How Can We Foster Inspirations?
–Jacques Philippe (1947-
Those who travel with God feel free; they feel that they have nothing to fear, that they are not subject to control, but on the contrary that everything is subject to them because everything works together for their good, whether favorable or unfavorable circumstances, good or bad. They feel that everything belongs to them because they are God’s children; that nothing can limit them, because God belongs to them. They are not subject to conditions but always do what they want because what they want is to love, and that is always within their power. Nothing can separate them from the God they love; and they feel that even if they were in prison, they would be just as happy, because there is no way that any power in the world could take God away from them.
–Jacques Philippe (1947-
If you do not feel like praying then force yourself. The Holy Fathers say that prayer with force is higher than prayer unforced. You do not want to, but force yourself. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force (Matthew 1112).
–Saint Ambrose of Optina (1812-1891)
God is both light and darkness to each one as he sees fit. If he is darkness to you, seek nothing else.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
To feel God’s presence so intimately and powerfully, so that you are no longer aware of yourself is to have that little drop of water, self, dissolve in the ocean of divinity.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
As birds cannot soar on high with only one wing, neither should the soul persuade herself that she can rise aloft to God by mortification unless it be accompanied by prayer. Mortification without prayer is useless toil, and prayer without mortification is like meat without salt: it soon corrupts. Hence the soul must provide herself with both wings if her flight is to be towards the courts of heaven where her heart ought to find its full content in converse with God.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
