Quotes & Themes – Distractions
Distractions
The smallest distraction does not withdraw your soul from God, for nothing withdraws us from God but sin. (Spiritual Conferences, 9)
Wolves and bears are certainly more dangerous than flies, but they do not cause us so much annoyance, nor do they exercise our patience so much. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part IV, Chapter 8)
Flies do not trouble us with their strength, but by their number. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 10)
We fight the monsters of Africa in imagination, and from lack of attention we allow ourselves in reality to be killed by the little serpents that lie in our way. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 37)
We want our prayer to be steeped in orange-flower water, and we would be virtuous in eating sugar. (Letters to Persons in Religion, I 8)
Do not permit your spirit to consider its miseries, let God work; He will make something good of it. (Letters to Persons in Religion, III 10)
The very solicitude we have not to be distracted causes oftentimes a very great distraction. (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 10)
Accustom yourself to know how to pass from prayer to all sorts of actions which your vocation justly and lawfully requires of you. (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part II, Chapter 8)
It is quite certain that our prayer will be none the less pleasing to God, nor less useful to ourselves for having been made with difficulty. (Spiritual Conferences, 18)
When your heart is wandering and distracted, bring it back gently and quietly to its point, restore it tenderly to its Master’s side. (Letters to Persons in Religion, V 13)
We must be resolutely determined never to give up prayer for any difficulty that we may encounter in it. (Spiritual Conferences, 18)
If you did nothing the whole of your hour but bring back your heart patiently and put it near your Lord again, and every time you put it back it turned away again, your hour would be well employed. (Letters to Persons in Religion, V 13)
North American Salesian Network
The North American Salesian Network (NASN) is an organization of both lay and religious groups that live the Salesian teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. NASN facilitates the sharing of Salesian resources, educational services, vocational efforts, and a variety of resources, bringing this optimistic, joy-filled spirituality to people throughout the world.