If you have people who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have people who will deal likewise with their fellow humans.
We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what is fallen away — and to bring home those who have lost their way. Many who seem to be lost will still become Christ’s disciples… If God can work through me, God can work through anyone.
A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows… So start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly — you are doing the impossible.
No one is to be called an enemy — all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy, except yourselves. While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.
Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perserverance in prayer.
Sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify society.
Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty. Permit the distinctive sign of our order to be that it does not possess anything of its own beneath the sun, for the glory of your name — and that it have no other patrimony than begging. We should have no more use or regard for money, in any of its forms, than we have for dust. Those who think it is worth more, or who are greedy for it, expose themselves to the danger of being deceived.
You cannot abandon all your posessions, but at least you can change your attitude about them. All getting separates you from others. All giving, unites.
The world is a great stage in which God displays many wonders. The journey is essential to the dream.
Our hands imbibe like roots, so I place them on what is beautiful in this world; and I fold them in prayer — and they draw from the heavens, light.
Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves — so that one who gives themselves totally to you, may receive you, totally. Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul — so they are of great merit when they are borne patiently.
The one you are looking for is the One who is looking.
Here is one of the best means to acquire humility — fix well in mind this maxim: One is as much as they are in the sight of God, and no more.
Where there is Love and Wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is Patience and Humility, there is neither anger nor annoyance. Where there is Poverty and Joy, there is neither cupidity nor avarice. Where there is Peace and Contemplation, there is neither care nor restlessness. Where there is the reverence of God to guard the dwelling, there, no enemy can enter. Where there is Mercy and Prudence, there is neither excess nor harshness. For all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle…
Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer and never cease working.
When we pray to God we must be seeking nothing, nothing… For there is absolutely no one in the whole world who can possess divine truth among you, unless they first die.
The tree of Love, its roots have spread deep in my heart, and rears its head — rich are its fruits: the joy dispense, transport the heart and ravish sense. In Love’s sweet swoon, to thee I cleave — blessed Source of Love…