Teresa of Avila Quotes - Page 4

This body of ours has one fault: the more you indulge it, the more things it discovers to be essential to it. It is extraordinary how it likes being indulged.

True perfection consists in the love of God and our neighbour, and the better we keep both these commandments, the more perfect we shall be.

The life of prayer is just love to God, and the custom of being ever with Him.

The saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him.

If this is the way You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few!

[Last words:] My Lord, it is time to move on. Well then, may your will be done. O my Lord and my Spouse, the hour that I have longed for has come. It is time to meet one another.

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

For pity's sake, don't start meeting troubles halfway.

Her heart is full of joy with love, for in the Lord her mind is stilled. She has renounced every selfish attachment and draws abiding joy and strength from the One within. She lives not for herself, but lives to serve the Lord of Love in all, and swims across the sea of life breasting its rough waves joyfully.

If we learn to love the earth, we will find labyrinths, gardens, fountains and precious jewels! A whole new world will open itself to us. We will discover what it means to be truly alive.

Never compare one person with another: comparisons are odious.

It should be observed that perfect love of God consists not in those delights, tears and sentiments of devotion that we generally seek, but in a strong determination and keen desire to please God in all things, and to promote His glory.

One must not think that a person who is suffering is not praying. He is offering up his sufferings to God, and many a time he is praying much more truly than one who goes away by himself and meditates his head off, and, if he has squeezed out a few tears, thinks that is prayer.

Those seeking the life of the spirit should be cheerful and free, and not neglect recreation. Married people must act in conformity with their vocation--but their progress will of necessity be but the pace of a hen.

Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love.

Let us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy apostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus Christ were the most afflicted.

Pain is never permanent.

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend.

May nothing wind you up, nothing affright you; everything comes and goes. God, still, just there; through patience all will be achieved. If you have God, you lack nothing: God alone will do.

All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding His life we find that He is the best example.

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.

We should blush for shame to show so much resentment at what is done or said against us, knowing that so many injuries and affronts have been offered to our Redeemer and the saints.

It is the nature of love to work in a thousand different ways.

Mental prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him.

It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.