Let’s despise the world and its false gods. Let’s despise its honors. In vain would we seek our happiness in them. It will benefit us greatly to receive nothing from the world but ingratitude and opposition. This will detach us from it and attach us closely to God alone.
–Saint Joan Antide-Thouret (1765-1826)
If we find nothing in the world to please us, we ought to be pleased by this very not finding anything to please us.
–Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)
This is the reason why we have no ease of heart or soul, for we are seeking our rest in trivial things, which cannot satisfy, and not seeking to know God, almighty, all-wise, all-good. He is true rest.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
He who wishes to find Jesus should seek Him, not in the delights and pleasures of the world, but in mortification of the senses.
–Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
If you desire Him to dwell in your heart, empty it of yourself and of all creatures.
–Saint John of Ávila (1500-1569)
Christ died for love of us: let us suffer for love of Him. He carried His cross: let us help Him to bear it. He was dishonored, therefore renounce honor: He suffered torments, let them come to me. He lived [lacking] many necessities, let me go destitute. Jesus made Himself a stranger for me, let me have nothing in which my heart can rest. He died for me; may my life be a continual death for the love of Him. Therefore, care less for temporal things and attend instead to those which are more important. Withdraw your heart from the world before God takes your body from it: keep your mind in perfect peace however much it is occupied in business.
–Saint John of Avila (1500 – 1569)
