St. John of the Cross

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. 1

They say, "God told me", or "God replied to me". And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves. 2

The purest suffering bears and carries in its train the purest understanding. 3

The soul that journey's to God, but doesn't shake off it's cares and quiet it's appetities, is like someone who drags a cart of dirt uphill. 4

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. 5

Who teaches the soul if not God? 6

God desires from you the least degree of purity of conscience more than all the works you can perform. 7

Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing. 8

He who loses an opportunity is like the man who lets a bird fly from his hand, for he will never recover it. 9

Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved. 10

What kind of man was this saint who is so seldom well understood? We may say that he was serene, plain, simple... fearless of enemies but gentle towards everyone... intelligent and logical.. outspoken but soft spoken.. powerfully resolute and completely honest... moderate but by no means mediocre.. uncompromising with principles but compassionate with human failings.. poetically brilliant but no weaver of euphemisms.. hard on himself but tender with others. (Thomas Dubay, on St. John of the Cross) 11

Deny your desires and you will find what your heart longs for. For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God? 12

Deny your desires and you will find what your heart longs for. For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God? 13

What does it profit you to give God one thing if he asks of you another? Consider what it is God wants, and then do it. You will satisfy your heart better than with something toward which you are inclined. 14

God does not fit in an occupied heart. 15

God like the sun, stands above souls ready to communicate himself. 16

To come to possess all, desire the possession of nothing. 17

God passes through the thicket of the world and wherever the divine glance falls, all things are turned to beauty. 18

How gently and lovingly You wake in my heart, where in secret You dwell alone; and in your sweet breathing filled with good and glory, how tenderly You swell my heart with love. 19