NEWSLETTER INSERTS - FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The feast day of St John of the Cross falls on a Sunday this year and so, it is not celebrated. However, below are some of the hundreds of his most beautiful quotes:

'In the Precautions of John of the Cross, he exhorts a brother to regard all the brothers in community as God’s artisans, with the task of forming him'

St John, Precautions, 15.

‘There is much to fathom in Christ, for He is like an abundant mine with many recesses of treasure, so that however deep individuals go, they never reach the end or bottom but rather in every recess find new veins with new riches everywhere’.

St John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 37.4.

‘God does not place his grace and love in the soul except according to its desire and love’.

St John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 13.12.

'God engages the soul through spiritual affection. Through spiritual affection, God refreshes, delights and gladdens the soul.’

St John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 11.3.

On Joy for 'Gaudete Sunday'

'Nothing can resist humility; no cruelty can withstand love; mercy always conquers harshness; and joy vanquishes sorrow'.

Michaelangelo

‘That is the authentic happy life, to set one’s joy on you, grounded in you and caused by you’

St Augustine, Confessions.

‘True encounter with Christ liberates something within us, a power we did not know we had, a hope, a capacity for life, a resilience, an ability to bounce back when we thought we were completely defeated, a capacity to grow and change, a power of creative transformation’.

Thomas Merton

‘Let me rest in Your will and be silent. Then the light of Your joy will warm my life. Its fire will burn in my heart and shine for Your glory. This is what I live for. Amen’.

Thomas Merton