St. John of the Cross- Born in 1542, Fontiveros, Spain; died in 1591, Úbeda, Spain - The Lord has always revealed to mortals the treasures of his wisdom and his spirit, but now that the face of evil bares itself more and more, so does the Lord bare his treasures more.******* Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit.************ The virtuous soul that is alone and without a master, is like a lone burning coal; it will grow colder rather than hotter.********** God values in you an inclination to aridity and suffering for love of Him more than all possible consolations, spiritual visions, and meditations.******* He who does not allow his appetites to carry him away will soar in his spirit as swiftly as the bird that lacks no feathers.*********** Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine, and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God Himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me.********** A soul that is hard because of its self-love grows harder. O good Jesus, if You do not soften it, it will ever continue in its natural hardness.************ Reflect that the most delicate flower loses its fragrance and withers fastest; therefore guard yourself against seeking to walk in a spirit of delight, for you will not be constant. Choose rather for yourself a robust spirit, detached from everything, and you will discover abundant peace and sweetness, for savory and durable fruit is gathered in a cold and dry climate.********* Think not that pleasing God lies so much in doing a great deal as in doing it with good will, without possessiveness and human respect.********** Do not rejoice in temporal prosperity, since you do not know if it gives you assurance of eternal life.*********** Rejoice habitually in God, Who is your salvation, and reflect that it is good to suffer in any way for Him Who is good.********* Preserve a loving attentiveness to God with no desire to feel or understand any particular thing concerning Him. ********* The poor man who is naked will be clothed, and the soul that is naked of desires and whims will be clothed by God with His purity, satisfaction, and will.********** There are souls that wallow in the mire like animals, and there are others that soar like birds, which purify and cleanse themselves in the air.************ The devil fears a soul united to God as he does God Himself.********* Once being asked how one becomes enraptured, the Venerable Father Fray John of the Cross, replied: by denying one's own will and doing the will of God; for an ecstasy is nothing else than going out of self and being caught up in God; and this is what he who obeys does; he leave himself and his desire, and thus unburdened plunges himself in God.*********** Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.********** Suffering for God is better than working miracles.******** Oh, what blessings we will enjoy in the vision of the Most Blessed Trinity!*******