Silence must reign in our souls, and our passions must be calmed, if we are to hear the interior Master who speaks in a low voice as friend to friend. If we are habitually concerned with ourselves, how shall we taste the sweetness of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Redemption, and the Eucharist?
–Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (1877–1964)
Sometimes the flame of a lamp can leap up and burn furiously. At other times it burns gently and quietly. Sometimes its light leaps up and emits a great radiance. At other times its small flame gives out only a dim light. This is how it is with the lamp of grace in the soul. It is always lit and giving off illumination, but when it burns with special radiance, it is as if the soul were drunk with love for God. At other times, as God himself decides, the light is still there but it is only a dim glow.
–Saint Macarius the Great (c. 300-391)
When we share in the Lord’s body and blood, when we eat his bread and drink his cup, this truly means that we die to the world and have our hidden life with Christ in God, crucifying our flesh and its weaknesses and its desires.
–Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe (Fifth – Sixth Century)
When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)
As time goes on, the way will gradually be rendered less rough, and the difficulties will be smoothed away, because the purer our hearts become, the more abundantly we shall receive graces.
–Louis Lallemant (1578–1635)
Let it be clear in all your relations with the children who are entrusted to you that you look upon yourself as a minister of God, acting with love, with a sincere and true zeal, accepting with much patience the difficulties you have to suffer. The zeal that inspires you is meant to give you these dispositions, recognising that it is God who called you, who has chosen you for this ministry, and who has sent you to work in his vineyard. Fulfill your ministry, then, with all the affection of your heart, working entirely for him.
–Saint John Baptiste de la Salle (1651-1719)
