Love unites the soul…
Love unites the soul with God, and, the more degrees of love the soul has, the more profoundly does it enter into God and the more is it centered in Him.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Benefits of the dark night…
Four benefits of the dark night: delight of peace, habitual remembrance and thought of God, cleanness and purity of soul, and the practice of the virtues.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
In love, God…
In love did He bring the world into existence; in love does He guide it during this its temporal existence; in love is He going to bring it to that wondrous transformed state, and in love will the world be swallowed up in the great mystery of Him who has performed all these things; in love will the whole course of the governance of creation be finally comprised.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Christ draws near…
Is it not true that Christ draws near with love to those who turn away from him? That he struggles with them, begs them not to scorn his love, and if they show only aversion and remain deaf to his appeals, becomes himself their advocate?
–Pseudo-Dionysius (Fifth-Sixth Century)
Praise God, if…
If physical things please you, then praise God for them, but turn back your love to Him who created them, lest in the things that please you, you displease Him.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
Show me God…
You say to me ‘Show me your God.’ I answer you, ‘Everything you see in your heart that might sadden God, remove.’
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
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