Quotes About Faith

Teresa witnesses to the fact that even if we are not fully attentive in our prayer, little by little, even imperfect prayer will change us. Simply "showing up" for prayer time evidences our desire to be with the Lord. Even though sometimes it seems that we are more there physically than spiritually, our desire allows Him to draw us closer.7

One of the most common reasons why people begin the spiritual journey but then turn back is because they find themselves failing, wearing out, or getting tired or discouraged as a result of relying on their own strength or intellect rather than on the Lord. In

Human pride and self-reliance must be broken for salvation to break in.

Hatred for sin is important. Confidence in the mercy of God is even more important.

Making a decision never to freely choose to commit even a small sin is an important turning point in the spiritual journey.

What is your state of soul with respect to mortal sin? Are you firmly resolved never to commit it for any reason whatsoever? . . . In this resolution consists the foundation of the spiritual life.

humility and compassion are among the chief fruits of bearing such an ongoing condition of weakness in patience and in faith.

the spiritual journey is all about is uniting our will with God's will, wanting what He wants, loving what He loves, living a life that in all its aspects honors Him and gives Him glory.

What is necessary is the faith that leads to obedience and to discipleship.

Here John very helpfully, and very realistically, explains that a genuine purifying dryness may coexist with some elements of emotional problems, such as depression; nevertheless, if the concern to serve and please God persists in the midst of the difficulty, it is a sign of God's purifying work.

True union can very well be reached with God's help, if we make the effort to obtain it by keeping our wills fixed only on that which is God's will.

our patience has to become a universal submission to the will of God, in humility.

You test the virtue of patience in yourself when your neighbors insult you. Your humility is tested by the proud, your faith by the unfaithful, your hope by the person who has no hope. Your justice is tried by the unjust, your compassion by the cruel, and your gentleness and kindness by the wrathful. Your neighbors are the channel through which all your virtues are tested and come to birth, just as the evil give birth to all their vices through their neighbors.72

God cannot inspire unrealizable desires.

Jesus calls us to be primarily occupied with living for the kingdom. If we do this, He promises that the things we need for life on this earth will be given as well.

A form of wordless prayer in which mind and heart focus on God's greatness and goodness in affective, loving adoration; to look on Jesus and the mysteries of his life with faith and love

Here I do not refer to the simple love of charity we must have for all men but of that spiritual friendship by which two, three, or more souls share with one another their devotion and spiritual affections and establish a single spirit among themselves.

Realistically, Francis says, there will probably be falls along the way, but God can use even these to deepen our humility. Imperfections and venial sins cannot deprive us of spiritual life; it is lost only by mortal sin. Fortunately for us, in this war we are always victorious provided that we are willing to fight.27

Although the creature loves less, being a lesser being, yet if it loves with its whole heart (Mt. 22:37) nothing is lacking, for it has given all.

There are others who have passed through life and arrive at the end point of death with only a commonplace love, and were never very perfect. These embrace my mercy with the same light of faith and hope as those who were perfect. But these have this light imperfectly, and because they are imperfect they reach out for mercy, considering my mercy greater than their own guilt.

the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers to draw them towards the faith, or to the faithful to instruct them, strengthen them, and incite them to a more fervent life…. (DLA, 6)

Our understanding of human history will always be inadequate unless we realize that, as Paul puts it, "we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers" (Eph 6:12).

Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thes 2:3-12)

Now is the time when mercy is being extended to the world, but this time will come to an end and the Lord will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Whether or not we are alive at the Lord's return, we need to be ready to meet Him at any moment. No one knows the day or the hour, not only of the Lord's return, but of the length of our own lives.