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

John of the Cross

The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Growth Love Soul Walk
The window of the soul cleansed perfectly and made completely transparent by the divine light.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Divine Light Perfection Soul Window
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.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Care Intellectual Man Memories See Virtue
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

Love Peaceful Secret Soul Spirit
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.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Earth God Heart Himself Live Soul World
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

Hide Himself Love Shame World
God leads every soul by a separate path.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

God Leadership Path Separate
When there is no love, pour in love and you shall draw out love.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Draw Love
Obedience is a penance of reason, and, on that account, a sacrifice more acceptable than all corporal penances and mortifications.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Acceptance Obedience Reason Sacrifice
Desolation is a file, and the endurance of darkness is preparation for great light.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Darkness Endurance Greatness Light Preparation
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Detachment Feeling God Greatness Love Suffering
In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Darkness God Night River Soul
All the powers of soul and body, memory, understanding, and will, interior and exterior senses, the desires of spirit and of sense, all workin and by love.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Body Desire Love Memories Power Soul Work
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

God Goodness Need Ourselves Seek Soft Solitude Surprise Talk Wings
Who teaches the soul if not God?
JOHN OF THE CROSS

God Soul Spiritual Teaching
Beloved, all that is harsh and difficult I want for myself, and all that is gentle and sweet for thee.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Devotion Difficult God Myself Tough

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

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

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