I desire neither death nor life. Were Our Lord to offer me my choice, I would not choose. I only will what He wills, and I am pleased with whatever He does. I have no fear of the last struggle, or of any pain, however great, which my illness may…
The very pure spirit does not bother about the regard of others or human respect, but communes inwardly with God, alone and in solitude as to all forms, and with delightful tranquility, for the knowledge of God is received in divine silence. – St. John of the Cross
O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it. – St. Teresa of Avila
In the case of a soul that through its own fault withdraws from this fount and plants itself in a place where the water is black and foul smelling, everything that flows from it is equally wretched and filthy. -St. Teresa of Avila
The more interior the suffering is and the less apparent to the eyes of creatures, the more it rejoices You, O my God! -St. Therese
For often when a person is distracted and forgetful of God, His majesty will awaken it. -St. Teresa of Avila
The center of the soul is God. When the soul loves and understands and enjoys God to its utmost capacity it will have reached its deep center, God. -St. John of the Cross
I must immerse myself in the sacred darkness by putting all my powers in darkness and emptiness…for He wants me to be luminous with His light alone. – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
If you want to find a hidden treasure you must enter the hiding place secretly, and once you have discovered it, you will also be hidden just as the treasure is hidden. Since, then, your beloved Bridegroom is the treasure hidden in a field for which the wise merchant sold…
I am not disturbed at seeing myself weakness itself. On the contrary it is in my weakness that I glory, and I expect each day to discover new imperfections in myself. -St. Therese