Acquire Quote by St. Vincent
“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, 1548
True perfection lies in surrendering personal desire and aligning every action with divine will, embracing self‑denial and the cross as the path to holiness.
In simple terms: Perfection is doing God’s will, not your own.
Key Takeaway
Align daily choices with divine purpose.
Themes
spirituality
self‑denial
holiness
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily prayer
- ethical decisions
- service work
- personal sacrifice
Key Concepts
Divine will
self‑sacrifice
habit formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to will God’s will in modern life?
- How can you balance self‑sacrifice with self‑care?
A Different Perspective
Self‑denial can be psychologically taxing and may conflict with personal boundaries.
![“But to follow Jesus is not to imitate him, for following him does not mean becoming a Jesus oneself. Nor does it mean admiration of a hero and a mystical contemporaneity with him.[48] One follows Christ in one’s own response to the mission of Christ at the present day and in taking up one’s own…” quote by Jurgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/95a/j-rgen-moltmann-9122_goals_but-to-follow-jesus-is-not-to-imitate-hi_1234075.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
