Meditation for November 19, Little Actions

"It is enough to pick up a pin with love, to save a soul," said St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

This recalls that good Sister coadjutrix of the Congregation of Notre Dame. (Les Oiseaux), Sister St. Ann, who was often occupied in the garden during her life and who was reminded on her death­bed of the little twigs she so often picked up: "Not one had been picked up without an act of love."

Putting much love into little actions, which are the tissue of our life, is true practical sanctity. God does not ask me to accomplish great actions, but to accomplish all the little actions of my days with a great love. Thus transformed by love, these thousand nothings will become a superb something from which God will draw His glory.

One day, Queen Victoria visited a paper factory. The foreman showed everything to the queen and to the lady of honor who accompanied her without knowing who they were. He conducted them into the place where the first sorting of material takes place; there, from piles of filth, of sweepings, foul and nauseous rags were pulled. He told the queen that from these rags was made paper of the best quality and of an immaculate whiteness.

After the ladies left, the foreman learned that one of the visitors was none other than the queen of England. Shortly after, she re­ceived a package of most beautiful paper carrying the royal seal. A ticket was attached saying that this paper was made from the very rags the queen had seen sorted.

What a magnificent symbol is this fabrication of splendid vellum from a collection of little nothings, of insignificant leftovers, of scraps without value! A magnificent existence can also be fash­ioned from all the twigs of actions and the broken minutes of our days that bring no rest. You are tempted to complain of the pov­erty of your life! But look then more closely, don't you see that it is gold?
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)