On Adversity, Enlightenment, Faith, God
On Adversity
Pain is never permanent.
As to the aridity you are suffering from, it seems to me our Lord is treating you like someone He considers strong: He wants to test you and see if you love Him as much at times of aridity as when He sends you consolations. I think this is a very great favor for God to show you.
The saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him.
Give me wealth or poverty, give me comfort or discomfort, give me joy or sorrow... What do you want to make of me?
On Enlightenment
Let him never cease from prayer who has once begun it, be his life ever so wicked, for prayer is the way to amend it, and without prayer such amendment will be much more difficult.
On Faith
Let nothing disturb thee, Let nothing affright thee, All things are passing, God changeth never.
Life is to life in such a way that we are not afraid to die.
Have confidence in Him. Be of good heart because His Majesty is very solicitous to what we need. Have no fear that you will be lacking anything.
With all this wide and beautiful creation before me, the restless soul longs to enjoy its liberty and rest beyond its bound.
However much we do to avoid them, we shall never lack crosses in this life if we are in the ranks of the Crucified.
It constantly happens that the Lord permits a soul to fall so that it may grow humbler.
It is only mercenaries who expect to be paid by the day.
On God
Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence.
When I think of the Most Holy Trinity, or hear it spoken of, I seem to understand how there can by such a mystery, and it is a great joy to me.
Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.
God rewards here and in the life hereafter our poor little demonstrations of generosity and always above measure. He is so grateful that whoever so much as raises his mind to think of him will not miss his reward.
With the help of our guardian angel we can try to see it reflected in God as in a mirror, for we will never come to know ourselves if we do not try to know God.
God bestows two remedies for all the temptations and trials that we have to endure: Love and Fear... Love makes us quicken our steps, while fear will make us look where we are setting our feet so that we shall not fall.
"Since Jesus is always seeking us out," St. Teresa advises us, "it is paramount that we draw forth new energy to be useful as well as being very grateful for that gift. These are the conditions which the Lord sets down. If we do not manage His treasures well, He will give them to another and we end up paupers. The Lord will give His jewels to someone who will make them shine more radiantly."
Humour
How is it, Lord, that we are cowards in everything save in opposing thee?