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There is no wood like that of the Cross to kindle the fire of love in the soul, and Our Lord so wants to be loved, to find in the world … souls that are completely surrendered to Him and to His good pleasure … I tell you from Him that He thirsts for your soul.

The Savior hangs before you with a pierced heart. He has spilled His heart's blood to win your heart...The arms of the Crucified are spread out to draw you to His heart, He wants your life in order to give you His.

For we must not be without our cross, even as our Beloved had his cross, until he died the death of love.

We can do this much; endeavor to conform ourselves to Christ Crucified.

The bridal union of the soul with God is the goal for which she was created, purchased through the cross, consummated on the cross, and sealed for all eternity with the cross.

The soul which has no other aim than the perfect observance of the law of God and the carrying of the cross of Christ will be a true ark, containing the true manna which is God.

What offends Jesus, what wounds His Sacred Heart, is lack of confidence in Him.

In stumbling, in falling with Christ, do not withdraw from the cross or abandon it. Consider carefully the fatigue with which He walks and how much greater His trials are than those trials you suffer, however great you may want to paint them and no matter how much you grieve over them.

In the Passion and death of Christ our sins were consumed by fire. If we accept that in faith, and if we accept the whole Christ in faith-filled surrender, which means, however, that we choose and walk the path of the imitation of Christ, then He will lead us "through His Passion and cross to the glory of His Resurrection." This is exactly what is experienced in contemplation: passing through the expiatory flames to the bliss of the union of love. This explains its twofold character. It is death and resurrection.

In all things I shall be content, knowing that the route I travel leads to Calvary. The thornier the path, the heavier the cross, the more consoled I shall be, because I desire to love you with a suffering love, a selfless love, an active love, with a firm, undivided, persevering love...I have promised you many things, but in no wise do I depend upon my own indolent spirit.

Just as the Lamb had to be killed to be raised upon the throne of glory, so the path to glory leads through suffering and the cross for everyone chosen to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. All who want to be married to the Lamb must allow themselves to be fastened to the cross with him. Everyone marked by the blood of the Lamb is called to this, and that means all the baptized. But not everyone understands the call and follows it.

...He brought about the reconciliation and union of the human race with God through grace.  The Lord achieved this...at the moment in which he was most annihilated... The journey, then, does not consist in consolations, delights, and spiritual feelings, but in the living death of the cross, sensory and spiritual, exterior and interior.