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 [Paul Segneri,  S.J.,  was  born  in  the  year  1624,  at  Nantes. From an early  age  he  showed  a  predilection  for  the  religious  state. He united the  functions  of  missionary  with  that  of  preacher  during  the space of  twenty-seven  years,  with  a  zeal  truly  apostolic. This indefatigable religious  and  saintly  director,  worn  out  with  hard  work  and austerities, yielded  up  his  soul  to  God  in  the  year  1694,  aged  seventy.]

The saintly  Father  Segneri  tells  ,us  that  the  sure  way  of gaining  heaven,  without  much  cost,  is  by  making  frequent acts of  the  love  of  God,  and  by  accustoming  ourselves  to do  everything  with  the  intention  of  pleasing  Him.

We shall  no  longer  be  tempted  to  complain  that  we cannot  undertake  such  great  things  as  we  so  much  admire in others.

God is  content  if  we  do  all  we  can  to  love  Him  in  our sphere of  life,  and  He  asks  for  nothing  more. You sometimes regret  that  you  cannot  practise  great  austerities, which no  doubt  are  due  to  Him  for  our  past  sins.

Supply for  these  in  another  way,  replace  those  fastings and watchings  by  fervent  acts  of  love;  He  requires  nothing more.

You are  engaged  here  below  in  temporal  affairs;  domestic cares, perchance,  occupy  your  time. Well, do  all  these with the  intention  of  pleasing  Him,  and  God  will  be  as content  as  if  you  had  undertaken  the  worthy  functions of an  apostolate.

By what  way,  do  you  think,  did  the  Saints  attain  to the  perfection  of  holiness? It was  less  by  their  heroic actions than  by  the  great  love  they  showed  in  performing their lesser  duties. Our Saviour  does  not  praise  Mary Magdalen for  having  done  much,  but  for  having  loved much. Magdalen had  not  then  practised  austerities,  but the love  of  Jesus  had  filled  her  heart  with  torrents  of tears.