Wimmer Quotes

My heart is in this work, and I will spare no expense to teach the students first what is necessary, then what is useful, and finally what is beautiful so long as it contributes to their refinement.

Religion and art must cooperate to give our liturgy and outward splendor, great dignity, and even grandeur to render it dear to the people.

As everything was done for God's glory, the blessing of God is visible in many ways.

And yet there is always a true and blessed satisfaction in doing this work; no effort goes to waste; every hardship is rewarded; every seed brings forth some fruit; every brick adds to the structure; on every side there is development where before there was nothing, and where there never would have been anything had not someone weighed the possibilities and put forth the effort.

May unbounded thanks be given to God a thousand times for He chose and made use of us as instruments for the execution of His designs.

We must turn from a desire to know everything to a deep and penetrating scholarship....

Forward, always forward, everywhere forward. We cannot be held back by debts, by the difficulties of the times, by unfortunate years. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

Let us meet one another there under the cross where we will always discover new courage and gather fresh hope.

I have done many good works with the grace of God and I have averted much wickedness. No one can deny that. I am still doing much good and preventing much evil. I do not labor for myself, for my honor or comfort, or for any temporal benefit, but I insist on order in the house. I am a man of peace, a friend of the poor. In all my undertakings, I never craved for money, but rather I looked out for the salvation of souls, the necessities of the Church, and the prosperity of the Order. My motto is, "Everything through the Order for the Church to the greater honor and glory of God."

No one imagined us capable of accomplishing anything significant, and yet we did accomplish something. God's grace was obviously with us. Our chief object the establishment of the Order in America has been achieved, and our second major purpose training and providing a sufficient clergy for our German Catholics is well underway. May unbounded thanks be given to God a thousand times, for He chose and made use of us as instruments for the execution of His designs. Letter to Celestine Englbrecht, July 24, 1887.

If these are your sentiments, you will never have cause to regret having followed me when you are in America. The main reason is not that you are in quest of beautiful surroundings, a comfortable home, or a life of ease, but that you are seeking the opportunity to carry the cross of self denial after the crucified Jesus, to save or regain souls that otherwise would be lost and for which His blood would have been shed in vain.

If my undertaking is from Him, He wll send me co-laborers, wherever they may come from. I am sure of this. Therefore, I will not persuade or entice you to go and thus render you unhappy if you have no vocation. You will never have cause to cast this up to me. I do not know the future. I only show you the cross. If you take it upon your shoulders, very well. Do not, however, complain afterwards when from time to time you feel its weight....

I can vouch for nothing. I am prepared for everything. Whoever wishes to follow me must also be prepared.

... There is nothing perfect here below and that we must carry the cross of affliction because the road to heaven is narrow and thorny. Let there be no Judas among us. Let no temporal considerations motivate us. Let now ambition be our goal. Do not tender my life or yours miserable through such aims If you feel that you are weak, it is no disgrace to stay at home, but to come along without being animated by pure and holy intentions would be acting the part of Judas.... I will not entice you, nor will I tempt you to go, but I will take you along if you desire to follow me.

I must not lose sight of my single goal the greater glory of God and I am confident that I will gain His protection. One must be prepared to contend with many obstacles, but through courage, perseverance, and confidence in God, one will overcome them all.

How far this Benedictine foundation corresponds to those ideals, only the future can tell. Everything is dependent upon the blessing of God who can give both the inspiration and the fulfillment. Anyone who considers the meager means with which we have made the start might have misgivings about the success, but as history teaches, everything that God does begins slowly, proceeds gradually, and often succeeds contrary to human plans and expectations.

God will not abandon me because I work only for Him and for His holy Church.

I also carry everything I need to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Thus, my horse is a wandering chapel.

One should be careful not to lose patience Though one sows in tears, he shall reap in joy. Only let the seed be sown and the plant will not fail to appear, even if it is slow to sprout and slow to ripen!

Forward, always forward, everywhere forward. We will not be held back by debts, by difficult times, by an unfortunate year. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. 1860

In the holy sacrifice of the Mass, we find real consolation in a life full of trouble and suffering, of crosses and adversity. Let us meet each other there, under the cross. There is little time, though we must always take courage, gather fresh hope, and have confidence that is firm as a rock.