Quotes from John of the Cross

5 Quotes from John of the Cross

The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”

In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but on how well we have loved.”

If a man wishes to be sure of the road he’s traveling on, then he must close his eyes and travel in the dark

God has to work in the soul in secret and in darkness because if we fully knew what was happening, and what Mystery, transformation, God and Grace will eventually ask of us, we would either try to take charge or stop the whole process.” 

O night, that guided me! O night, sweeter than sunrise!
O night, that joined lover with Beloved! Lover transformed in Beloved!”

https://aleteia.org/2017/09/01/powerful-life-tips-from-st-john-of-the-cross/

See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained in the judgments of God for the everlasting joy of the elect.

Never listen to talk about the weaknesses of others, and if someone complains of another, you can tell her humbly to say nothing of it to you.

It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.

Allow yourself to be taught, allow yourself to receive orders, allow yourself to be subjected and despised, and you will be perfect.

The devil fears a soul united to God as he does God himself

https://www.azquotes.com/quote/607805

To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God

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.

Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.

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.

In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened and instructed.

God leads every soul by a separate path.

Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.

It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.

The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired.

When a soul has advanced so far on the spiritual road as to be lost to all the natural methods of communing with God; when it seeks Him no longer by meditation, images, impressions, nor by any other created ways, or representations of sense, but only by rising above them all, in the joyful communion with Him by faith and love, then it may be said to have found God of a truth, because it has truly lost itself as to all that is not God, and also as to its own self.

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.

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.

Take God for your spouse and friend and walk with him continually, and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you.

Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.

The centre of the soul is God; and, when the soul has attained to Him according to the whole capacity of its being, which is the strength and virtue of the soul, it will have reached the last and the deep centre of the soul, which will be when with all its powers it loves and understands and enjoys God.

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.

Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.

Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.

If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.

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.

In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction..