SSJ Spiritual Resources

Our personal spiritual growth is nourished and enhanced by daily, or frequent, spiritual readings, prayers, and periods of quiet contemplation and reflection.  Here we offer you a variety of resources from within the larger SSJ community to assist you on your journey.

Maxims of the Little Institute and the Maxims of Perfection

The Maxims of the Little Institute are extracted in various ways from a spiritual book composed by Father MédaiIle at a date unknown to us and eventu­ally published at Clermont-Ferrand in 1657 under the rather lengthy title: Maxims of Perfection for Souls Aspiring to the Great Virtue.

Maxims — A Modern Take

More than 360 years ago, Father Jean Pierre Médaille, SJ, composed the Maxims of the Little Institute, 100 short sayings to help the first Sisters of St. Joseph grow in virtue. We share them here, along with contemporary translations developed by Susan Wilcox, CSJ, Brentwood, and a group of her students.

maxim-MODERN-12

MAXIM 12

ORIGINAL

Choose to bear all the evils of time rather than the least of eternity, all the evils of nature rather than the least deprivation of grace, since all kinds of reasons illumined by faith teach you to live according to this truth.

Original Maxim 12
as written by Fr. Médaille

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MAXIM 26

ORIGINAL

Seek in everything God's contentment and not anything else, and the better to practice this, remember in the entire living out of your life, in desolation, in sick¬ness, etc., to desire God's greater contentment without giving a thought to your own interests.

Original Maxim 26
as written by Fr. Médaille

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MAXIM 54

ORIGINAL

Empty yourself of all human respect and of the least blameworthy concession, and declare, with a generous heart, never to yield in anything that would be against God's will.

Original Maxim 6
as written by Fr. Médaille

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MAXIM 81

ORIGINAL

Whatever the virtue you recognize in yourself, never turn away from a true fear of God, conscious that his judgments are unfathomable and that his appraisals are quite different from ours.

Original Maxim 81
as written by Fr. Médaille

Read all Maxims

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Simply said, our mission is to unite all people with one another and God by responding to the world's ever-changing needs and serving the neighbor without distinction.

An Epiphany Reflection

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | January 6, 2025

Looking For a Star to Follow? An Epiphany Reflection by Jessie Badach Hubert,  VMA alum and friend of the SSJs My beloved spiritual director once gifted me a watercolor painting of a quote by Rilke: “You must give birth to your images. They are the future waiting to be born….The future must enter you long…

A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Advent

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | December 23, 2024

Making Room for Jesus: Preparing Our Hearts by SSJ Associate Margaret Chrymko Over the last few years, how often have we heard that the world is different because of the COVID pandemic? When was the last time we heard that the world is different because of the Incarnation, because Christ came into the world? When…

A Reflection for the Third Week of Advent

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | December 16, 2024

Christmas Presents or Christmas Presence? by SSJ Associate Stephanie Hall  I recall when my now adult son was preschool age and, as a family, we attended the Christmas Eve children’s Mass at our parish. We often sat up front as it helped hold our children’s attention. A young, newly ordained priest was celebrating his first…