Whatever you are doing, with whomever you are speaking, whether you are going somewhere or sitting, let your mind be with the Lord. You will forget yourself, and stray from this path; but again turn to the Lord and rebuke yourself with sorrow. This is the discipline of spiritual attentiveness.
–Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)
Make the habit to remember God, not only during your prayers, but at every hour and minute of the day, for He is everywhere present.
–Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)
The essence of prayer is the lifting of the mind and heart to God
–Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)
If someone said to you, “I would like to become rich; what must I do?” you would answer him, “You must labor.” Well, in order to get to Heaven, we must suffer.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)
As for ourselves, how often do we come to church without thinking what we are going to do or for what we are going to ask. And yet, when we go to call upon someone, we have no difficulty in remembering why it was we came. Some appear as if they were about to say to God: ‘I am just going to say a couple of words, so I can get away quickly.’
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)
With God, the more one seems to lose the more one gains. The more He strikes off of what is natural, the more He gives of what is supernatural. He is loved at first for His gifts, but when these are no longer perceptible He is at last loved for Himself. It is by the apparent withdrawal of these sensible gifts that He prepares the way for that great gift which is the most precious and the most extensive of all, since it embraces all others.
–Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751)
