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Nothing is accomplished without effort, without struggle. In our better moments, we no longer shed tears over our own weaknesses or over those of others, but we recall what was interiorly said to St. Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; in union with me you can do all things.

As Our Lord dwells within us, His prayer is ours, and I want to share in it unceasingly, remaining like a little vessel at the spring, at the fountain of life, and so be able to communicate it to others by letting its floods of charity overflow.

...it is supreme ignorance for the soul to think that it will be able to pass to this high estate of union with God if first it void not the desire of all things, natural and supernatural, which may hinder it...for there is the greatest possible distance between these things and that which comes to pass in this estate, which is naught else than transformation in God.

We need sacrifice, renouncement to our own will to reach complete union with Our Lord.

I have understood that the thing that separates me most from God is my pride. I propose to be humble. Without humility the other virtues are hypocrisy. ... Humility gains us similarity to Christ, peace of soul, holiness and intimate union with God.

Oh, would that I could tell everyone what sources of strength, of peace and also of happiness they would find if they consented to live in this intimate union with Him. Only they do not know how to wait. If God does not bestow Himself in a manner they can feel, they leave His holy presence and when He comes to them, laden with graces, He finds nobody there. The soul has gone away into exterior things; it no longer dwells in its center. Recollect yourself from time to time.

There is such a need to mortify the intellect, the memory, and the exterior senses, so that they become almost spiritual, and then united to the soul they find in God alone their nourishment and their consolation, and they can say: "My heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God."

Once an individual is drawn into God's orbit, withdrawing into his own interior and surrendering himself to Him in loving union, he has forever resolved the problem. It suffices that he allow himself to be directed and guided by the Spirit of God- who henceforth moves him noticeably - because he has always and everywhere the certainty of acting rightly.

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You, to become wholly teachable that I may learn all from You. Then, through all nights, all voids, all helplessness, I want to gaze on You always and remain in Your great light. O my beloved Star, so fascinate me that I may not withdraw from Your radiance.

Endeavor always that things be not for you, nor you for them, but forgetful of all, abide in recollection with your Spouse.

The poverty of the Carmelite is very great. She can possess nothing, and this is an assurance that her whole capacity for possessing is filled with God alone. By being poor she becomes more like her divine Spouse, who did not have a place to lay His head. The Carmelite possesses God alone.

May nothing make you waver. Look at Him. He's awaiting you and is filled with infinite love and will make you His bride. He wants to forge with you the most intimate union. He will make you divine, by joining Himself to you. You will live in Jesus amid infinite sweetness, purity, holiness, goodness, amid the love of One who is God.