In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1 Quotes

“affection. My little ones, he actually calls them. Christ himself wished to give that gathering such a fullness of significance, so rich in memories, scene of such moving words and sentiments, such new actions and precepts, that we will never come to an end of meditating on them and exploring them. It was, you might say, a testimonial dinner: it was an affectionate and yet a sombre occasion, a time mysteriously revealing divine promises and far-reaching visions. On top of that was the sad presentiment of death, with unprecedented omens of treason, of abandonment, of immolation; the conversation dies away, while Jesus’ words flow continuously in his gentle and winning voice, though there is an unwonted tension in his grave allusion to profound revelations, the matter of which hovers between life and death.[714”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Reasons for penance? – atonement, reparation, petition, thanksgiving: means to progress – for you, for me, for others, for your family, for your country, for the Church ... And a thousand reasons more.[316]”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“As well as those mortifications known as ‘passive’ – mortifications which present themselves to us without our looking for them – the mortifications that we propose to ourselves (and seek out) are called active mortifications. Amongst these, the mortifications which refer to the control of our internal senses are especially important for our interior progress and for enabling us to achieve purity of heart. These are: mortification of the imagination – avoiding that interior monologue in which fantasy runs wild, by trying to turn it into a dialogue with God, present in our soul in grace. We try to put a restraining check on that tendency of ours to go over and over some little happening in the course of which we have come off badly. No doubt we have felt slighted, and have made much of an injury to our self-esteem, caused to us quite unintentionally. If we don’t apply the brake in time, our conceit and pride will cause us to overbalance until we lose our peace and presence of God. Mortification of the memory – avoiding useless recollections which make us waste time[42] and which could lead us into more serious temptations. Mortification of the intelligence – so as to put it squarely to the business of concentrating on our duty at this moment[43] and, also, on many occasions of surrendering our own judgement so as to live humility and charity with others in a better way. To sum up, we try to get rid of those internal habits that we know we would not like to see in a man or a woman of God.[44] Let us make up our minds to keep close to Our Lord during these days by contemplating his most Sacred Humanity in the vivid and memorable scenes of The Way of the Cross. Let us see how, for our sakes, He walks along the Path of Sorrow. LENT – SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY 4.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“There is a third way of carrying the cross. Jesus embraces the saving wood and teaches us how we ought to carry our own cross: with love, co-redeeming all souls with him, making reparation at the same time for our own sins. Our Lord has conferred on human suffering a deep meaning.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Anyone who barricades himself in the citadel of his own selfishness will never come down onto the battlefield. But if he raises the gates of his fortress and lets in the king of peace, then he will go out with the king to fight against all that misery which blurs the eyes and numbs the conscience”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“the Lord’s precept: go into your inner room and shut the door upon yourself, and so pray to your Father in secret,[438] should never be superseded. The liturgy is public prayer par excellence: it is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows ... The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with others, but he must also enter into his inner chamber to pray to his Father in secret; furthermore, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he must pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17).[439]”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the occasions of pleasure, but finds great difficulty in giving birth to happiness. For happiness has its origin elsewhere: it is a spiritual thing. Money, comfort, hygiene, material security etc, may often not be lacking, but nevertheless, despite these advantages, boredom, suffering and sadness are frequently to be found supervening in the lives of many people.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“When somebody says: ‘I appear to be incorrigibly lazy. I am not tenacious; I don’t seem to be able to finish the things I start’, today he ought to think: ‘I am not close enough to Christ’. That is why whenever we recognise something as a defect in our lives, as a weakness ..., we should immediately refer it to this type of intimate and direct examination: ‘I do not seem to have the ability to persevere: I am not close to Christ. I am not cheerful: I am not close to Christ. And Christ is saying: Come on! Turn around! Return to me with all your heart!’ It is time for each one of us to recognise that he is being urged on by Jesus Christ. Those of us who sometimes feel inclined to put off this decision should know that, now, the moment has come. Those of us who are pessimistic and who think there is no remedy for our defects should know that the moment has arrived. Lent is starting. Let us look on it as a time of change and hope.[15] LENT – THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY 2.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“immediately refer it to this type of intimate and direct examination: ‘I do not seem to have the ability to persevere: I am not close to Christ. I am not cheerful: I am not close to Christ. And Christ is saying: Come on! Turn around! Return to me with all your heart!’ It is time for each one of us to recognise that he is being urged on by Jesus Christ. Those of us who sometimes feel inclined to put off this decision should know that, now, the moment has come. Those of us who are pessimistic and who think there is no remedy for our defects should know that the moment has arrived. Lent is starting. Let us look on it as a time of change and hope.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“How many family arguments would resolve themselves in the recognition of responsibilities and duties if we were to concede that this ugly detail, that untimely event, has been due to the tiredness of the person concerned after a long and difficult day. While you continue to interpret in bad faith the intentions of your neighbour, you have no right to demand that people should be understanding with you.[339]”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Although you might see something bad, do not instantly judge your neighbour, advises St Bernard, but, rather, excuse him interiorly. Excuse the intention if you are unable to excuse the action. Consider it as if done in ignorance, or unawares, or through weakness. If the matter is so weighty that you cannot possibly overlook it, then try to believe the following and say to yourself: the temptation must have been very strong![338]”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“By now they have fastened Jesus to the wooden cross. The executioners have ruthlessly carried out the sentence. Our Lord, with infinite meekness, has let them have their way. It was not necessary for him to undergo so much torment. He could have avoided those trials, those humiliations, that ill-usage, that iniquitous judgement, and the shame of the gallows, and the nails and the lance ... But he wanted to suffer all this for you and for me. And we, are we not going to respond?”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Heralds of the Gospel are needed, who are experts in humanity, who know the depths of the heart of man in to-day’s world, who share his joys and hopes, his concern and his sadness, and who at the same time are contemplatives, people in love with God. For this, new saints are needed. We must beg God to increase the spirit of sanctity in the Church and to send us saints to evangelise to-day’s world.[172”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“avoiding useless recollections which make us waste time[42] and which could lead us into more serious temptations. Mortification of the intelligence – so as to put it squarely to the business of concentrating on our duty at this moment[43] and, also, on many occasions of surrendering our own judgement so as to live humility and charity with others in a better way. To sum up, we try to get rid of those internal habits that we know we would not like to see in a man or a woman of God.[44] Let us make up our minds to keep close to Our Lord during these days by contemplating his most Sacred Humanity in the vivid and memorable scenes of The Way of the Cross. Let us see how, for our sakes, He walks along the Path of Sorrow.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“We try to put a restraining check on that tendency of ours to go over and over some little happening in the course of which we have come off badly. No doubt we have felt slighted, and have made much of an injury to our self-esteem, caused to us quite unintentionally. If we don’t apply the brake in time, our conceit and pride will cause us to overbalance until we lose our peace and presence of God. Mortification of the memory”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“To me, with the admiration I owe myself, wrote Rousseau on the first page of a book. And many other miserable souls might easily inscribe the same thing on the last page of their own lives.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the occasions of pleasure, but finds great difficulty in giving birth to happiness. For happiness has its origin elsewhere: it is a spiritual thing.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“Many Christians have lost their joy at the end of the day, not because of big reverses, but because they have not known how to sanctify the tiredness caused by work, or the little snags and minor frustrations which have arisen during the day. When we accept the Cross – little or great – it produces peace and joy in the midst”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week

“The Christian who goes through life systematically avoiding sacrifice will not find God, will not find happiness. What he will have been taking care to avoid is his own sanctity.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 2 Part 1: Lent & Holy Week