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However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us nor do we need wings to go in search of him, but merely to seek solitude and contemplate him within ourselves, without being surprised to find such a good Guest there.

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
Without
Merely
Softly
Need
Seek
Guest
Needs
However
Contemplating
Good
Close
Guests
Hear
Surprised
Within
Search
Speak
Solitude
Find
Wings
Contemplate

More quotes by John of the Cross

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God desires the smallest degree of purity of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform.
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The centre of the soul is God and, when the soul has attained to Him according to the whole capacity of its being, which is the strength and virtue of the soul, it will have reached the last and the deep centre of the soul, which will be when with all its powers it loves and understands and enjoys God.
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To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.
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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.
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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.
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If it were given to a man to see virtue's reward in the next world, he would occupy his intellect, memory and will in nothing but good works, careless of danger or fatigue.
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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.
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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.
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Not to follow the advice of our confessor is pride and a want of faith.
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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My spirit has become dry because it forgets to feed on You.
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.
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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.
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.
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To reach satisfaction in all desire its possession in nothing, To come to the knowledge of all desire the knowledge of nothing. To come to possess all desire the possession of nothing. To arrive at being all desire to be nothing.
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Beloved, all that is harsh and difficult I want for myself, and all that is gentle and sweet for thee.
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.
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At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity.
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A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things.
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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