Fire Within Quotes

“The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer—and don’t forget this, because it is very important—should be that he work and prepare himself with determination and every effort to bring his will into conformity with God’s will.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“If a person wishes to gain freedom of spirit and not be always troubled, let him begin by not being frightened by the cross, and he will see how the Lord also helps him carry it and he will gain satisfaction and profit from everything.36”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Being in love with God is never boring.15”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“If we are to love someone completely, there can be no room for a competing love.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Living things grow gradually, and communion with God, being the supreme of all living realities, likewise matures imperceptibly,”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Diffident people often do not find it difficult to acquiesce to another’s decisions either because they are reluctant to assume responsibility for important decisions or because they fear failure and criticism.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“I say that had you asked about meditation I could have spoken about it and counseled all to practice it. . . . But contemplation is something else. . . . This King doesn’t give Himself but to those who give themselves entirely to Him.”4”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Contemplation and self-indulgence do not mix.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Depth of communion with the indwelling Trinity occurs only in a person intent on living the Gospel totally, one who is humble and patient, temperate and obedient, pure and kind, free of selfish clingings.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“Even among spiritually earnest men and women only a few get beyond the first purification, because they do not persevere “in treading this narrow road that leads to life”.17 These are people who never bring themselves to give up worldly values entirely. They cut corners on time given to prayer; they engage in gossip, unkind and idle words; they live comfortably themselves and do not share much with the poor; they allow themselves minor disobediences as well as the more serious rejection of magisterial teaching; they indulge in worldly amusements and expensive tastes in dining, drinking, clothing and vacations.”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“63 St. John of the Cross, Counsels to a Religious on How to Reach Perfection, no. 2, p. 662. ”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

“concern for honor is devastating for prayer.122”
― Thomas Dubay, Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer