Lord, who can comprehend even one of your words? We lose more of it than we grasp, like those who drink from a living spring. For God’s word offers different facets according to the capacity of the listener, and the Lord has portrayed his message in many colors, so that whoever gazes upon it can see in it what suits him. Within it he has buried manifold treasures, so that each of us might grow rich in seeking them out
–Saint Ephrem of Syria (c. 306 – 373)
The word of God is a tree of life that offers us blessed fruit from each of its branches. It is like that rock which was struck open in the wilderness, from which all were offered spiritual drink… And so whenever anyone discovers some part of the treasure, he should not think that he has exhausted God’s word… A thirsty man is happy when he is drinking, and he is not depressed because he cannot exhaust the spring. So let this spring quench your thirst, and not your thirst the spring. For if you can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring, then when you thirst again you can drink from it once more… Be thankful then for what you have received.
–Saint Ephrem of Syria (c. 306 – 373)
The title of Mary as our mother is not merely symbolic. Mary is our mother in the most real and lofty sense, a sense which surpasses that of earthly maternity. She begot our life of grace for us because she offered up her entire being, body and soul, as the Mother of God. That is why an intimate bond exists between Mary and ourselves. She loves us, she knows us, she exerts herself to bring each one of us into the closest possible relationship with the Lord – that which we are above all supposed to be.
–Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)
How pleasing the faith of Our Lady was to the Heavenly Father! It was her faith that made Jesus grow more and more each day in her. If we have such faith it will make Jesus grow in our hearts.
–Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified (1846-1878)
Suppose that you had fallen into the river, and that a charitable person threw himself into the water to save you. What would you say to such kindness? Moreover, suppose that, hardly drawn from the water, you had been attacked by assassins, and that your rescuer again came to your assistance, and saved your life at the risk of his own. What would you do in return for such friendship? It is certain that you would do all in your power to heal the bruises he received on your account. So ought we to act towards Christ: we must contemplate Him engulfed in an ocean of sorrows to save us from the eternal abyss; consider Him all covered with wounds and bruises to purchase for us eternal life. Then let us make His pains our own, sympathize with His sorrows, and consecrate to Him all our affections.
–Saint Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)
It is one flash, the being-ready and the pouring in. Nature reaching her summit, God dispenses His grace: the instant the spirit is ready, God enters without hesitation or delay.
–Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
