QUOTATION: Silence

Silence is God’s first language.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Persistence in Prayer

Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Excessive Attachment

The fly that clings to honey hinders its flight, and the soul that allows itself attachment to spiritual sweetness hinders its own liberty and contemplation.

--St. John of the Cross, Sayings of Light and Love, #24

QUOTATION: Humility

To be taken with love for a soul, God does not look on its greatness, but on the greatness of its humility.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: God

God does not fit in an occupied heart.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Obedience as Sacrifice

Obedience is a penance of the soul, and for that reason a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances. Thence it happens that God loves more the least degree of obedience in you, than all the other services you may think to render him.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Spiritual Dryness

Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Love

Where there is no love, put love, and you will find love.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Wisdom

Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Carrying One's Cross

All bear their crosses although these crosses be different. If a person wants to gain freedom of spirit and not always be troubled let him begin by not being frightened by the cross. Then he will see how the Lord helps him carry it.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Self-Denial

Deny yourself and you'll find what your heart really longs for.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Prayer

Great talent is a gift of God, but it is a gift which is by no means necessary in order to pray well. This gift is required in order to converse well with men; but it is not necessary in order to speak well with God. To speak well with God, one needs good desires and nothing more.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: The Cross

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

-- St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Spiritual Sweetness

The fly that clings to honey hinders its flight, and the soul that allows itself attachment to spiritual sweetness hinders its own liberty and contemplation.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Obedience as Penance

Obedience is a penance of reason, and, on that account, a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances and mortifications.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Mortification

Conquering the tongue is better than fasting on bread and water.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Holy Indifference

If you will not do violence to yourself and will not be indifferent as far as you own interests are concerned, as to who is your Superior, do not flatter yourself that you will ever become a spiritual man and a faithful observer of your vows.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: The Road to Perfection

If you would be perfect, sell your will and give it to the poor in spirit; come to Christ through meekness and humility; and follow Him to Calvary and the grave.

--St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Sentences and Maxims

QUOTATION: Suffering and Consolations

O you souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross of the Lord.

--St. John of the Cross

QUOTATION: Contemplation

Seek in reading and thou shalt find in meditation; knock in prayer and it shall be opened to thee in contemplation.

--St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Sentences and Maxims