I saw that He was a man, even though He was God; that He wasn’t surprised by human weaknesses; that He understands our miserable make-up, subject to many falls on account of the first sin which He came to repair. I can speak with Him as with a friend, even…
When the soul reflects that God is the guide of its blind self, then its main preoccupation will be to see that it sets no obstacle in the way of its Guide, the Holy Spirit, upon the road by which God is leading it. – St. John of the Cross
Your wisdom, O Word, is like the bush you showed to Moses, which burned, but was not consumed…Those who seek and go after the wisdom that is human abhor your wisdom, but to God human wisdom is foolishness….In addition, by abhorring your wisdom, they deny themselves union with you, for…
As the earthly body has need of daily bread, so the divine life in us demands continual nourishment. “This is the bread of life come down from heaven.” And each day in us, who make it become our daily bread, is accomplished the mystery of Christmas, the Incarnation of the…
He should not go seeking after new things which can only satisfy the desires in a superficial manner (and even here cannot satisfy fully) while leaving the spirit weak and empty, without deep inner virtue. -St. John of the Cross
I see clearly, and since then have always seen, that if we are to please God, and if He is to give us His great graces, everything must pass through the hands of His most sacred humanity, in whom His majesty said that He is well pleased. -St. Teresa of…
…it is not enough for me to give to the one who asks, I ought to anticipate the wish; I should show myself honored by the request for service, and if anything set apart for my use be taken away I should appear glad to be rid of it. -St.…
Never take a man for your example in the tasks you have to perform, however holy he may be, for the devil will set his imperfection before you. But imitate Christ, who is supremely perfect and supremely holy, and you will never err. – St. John of the Cross
How impossible it is for a soul to judge the things of God aright! To do so it must completely get rid of its desire and pleasures apart from God. -St. John of the Cross
The soul suffers many trials, for the Lord wants the poor gardener to think that all the trouble he has taken in watering the garden and keeping it alive is lost. Then is the proper time for weeding and rooting out the smaller plants, and this must be done, however…