We Have Little Inborn Light, And This We Quickly Lose Through Negligence

WE MUST not rely too much upon ourselves, for grace and understanding are often lacking in us. We have but little inborn light, and this we quickly lose through negligence. Often we are not aware that we are so blind in heart. Meanwhile we do wrong, and then do worse in excusing it. At times we are moved by passion, and we think it zeal. We take others to task for small mistakes, and overlook greater ones in ourselves. We are quick enough to feel and brood over the things we suffer from others, but we think nothing of how much others suffer from us. If a man would weigh his own deeds fully and rightly, he would find little cause to pass severe judgment on others. - Imitation of Christ

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Reputation vs. Humble Practice of Virtue

We ought to have charity for all men but familiarity with all is not expedient. Sometimes it happens that a person enjoys a good reputation among those who do not know him, but at the same time is held in slight regard by those who do. Frequently we think we are pleasing others by our presence and we begin rather to displease them by the faults they find in us. - Imitation

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How Great is the Happiness of the Devout Soul that Feasts Upon You at Your Banquet

O Most sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the happiness of the devout soul that feasts upon You at Your banquet, where there is set before her to be eaten no other food but Yourself alone, her only Lover, most desired of all that her heart can desire! - Imitation of Christ

My Only Joy in Him

I felt the desire of loving only God, of finding my joy only in Him. Often during my communions, I repeated these words of the Imitation: "O Jesus, unspeakable sweetness, change all the consolations of this earth into bitterness for me" - St. Therese

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