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He will not show Himself openly or reveal His glories or bestow His treasures, save on souls who prove that they ardently desire Him, for these are His real friends.

I have never heard Him speak, but I know that He is within me.

I cannot believe that one who has approached so near to Mercy Himself, Who has shown the soul what it really is and all that God has pardoned it, would not instantly and most willingly forgive, and be at peace, and remain well-affected towards anyone who has injured her.

Is there any freedom greater than the freedom to serve God? Is there any freedom more complete than union with Him? Does He not free us from ties of money and property and selfishness, of avarice and pride and inconstancy? Is He not the only true Emancipator? Who is free who does not love God?

Only at the moment in which the soul for love of God divests itself of all that is not God - and love is just this! - can it be enlightened and transformed in God.

The people of Israel did not find the manna sweet above all else, although it was so in fact, because they would not limit their desires to it alone. The sweetness and nourishment of the manna was not perceived by them, not because it was lacking, but because they longed for other foods beside it.

I assure you that the good Lord is much kinder than you can imagine.

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.

Let us remain quite calm so that however things turn out they will always be to our advantage since God always arranges what is best for us.

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 Word.

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.

The relationship of the soul to God as God foresaw it from all eternity as the goal of her (the soul's) creation, simply cannot be more fittingly designated than as a nuptial bond.