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If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.

John of the Cross

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John of the Cross
Age: 49 †
Born: 1542
Born: June 24
Died: 1591
Died: December 14
Carmelite Friar
Catholic Priest
Poet
Saint
Writer
Saint John of the Cross
Juan de la Cruz
Deny
Perfection
Progress
Learn
Make

More quotes by John of the Cross

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The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, is always in her palace of jubilation, ever singing with fresh ardor and fresh pleasure a new song of joy and love.
John of the Cross
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Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.
John of the Cross
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If you lose an opportunity you will be like one who lets the bird fly away you will never get it back.
John of the Cross
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God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty.
John of the Cross
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God is a dark night to man in this life.
John of the Cross
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God leads every soul by a separate path.
John of the Cross
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In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.
John of the Cross
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Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.
John of the Cross
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Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.
John of the Cross
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Lord, I shall see you no more with the eyes of the flesh.
John of the Cross
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He who loves is not ashamed before men of what he does for God, neither does he hide it through shame though the whole world should condemn it.
John of the Cross
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For true devotion must issue from the heart, and consist in the truth and substances alone of what is represented by spiritual things all the rest is affection and attachment proceeding from imperfection and in order that one may pass to any kind of perfection it is necessary for such desires to be killed.
John of the Cross
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In search of my Love I will go over mountains and strands I will gather no flowers, I will fear no wild beasts And pass by the mighty and the frontiers.
John of the Cross
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They say, God told me, or God replied to me. And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.
John of the Cross
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Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.
John of the Cross
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Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage and a persevering spirit.
John of the Cross
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Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting.
John of the Cross
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However high be your endeavors, unless you renounce and subjugate your own will - unless you forget yourself and all that pertains to yourself - not one step will you advance on the road to perfection.
John of the Cross
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In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened and instructed.
John of the Cross
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I have said this to explain the stanza that follows, in which the soul replies to those who call in question its holy tranquillity, who will have it wholly occupied with outward duties, that its light may shine before the world: these persons have no conception of the fibres and the unseen root whence the sap is drawn, and which nourish the fruit.
John of the Cross