One great point of prudence requisite in an earnest Christian is not to overtax his bodily strength with excessive work, nor his mind by too much care about worldly business. And there certainly should be a like and equal discretion in spiritual duties. Excess may choke devotion; and a care for the salvation of others (it will be well, for all who minister to others in holy things, to have in mind) cause a neglect of our own. That truly saintly man, the Marquis de Renty, gives this wise advice in a letter to a friend: " Give me leave to deal plainly with you, in telling you, that among the many cares I have for you, this is not the least, that you do not lay too much on yourself, and for want of moderation in the service of Christ and His Church, render yourself altogether unserviceable. The enemy of the Saviour, of the Church, and people, takes no small advantage of such indiscretion. A Christian is not his own, but with Saint Paul, a debtor, in his degree, to all men. Preserve yourself, therefore, not so much by making much of yourself, as by forbearing to weaken and destroy yourself, by excess in devotion, fastings, and labours for others." This is not now a frequent mistake, far from it; but there are some of you, and in every large congregation, to whom the caution may be of use, especially in Lent.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp