Impure attachment…
Nothing so mars and defiles the heart of man as impure attachment to created things.
–Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
Spiritual desire is…
Spiritual desire is the longing of the heart for relationship with God that brings happiness and peace.
–Ilia Delio (1955-
Attack the roots of sin…
When you attack the roots of sin, fix your thought more on the God you desire than on the sin you abhor.
–Walter Hilton (1340-1396)
Silence this restless din…
Truly, there is so great a din in your heart, and so much loud shouting from your empty thoughts and fleshly desires that you can neither see nor hear Him. Therefore, silence this restless din, and break your love of sin and vanity. Bring into your heart a love of virtues and complete charity, and then you shall hear your Lord speak to you.
–Walter Hilton (1340-1396)
Suffering: a pain and joy…
There is nothing more painful than suffering, and nothing more joyful than to have suffered. Suffering is a short pain and a long joy. Suffering gives to the sufferer pain here and joy hereafter.
–Blessed Henry Suso (c. 1295–1366)
Suffering (can) turn us…
Grains of wheat, when ground in the mill, turn in the flour. With this flour we can make the wafer of the holy Eucharist. Grapes, when crushed in the winepress, yield their juice. This juice turns into wine. Similarly, suffering so crushes us that we turn into better human beings.
–Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (1910-1946)
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