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Silence is God’s first language.

John of the Cross

In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Earth God Human Judgement Life Love Possession Success
If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Learning Perfection Progress Yourself
Have 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 CROSS

Failure Greatness Heart Love
In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Confidence God Instruction Strength Yourself
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.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Excellence Goodness Love Remember Value
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
God desires the smallest degree of purity of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Conscience Desire God Performance Purity Small Work
Live as though only God and yourself were in this world, so that your heart may not be detained by anything human.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

God Human Live World Yourself
The eternal tide flows hid in Living Bread. That with its Heavenly Life too be fed.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Feed Flow Heaven Life
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
Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Hurt Need Word Worth
Not to follow the advice of our confessor is pride and a want of faith.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

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

Growth Love Soul Walk
Faith is the union of God and the soul.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Faith God Soul
Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every desire.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Delight Desire Learning Possession Spiritual True Yourself
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

Darkness Faith Forget God Himself Leaving Live Protection Wrong
Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest in him.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Account Goodness Peace Service Yourself
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

Fear Flower Love Mountain Myself Search Wild
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

Desire Difficult Give Up God Love Prayer Reason Satisfaction Soul
Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Agreement Remember Silence
In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened and instructed.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Enlightenment Instruction Sorrow Strength Suffering Yourself
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

Happiness Holiday Joy Love Service Soul
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

God Myself Talk Time
When there is no love, pour in love and you shall draw out love.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Draw Love
Desolation is a file, and the endurance of darkness is preparation for great light.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Darkness Endurance Greatness Light Preparation
The virtuous soul that is alone and without a master is like a long lone burning coal; it will grow colder rather than hotter.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Alone Burn Cold Growth Hot Master Soul Virtue
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

Silence is God’s first language.

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Silence is God’s first language.

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