A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
We need to “find” God, who cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is a friend of silence. The more we engage in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Much of our work is invisible and intangible. You cannot measure it by human means; and sometimes a period of silent reflection will accomplish more good than if the time had been spent in outward activity. Our work is immaterial where we are and what we do; the thing that matters is who we are and what we intend. Constant preoccupation with exterior work handicaps our knowledge of ourselves and of our intentions.
–Francis Xavier Ford (1892-1952)
Strive to render your mind deaf and dumb at the time of prayer, and then, you will be able to pray.
–Evagrius Ponticus (345-399)
It is a good discipline to wonder in each new situation if people wouldn’t be better served by our silence than by our words.
–Henri Nouwen (1932–1996)
The Word of God, born once in the flesh (such is his kindness and his goodness), is always willing to be born spiritually in those who desire him. In them he is born as an infant as he fashions himself in them by means of their virtues. He reveals himself to the extent that he knows someone is capable of receiving him. He diminishes the revelation of his glory not out of selfishness but because he recognises the capacity and resources of those who desire to see him. Yet, in the transcendence of mystery, he always remains invisible to all.
–Saint Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
