There is nothing better or more necessary than love.
JOHN OF THE CROSSThere is nothing better or more necessary than love.
JOHN OF THE CROSSThough 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 CROSSThe eternal tide flows hid in Living Bread. That with its Heavenly Life too be fed.
JOHN OF THE CROSSLive 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 CROSSHe 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 CROSSSeek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.
JOHN OF THE CROSSStrive always to confess your sins with a deep knowledge of your own wretchedness and with clarity and purity.
JOHN OF THE CROSSLet my soul live as if separated from my body.
JOHN OF THE CROSSIn 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 CROSSNever listen to accounts of the frailty of others; and if anyone should complain to you of another, humbly ask him not to speak about him at all.
JOHN OF THE CROSSLove consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
JOHN OF THE CROSSHave a great love for those who contradict and fail to love you, for in this way love is begotten in a heart that has no love.
JOHN OF THE CROSSHe who avoids prayer is avoiding everything that is good.
JOHN OF THE CROSSThe soul that journey’s to God, but doesn’t shake off it’s cares and quiet it’s appetities, is like someone who drags a cart of dirt uphill.
JOHN OF THE CROSSHowever 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 CROSSThey say, “God told me”, or “God replied to me”. And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.
JOHN OF THE CROSS