Christian Spirituality Quotes

“It's true, I suffer a great deal--but do I suffer well? That is the question.”
― Therese de Lisieux, St. Therese of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations

“In the silence, whether we listen to the creation around us, the words of revelation, or the deepest stirrings of our own hearts, we begin to perceive another voice, one that is too often lost in the static of life. It is no use saying: ”Speak, Lord, your servant wants to hear,” if We never risk the silence to listen. 48”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“What we can do now to bring about his kingdom of justice is to cooperate in the establishment of justice in that portion of his kingdom over which we have some immediate control: ourselves. Let us begin the pursuit of justice and peace by cleaning up our own lives and establishing peace within our own hearts.”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“Benedict and Bernard and the other true monastic peacemakers of history have been effective because they have acted from a deep source of peace within themselves, dating a context for peace. This is the contribution a Christian man or woman of peace can make.”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“We can make a practice of letting go of unnecessary negative thoughts and feelings (our prayer word– a quick flight to the center, while the thought is allowed to float away– can be used to advantage in this) and cultivating joyful, positive ones. 132”
― M. Basil Pennington

“Martin Buber as described for basic virtues cultivated by the Hasidim to overcome the separation of the sacred and secular. . . . St. Benedict spoke of them as truly seeking God, zeal for a humble way of life, zeal for obedience, and zeal for the opus of God. Buber catalogues them as kavana (single-mindedness), shiflut (humility), avada (service), and hitlahavut (fire of ecstasy). 129”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“Monks realize well that when the consciousness of one person is raised, the whole of humanity is raised; when the quality of life of one improves, all improve. Or, to put it in another, more biblical, way, the increased health and vitality of any one cell vitalizes the whole Body of Christ. 38”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“The fascination of trifles obscures the good,” says the Wise Man. It is difficult in the midst of much doing and seeing to keep alive and present to the deepest reality, to the really real. And so the monk goes apart…”
― M. Basil Pennington, A Place Apart: Monastic Prayer and Practice for Everyone

“Being a christian is not about being Christ-fearing, it's about being Christ-like.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Every Generation Needs Caretakers: The Gospel of Patriotism

“New dispensations may await us; the Kingdom may come in ways we never dreamed of; the beyond may be more momentous than we have ever expected, but always and everywhere 'the within' determines 'the beyond,' and character is destiny.”
― Rufus Matthew Jones, The Inner Life

“The meaning of life is found in the receiving, nurturing, and sharing of God's gift of love. Why? Because life is God's love made visible, fragrant, audible, touchable, and nutritious. Life is not a pointless struggle or a random accident. It is God's creation. As such, it is the material manifestation of the divine love that delights in the flourishing of others.”
― Norman Wirzba, Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity

“Simply being active is not life.”
― Joan Chittister, The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life

“Francis wanted a new kind of spiritual life that was somewhat unpredictable and without guarantees, putting him in less contact with religion and more contact with the living God.”
― Jon M. Sweeney, When Saint Francis Saved the Church