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

maxim-MODERN-26

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

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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.

A Reflection for the Second Week of Advent

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | December 9, 2024

Prophets of Hope by Rosemary O’Brien, SSJ “Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” ~Emily Dickinson Hope is the word that is perched in my soul these Advent days, as I try to sing the tune without the words.…

A Reflection for the First Week of Advent

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | December 2, 2024

Hidden Holiness by Marie Stephen Kebort, SSJ Each year, as the Advent season approaches, we can pause and reflect on how we live our everyday lives and where we are on our spiritual journey. Whenever we evaluate our progress, having some sort of measuring rod as a companion is always helpful. What better one to…

Table of Plenty

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | April 7, 2024

A reflection by SSJ Agrégée​ Cindy Polesnak Imagine that you are the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, discussing the events of the past 3 days, Jesus’ last supper, crucifixion, and resurrection. The two disciples learn that Jesus was not in the tomb, they were feeling disappointed, sad, and discouraged. As they continue their…