John of the Cross quotes - page 2

Although you perform many works, if you do not deny your will and submit yourself, losing all solicitude about yourself and your affairs, you will not make progress. (John of the Cross)
The soul that desires God to surrender himself to it entirely must surrender itself entirely to him without keeping anything for itself. View quote
John of the Cross
Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it; reflect that all must come to an end. View quote
John of the Cross
If you desire to discover peace and consolation for your soul and to serve God truly, do not find your satisfaction in what you have left behind, because in that which now concerns you you may be as impeded as you were before, or even more. But leave as well all these other things and attend to one thing alone that brings all these with it (namely, holy solitude, together with prayer and spiritual and divine reading), and persevere there in forgetfulness of all things. View quote
John of the Cross
In solitude she lived, And in solitude built her nest; And in solitude, alone Hath the Beloved guided her, In solitude also wounded with love. ~ 35. View quote
John of the Cross
On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings - oh, happy chance! - I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest. In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised - oh, happy chance! - In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest. View quote
John of the Cross
Reveal Thy presence, And let the vision and Thy beauty kill me, Behold the malady Of love is incurable Except in Thy presence and before Thy face. ~ 11. View quote
John of the Cross
My Beloved is the mountains, The solitary wooded valleys, The strange islands, The roaring torrents, The whisper of the amorous gales; The tranquil night At the approaches of the dawn, The silent music, The murmuring solitude, The supper which revives, and enkindles love. ~ 14 & 15. View quote
John of the Cross
The bride has entered The pleasant and desirable garden, And there reposes to her heart's content; Her neck reclining On the sweet arms of the Beloved. ~ 22. View quote
John of the Cross
There thou wilt show me That which my soul desired; And there Thou wilt give at once, O Thou, my life! That which Thou gavest me the other day. ~ 38. View quote
John of the Cross
When the soul, then, in any degree possesses the spirit of solitary love, we must not interfere with it. (John of the Cross)
You will say that I am lost; That, being enamoured, I lost myself; and yet was found. View quote
John of the Cross
When the soul has arrived at this state all the acts of its spiritual and sensual nature, whether active or passive, and of whatever kind they may be, always occasion an increase of love and delight in God: even the act of prayer and communion with God, which was once carried on by reflections and divers other methods, is now wholly an act of love. So much so is this the case that the soul may always say, whether occupied with temporal or spiritual things, "My sole occupation is love." View quote
John of the Cross
Hence the love of God in the pure and simple soul is almost continually in act. View quote
John of the Cross
In a word, it is for this love that we are all created. View quote
John of the Cross
All ceased and I abandoned myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies. View quote
John of the Cross
My soul is occupied, And all my substance in His service. View quote
John of the Cross
O killing north wind, cease! Come, south wind, that awakenest love! View quote
John of the Cross
The little white dove Has returned to the ark with the bough. View quote
John of the Cross
When Thou didst regard me, Thine eyes imprinted in me Thy grace:. View quote
John of the Cross
Let us rejoice, O my Beloved! Let us go forth to see ourselves in Thy beauty, To the mountain and the hill, Where the pure water flows:. (John of the Cross)
Since Thou hast regarded me, Grace and beauty hast Thou given me. View quote
John of the Cross
I have said that God is pleased with nothing but love; but before I explain this, it will be as well to set forth the grounds on which the assertion rests. All our works, and all our labours, how grand soever they may be, are nothing in the sight of God, for we can give Him nothing, neither can we by them fulfil His desire, which is the growth of our soul. As to Himself He desires nothing of this, for He has need of nothing, and so, if He is pleased with anything it is with the growth of the soul; and as there is no way in which the soul can grow but in becoming in a manner equal to Him, for this reason only is He pleased with our love. View quote
John of the Cross
Upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast And by a lantern bright I fled my house while all in quiet rest. Shrouded by the night and by the secret stair I quickly fled. The veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead. View quote
John of the Cross
When Thou didst regard me, Thine eyes imprinted in me Thy grace: For this didst Thou love me again, And thereby mine eyes did merit To adore what in Thee they saw. ~ 32. View quote
John of the Cross