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This knowledge, when purer, is even at times the cause of darkness because it dispossesses the intellect of its customary lights, forms, and phantasies and effects a noticeable darkness.

Contemplation is perceived more frequently in the will under the form of love, than in the intellect under the form of knowledge.

Then Our Lord said: “Ah, my daughter, they are few who love me in truth; for if men loved me, I should not hide my secrets from them. Do you know what is to love me in truth? It is to admit everything to be a lie which is not pleasing unto me.”

We are miserable and fall at every step. We are children who don't even know how to talk. Why doesn't Jesus become angry with our falls that are caused by our ignorance and our weakness? Never allow discouragement to enter your heart.

Feed not your spirit on anything but God. Cast off concern about things, and bear peace and recollection in your heart.

You must build a little cell within your soul as I do. Remember that God is there and enter it from time to time; when you feel nervous or you're unhappy, quickly seek refuge there and tell the Master all about it....We come quite simply to the One we love, stay close to Him like a little child in the arms of its mother, and we let our heart go....If you only knew how well He understands....You wouldn't suffer any more if you understood that.

With bold surrender, I wish to remain gazing upon You, O Lord, my divine Sun. Nothing will frighten me, neither wind nor rain, and if dark clouds come and hide You from my gaze, I will not change my place because I know that beyond the clouds You still shine on and Your brightness is not eclipsed for a single instant.

...yet true humility is not attended with trouble; it does not disturb the soul; it causes neither obscurity nor aridity: on the contrary, it consoles. It is altogether different, bringing with it calm, sweetness, and light. It is no doubt painful; but, on the other hand, it is consoling, because we see how great is the mercy of our Lord in allowing the soul to have that pain, and how well the soul is occupied.

As I could not reason with my mind, I would try to make pictures of Christ inwardly; and I used to think I felt better when I dwelt on those parts of His life when He was most often alone. It seemed to me that His being alone and afflicted, like a person in need, made it possible for me to approach Him.

Don't pay too much attention to whether you are fervent or discouraged; it is the law of our exile to pass from one state to the other like that.

Prayer ought to be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and accompanied with great reverence. One should consider that he stands in the presence of a God, and speaks with a Lord before whom the angels tremble from awe and fear.

We must, above all, pray as the Savior Himself has taught us so insistently. “Ask and it shall be given you.” This is the certain promise of being heard. And if we pray every day with all our heart: “Lord, thy will be done,” we may well trust that we shall not have failed to do God’s will even when we no longer have subjective certainty.