If a man truly loves God, and has no will but to do God’s will, the whole force of the river Rhine may run at him, and will not disturb him nor break his peace. If we find outward things a danger and disturbance, it comes from our appropriating to ourselves what is God’s.
–Johannes Tauler (c. 1300-1361)
The entirely comfortable being-at-home in the world, the satiety of pleasures that it offers, the demand for these pleasures and the matter-of-course consent to these demands – all of this that human nature considers bright daily life – all of this is darkness in God’s eyes and incompatible with the divine light. It has to be totally uprooted if room for God is to be made in the soul.
–Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)
We gain more in a single day by trials that come to us from God and our neighbor than we would in ten years of penance and other exercises that we take up ourselves.
–Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Humility is to the various virtues what the chain is to the Rosary; take away the chain and the beads are scattered, remove humility and all virtues vanish.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)
Be extremely prompt in turning away from all that leads and lures to impurity, for this evil… by small beginnings, progresses to great mischief. It is always easier to avoid than to cure this.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
I advise you to remain simply either in God or close to God, without trying to do anything there, and without asking anything of Him, unless He urges it.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
