Henri J.M. Nouwen
A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
Category: Catholic
Flannery O’Connor
When we get our spiritual house in order, we’ll be dead. This goes on. You arrive at enough certainty to be able to make your way, but it is making it in darkness. Don’t expect faith to clear things up for you. It is trust, not certainty. ― Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal. Written in… Continue reading Flannery O’Connor
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family. ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
Alfred D’Souza
For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were… Continue reading Alfred D’Souza
Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to… Continue reading Francis of Assisi
Pope John Paul II
I have understood: the tree must be woundedso that the scion should find its own place,understood: the tree must be woundedto let life seep through;understood: I must open myself—(my life’s frontiers shift so thatwhat is not mine becomes mine.And should they not shiftso that mine becomes not mine?) — Pope John Paul II, from “A… Continue reading Pope John Paul II
Thomas Merton
For language to have meaning there must be intervals of silence somewhere, to divide word from word and utterance from utterance. He who retires into silence does not necessarily hate language. Perhaps it is love and respect for language which imposes silence upon him. — Thomas Merton, Disputed Questions. (Harvest Books; 1st Harvest/HBJ ed edition,… Continue reading Thomas Merton
Hans Urs von Balthasar
You withdraw into your sorrow: this, at least, is yours. — Hans Urs von Balthasar, Heart of the World. (Ignatius Press, June 1, 1980)
The Vale of Soul-Making 