There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for us.
Teresa Of AvilaRead
O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the deep yearning of a soul devoted to God to praise Him with complete unity and sincerity.
In this quote, Teresa of Avila reflects on the profound state of the soul that is fully immersed in devotion to God. She conveys a powerful image of the soul desiring to be a single instrument of praise, suggesting that true spiritual fulfillment comes from a deep connection with the divine. The mention of 'pious follies' indicates the soul's eagerness to please God, even if the expressions of worship may seem inadequate or flawed, emphasizing the importance of sincere intent over perfection.
Themes
SoulPraiseDevotionGodWorshipSpirituality
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about the importance of sincere worship, this quote can inspire congregants to deepen their spiritual practices.
More from Teresa Of Avila
All quotes →How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.
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What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company?
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To converse with You, O King of glory, no third person is needed, You are always ready in the Sacrament of the Altar to give audience to all. All who desire You always find You there, and converse with You face to face
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If we do not use great care to mortify our will, there are many things which can deprives us of the holy freedom of spirit that we are seeking in order to fly more freely to our Creator, without always being bogged down with the clay of this earth. Moreover, there can never be solid virtue in a soul that is attached to its own will.
Teresa Of AvilaRead
I say the same of humility and of all the virtues; the wiles of the devil are terrible, he will run a thousand times round hell if by so doing he can make us believe that we have a single virtue which we have not. And he is right, for such ideas are very harmful, and such imaginary virtues, when they come from this source, are never unaccompanied by vainglory; just as those which God gives are free both from this and from pride.
Teresa Of AvilaRead
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