to others, even when he was most harshly treated.
(Letter # 105: to a member of a religious community of men)

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