Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life)
Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability— and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on,as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.
–Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955)
Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life)
“Remain in Me.” (Jn. 15:4) It is the Word of God who gives this order, expresses this wish. Remain with Me, not for a few moments, a few hours which must pass away, but “remain…” permanently, habitually, Remain in Me, pray in Me, adore in Me, love in Me, suffer in Me, work and act in Me. Remain in Me so that you may be able to encounter anyone or anything; penetrate further still into these depths.
–Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)
Eucharist, Grace, Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life)
The river of God is brimming with water; that is to say, we are inundated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And from that fountain of life the river of God pours into us in full flood. We also have food prepared for us. And who is this food? It is he in whom we are prepared for life with God, for by receiving his holy body we receive a place in the communion of his holy body… These gifts enter us like a gentle rain, and once having done so, little by little, they bring forth fruit in abundance.
–Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 300-368)
John of the Cross (1542-1591), Page: Quotes, Quote Author, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life), Suffering
Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life)
Those who are struggling in battle ought always to keep their souls free of the tumultuous waves of distraction. If they do this, the mind will be able to distinguish among the thoughts that come to it. The good thoughts, sent by God, they can store in the treasure-house of their memory. The evil thoughts, sent by the devil, they can throw out.
–Saint Diadochus of Photike (c. 400 – c. 486)
Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Spiritual (life)
Five Signs of Spiritual Progress and Growth
ONE: If we are discontented with our present state, whatever it may be, and want to be something better and higher, we have great reason to be thankful to God. For such discontent is one of His best gifts, and a great sign that we are really making progress in the spiritual life…
TWO: Again, strange as it may sound, it is a sign of our growth if we are always making new beginnings and fresh starts… .. For these new starts seen something higher, and therefore for the most part something arduous; whereas fickleness is tired of the yoke, and seeks ease and change…..
THREE: It is also a sign of progress in the spiritual life, when we have some definite thing in view: for instance, if we are trying to acquire the habit of some particular virtue, or to conquer some besetting infirmity, or to accustom ourselves to a certain penance. All this is a test of earnestness, and also a token of the vigor of divine grace within us..
FOUR: But it is a still greater sign that we are making progress, if we have a strong feeling on our minds that God wants something particular from us… To feel then, with all sober reverence, this drawing of the Holy Ghost, is a sign that we are making progress. Yet it must be carefully remembered that no one should be disquieted because of the absence of such a feeling. It is neither universal nor indispensable.
FIVE: I will venture also to add that an increased general desire of being more perfect is not altogether without its value as a sign of progress: and that, in spite of what I have said of the importance of having a definite object in view. I do not think we esteem this general desire of perfection sufficiently. Of course we must not stop at it nor be satisfied with it. It is only given us to go on with.
–Frederick Faber (1814-1863)
