Sayings of Light and Love #12

God desires the smallest degree of purity of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform.

Saint John of the Cross

More ”Sayings of Light and Love”

The beauty of your soul…

“…the soul of the just person is nothing else but a paradise where the Lord says he finds his delight. So then, what do you think that abode will be like where a King so powerful, so wise, so pure, so full of all good things takes his delight? I don’t find anything comparable to the magnificent beauty of a soul and its marvelous capacity. Indeed, our intellects, however keen, can hardly comprehend it, just as they cannot comprehend God; but he himself says that he created us in his own image and likeness… His Majesty in saying that the soul is made in his own image makes it almost impossible for us to understand the sublime dignity and beauty of the soul.”

An amazing thought isn’t it? I wonder what would happen to us if we understood how beautiful our souls are, or could be. Have you ever stepped into an immaculate home or better yet, stayed as a guest? A person of good-will in this situation will do everything they can to avoid making a mess. Why? First, because it doesn’t belong to them. Second, because they wouldn’t want to disturb the beauty, order, and cleanliness of the place.

When we see something and beautiful or pristine, our better instinct is to preserve it, to protect it. How would we treat our souls if we knew how truly beautiful they are or could be?

Seek Him – Find Him – Follow Him

Dan

For more this, read St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle. This passage can be found in the first chapter.

A prayer of preparation for Advent…

O my God, Word of the Father, Word made flesh. For the love of us, You assumed a mortal body in order to suffer and be immolated for us. I wish to prepare for Your coming with the burning desires of the prophets and the just who in the Old Testament sighed after You, the one Savior and Redeemer… O Lord, send Him whom You are going to send… As you have promised, come and deliver us! I want to keep Advent in my soul, that is, a continual longing and waiting for this great Mystery wherein You, O Word, become flesh to show me the abyss of Your redeeming, sanctifying mercy.

O sweetest Jesus, You come to me with Your infinite love and the abundance of Your grace; You desire to engulf my soul in torrents of mercy and charity in order to draw it to You. Come, O Lord, come! I, too, wish to run to You with love, but alas! my love is so limited, weak, and imperfect! Make it strong and generous; enable me to overcome myself, so that I can give myself entirely to You.

St. Teresa of Avila

Divine Intimacy – First Sunday of Advent

Sayings of Light and Love #6

A tree that is cultivated and guarded through the care of its owner produces its fruit at the expected time.

St. John of the Cross

Sayings of Light and Love #5

Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide (spiritual director) will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor (caregiver and protector). No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens.

Saint John of the Cross

Note: The notes in the brackets above are translation helps for the reader. St. John wrote these sayings individually, but they often follow themes. This saying and a number of others that follow  are on the topic of spiritual direction. Essentially, St. John indicates that without a spiritual director for protection and guidance, any potential fruit that the pilgrim might bear will be plundered before it even has a chance to emerge.