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In the exercise of this self denial everything else, and even more, is discovered and accomplished. If one fails in this exercise, the root and sum total of all the virtues, the other methods would amount to no more than going about in circles without getting anywhere, even were one to enjoy considerations and communications as lofty as those of the angels.

As a result the soul recognizes the truth about its misery, of which it was formerly ignorant. When it was walking in festivity, gratification, consolation, and support in God, it was more content, believing that it was serving God in some way. Though this idea of serving God may not be explicitly formed in a person's mind, at least some notion of it is deeply embedded within, owing to the satisfaction derived from one's spiritual exercises.

Pray that the best portion of your life may not be overshadowed by idle fears. We have only life's brief moments to spend for the glory of God, and well does Satan know it. That is why he employs every ruse to make us consume them in useless labour. Dear sister, go often to Holy Communion, go very often-that is your one remedy.

Our life is the life of heaven. St John of the Cross has said that the contemplative has no task here below that she will not have in heaven. The difference is that on earth that task is done in the obscurity of faith; in heaven there will be no veil between God and us.

Yes, ... Jesus is there with His Cross! Privileged one of His love, He wills to make you like Him! Why be frightened at not being able to carry this cross without weakening?

It is by the Blood of the cross that He will make peace in my little heaven, so that it may truly be the repose of the Three. He will fill me with Himself; He will bury me with Him; He will make me live again with Him, by His life.

We can assume that the prospect of the faithful who would follow Him on His way of the cross strengthened the Savior during His night on the Mount of Olives. And the strength of these cross-bearers helps Him after each of His falls.

There is no wood like that of the cross for lighting the fire of love in the soul! And Jesus needs to be loved and to find in the world, where He is so offended, souls that are given, wholly surrendered to Him and His good pleasure!

However great the abundance of this water He gives, there cannot be too much in anything of His. If He gives a great deal, He gives the soul, as I said, the capacity to drink much; like a glass-maker who makes the vessel a size he sees is necessary in order to hold what he intends to pour into it.

I beg you not to remain any longer at the feet of Jesus but to follow that first impulse that would carry you into His arms.

It is easier to have oneself nailed to the cross with Christ, than to become a stammering babe with Him.

Life is long, and there are in it many trials, and we need to look at Christ our model, how He suffered them, and also at His apostles and saints, so as to bear these trials with perfection.