Teresa of Avila. Quotes

More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.

To wish to act like angels while we are still in this world is nothing but folly.

Let nothing disturb thee Let nothing affright thee All things are passing God changeth never.

I used unexpectedly to experience a consciousness of the presence of God, or such a kind that I could not possibly doubt that He was within me or that I was wholly engulfed in Him. This was in no sense a vision: I believe it is called mystical theology. The soul is suspended in such a way that it seems to be completely outside itself. The will loves; the memory, I think, is almost lost; while the understanding, I believe, thought it is not lost, does not reason—I mean that it does not work, but is amazed at the extent of all it can understand; for God wills it to realize that it understands nothing of what His Majesty represents to it.

As to the aridity you are suffering from it seems to me our Lord is treating you like someone He considers strong: He wants to test you and see if you love Him as much at times of aridity as when He sends you consolations. I think this is a very great favor for God to show you.

. . . it is presumptuous in me to wish to choose my path, because I cannot tell which path is best for me. I must leave it to the Lord, Who knows me, to lead me by the path which is best for me, so that in all things His will may be done.

Reflect carefully on this, for it is so important that I can hardly lay too much stress on it. Fix your eyes on the Crucified and nothing else will be of much importance to you.

It constantly happens that the Lord permits a soul to fall so that it may grow humbler.

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.

All the trials we endure cannot be compared to these interior battles.

Granting that we are always in the presence of God yet it seems to me that those who pray are in His presence in a very different sense for they as it were see that He is looking upon them while others may go for days on end without even once recollecting that God sees them.