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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

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

Advice Faith Ourselves
To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Deep God Love Transformation
Do not let your “eye” be drawn by the false “beacon lamps” -of wealth, or position, or fame, or possessions. Be vigilant over your will and desires, for these are the corrupt forces that dwell within, and keep you from living free.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Corruption Eyes Fame Live Position Possession Yourself
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

Courage Goodness Man Path Perseverance Spirit
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
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
The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Easy God Road Suffering Travel Willing
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
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
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
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
Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Meditation Open Prayer Reading Seek Yourself
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
The purest suffering bears and carries in its train the purest understanding.
JOHN OF THE CROSS

Purity Carry Training Understand
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

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.

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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.

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Popular Authors

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