“Lord, there are so many souls who are so far from you!”
I look at your Cross, my Jesus, and I rejoice in your grace, because your Calvary has won for us the reward of the Holy Spirit. And you give yourself to me, each day, lovingly, madly, in the Sacred Host.
“If you lack apostolic zeal you will become insipid”
Following the Master's wishes, you are to be salt and light while being fully immersed in this world we were made to live in, sharing in all human activities. Light illumines the hearts and minds of men. Salt gives flavour and preserves from corruption. That is why if you lack apostolic zeal you will become insipid and useless. You will be letting other people down and your life will be absurd. (The Forge, 22)
“You are obliged to give good example”
You need interior life and doctrinal formation. Be demanding on yourself! As a Christian man or woman, you have to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, for you are obliged to give good example with holy shamelessness.
“You will have to look for souls”
Christ expects a lot from your work. But you will have to look for souls, as the Good Shepherd went after the hundredth sheep: without waiting to be called. Then make use of your friends to do good to others. Tell each one of them that nobody can feel at ease with a spiritual life which, after filling him, does not overflow with apostolic zeal. (Furrow 223)
“How do you expect them to listen to you”
You run the great risk of being satisfied with living, or thinking that you have to live, "like a good boy", who stays in a cosy and neat house, with no problems, and knowing only happiness. That is a caricature of the home in Nazareth. Because Christ brought happiness and order, he went out to spread those treasures among men and women of all times. (Furrow, 952)
“The harvest is great and the laborers few”
The harvest is great and the laborers few. Rogate ergo! Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Prayer is the most effective means of winning new apostles. (The Way, 800)
“Jesus, if you say so, I will search for souls”
'Duc in altum. Put out into deep water!' Throw aside the pessimism that makes a coward of you. And pay out your nets for a catch! Don't you see that you, like Peter, can say: 'In nomine tuo, laxabo rete': Jesus, if you say so, I will search for souls? (The Way, 792)
“Concern for the apostolate”
If your prayers, your sacrifices and your actions do not show a constant concern for the apostolate, it is a sure sign that you are not happy, and that you have to be more faithful. The man who possesses happiness, and the good, will always seek to give it to others. (The Forge, 914)
“Could it not be that you are fainthearted, because your love is so small?”
You will not lack the grace of God. Therefore, if you respond to it, you will be sure to win. Victory depends on you: your strength and drive -- together with that grace -- are reason enough for you to have the optimism of one who knows victory is assured. (Furrow, 80)
“Nobody can give what he does not have”
Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self-surrender, being up-to-date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity. Nobody can give what he does not have. (Furrow, 927)