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.

Discovering LIFE ~in the Desert

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | March 1, 2023

Jesus, following his baptism by John, was driven by the Spirit, to spend time in the desert for forty days. There he wrestled with temptations and questions about who he was and how he was to live his deepest call in relationship with his Father and with others. Fifteen years ago, I was drawn to experience life…

Exploring Intersections: Catholic Sisters on Racism, Migration and Climate

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | May 10, 2021

A Reflection on Gender Equity by Sr. Rosemary O’Brien, SSJ This collaborative project of LCWR Region 10 involves a year-long monthly discussion. Each month focuses on a social issue and explores how it intersects with Racism, Migration, and Climate. Gender Equity was the focus of the first discussion on March 10, 2021. A facilitator and…

InFORMATION: What we need is here.

By Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA | August 31, 2020

by Rosemary O’Brien, SSJ “Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, Clear in the ancient faith:  what we need is here.”                                        Wendell…