Sublime

By asking, To whom shall we go?, he affirms that apart from Jesus there is nothing truly worthwhile.

“Therefore, take up your cross and follow Jesus, and you will attain eternal life” (Book II, Chapter 12). This is the essential message of The Imitation of Christ.

Consider carefully, daughters, these few things which have been set down here, though they are in rather a jumbled state, for I cannot explain them better; the Lord will make them clear to you, so that these periods of aridity may teach you to be humble, and not make you restless, which is the aim of the devil. Be sure that, where there is true

The deeper, more penetrating—and usually more painful—dimensions of the passive night of the spirit have to do with changes in people’s habitual sense of relationship with God. A common experience, often confusing but not too painful, is that the word “God” loses its meaning. That word, which used to bring forth familiar images and feelings, now

As the great mystic Saint John of the Cross said, “In order to come to the knowledge you have not, you must go by a way in which you know not.” I love this quote. It’s entirely paradoxical.

Julian of Norwich offers an extended discussion of the relationship between our “sensuality” and our “substance,” that is, our lived experience in the world and our eternal union with the divine. Mother Christ, Holy Wisdom “wishes us to be aware that humanity’s dearworthy soul was preciously knit to Him in the creation and this knot is subtle and

Be devout and quiet and Jesus will remain with you.