John of the Cross, also known as San Juan de la Cruz, was a Spanish mystic and poet who lived in the 16th century. He is best known for his writings on spirituality and his profound insights into the human soul. His poems and quotes continue to inspire and guide people on their spiritual journeys even today. In this article, we will explore some of the most thought-provoking John of the Cross quotes that offer valuable wisdom and guidance for those seeking a deeper connection with the divine.
John of the Cross believed that the path to spiritual enlightenment requires detachment from worldly desires and a complete surrender to God. He emphasized the importance of self-emptying and letting go of all attachments to experience divine union. His profound understanding of the human soul and its longing for God is beautifully expressed in his writings. Let us now delve into some of his most insightful quotes.
Read these John of the Cross quotes to find inspiration and guidance in your own spiritual journey:
Read these John of the Cross quotes
“In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
“Where there is no love, put love, and you will find love.”
“To reach satisfaction in all desire its possession in nothing.”
“The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken, the bird cannot fly.”
“If you purify your soul of attachment to and desire for things, you will understand them spiritually. If you deny your appetite for them, you will enjoy their truth, understanding what is certain in them.”
“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God. It purifies the intellect, illumines the affection, and withdraws the will from all created things.”
“When you are a lover, the greater and the lesser are equal in your eyes.”
“God’s love is like a fire; the more it is suppressed, the more it flares up.”
“What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love.”
“If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark.”
“To love is to be transformed into what we love.”
“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”
“In a soul that is pure and empty of creatures, God communicates Himself to the soul in such a way that what was previously received in faith becomes experience and enjoyment of God.”
“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”
“The soul that is attached solely to what is mortal is so filled with its own interests that it is incapable of the divine will, for this will is incomprehensible to all created beings.”
“The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken, the bird cannot fly.”
“The soul that is attached solely to what is mortal is so filled with its own interests that it is incapable of the divine will, for this will is incomprehensible to all created beings.”
“Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.”
“The soul has to forget all its own abilities, forget even itself as far as possible, and focus its gaze on what it believes, for its intellect and reason to be the true light.”
“When the soul is about to be brought into a state of quiet, it is usually harassed by many thoughts and temptations and darkness, so that it seems to itself that it will never reach that quiet. But if it perseveres in prayer, in spite of these things, the Lord will bring it into that state without its understanding how.”
“To reach satisfaction in all desire its possession in nothing.”
These John of the Cross quotes offer profound insights into the nature of spirituality and the path to divine union. They remind us of the importance of detachment, self-emptying, and surrendering to God in order to experience true love and enlightenment. May these quotes inspire and guide you on your own spiritual journey.
