J.

“the nearer we approach to God, the more we are drawn by Him.”
― Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life

“St. Augustine wrote: “Two loves have built two cities: the love of self even to the despising of God, the city of the earth; the love of God even to the despising of self, the city of God. One glorifies itself in self, and the other in the Lord. One seeks its glory from men, the other places its dearest glory in God, the witness of its conscience. The one in the pride of its glory walks with head high; the other says to its God: ‘Thou art my glory, and it is Thou who dost lift up my head.’ The former in its victories lets itself be conquered by its passion to dominate; the latter shows us its citizens united in charity, mutual servants, tutelary governors, obedient subjects. The former loves its own strength in its princes; the latter says to God: ‘Lord, Thou art my only strength, I shall love Thee.’ “968”
― Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life

“The nearer a soul is to God, the more it deserves our esteem; the closer the ties that bit it to us, the more sensible is our love for it, and the more whole-hearted should be the devotion we show in all that concerns family, country, vocation, and friendship. Thus, instead of destroying patriotism, charity exalts it, as we see in the case of St. Joan of Arc or St. Louis.”
― Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Providence: God's loving care for men and the need for confidence in Almighty God

“There are two classes of people who hide themselves: the criminal who flees punishment, and the saint who through humility wishes to remain unknown.”
― Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life