Saint John XXIII, known as the “Good Pope,” left a legacy of tenderness, wisdom, and profound trust in God. Among his most endearing and practical spiritual writings is the Serenity Decalogue, a set of 10 brief principles that teach us to live in the present with simplicity and faith, leaving aside the anxieties of the past and the future.

This Decalogue, which he himself applied in his daily life, reflects his spirituality centered on humility, inner peace, and trusting surrender to God’s will. Here we present it:

Decalogue of Serenity

1. Just for today, I’ll try to live exclusively in the day, without trying to solve all of my life’s problems at once.
   → An invitation to live in the present, without worrying about what’s to come.

2. Just for today, I will take the utmost care of my appearance: courteous in my manners, I will not criticize anyone, and I will not seek to improve or discipline anyone but myself.
   → Self-control and charity as a path to personal conversion.

3. Just for today, I will be happy with the certainty of having been created for happiness, not only in the next world, but also in this one.
   → Christian joy is born from knowing that one is loved by God.

4. Just for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without expecting circumstances to adapt to my wishes.
   → Acceptance of reality as an expression of divine providence.

5. Just for today, I’ll dedicate ten minutes to a good read, remembering that, just as food is necessary for the body, so is good reading for the soul.
   → Spiritual formation is part of a balanced life.

6. Just for today, I will do a good deed and not tell anyone.
   → Silent charity, lived from the heart.

7. Just for today, I’ll make a detailed plan. I might not stick to it completely, but I’ll write it down. And I’ll guard against two calamities: haste and indecision.
   → Inner order is also built in everyday life.

8. Just for today, I will firmly believe—even if circumstances prove otherwise—that divine goodness cares for me as if no one else existed in the world.
   → Total trust in God’s Providence.

9. Just for today, I will not be afraid. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.
   → Fear paralyzes; beauty and goodness liberate the soul.

10. Just for today, I will resolve to live each day to the fullest without getting caught up in tomorrow’s problems.
    → Live each day as a gift, in peace.

A simple path to everyday holiness

The Decalogue of Serenity is not just a list of good resolutions. It is a spirituality of the present moment, a profoundly evangelical method for combating the stress, anxiety, and distraction of modern life. Saint John XXIII lived it with simplicity and joy, and today it continues to invite us to do the same:  to trust in God and live today as if it were the only day.

“The Lord has given it to me, the Lord can take it away. Whatever it is, blessed be the Lord.”
—  Saint John XXIII