' Saint John of the Cross '...

St. John of the Cross (1542–1591) - A Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar known for his profound poetry and works like The Dark Night of the Soul. He explored the soul’s journey through spiritual purification to union with God. ........................................................................................................................................ Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it. Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it. Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. ........................................................................................................................................ In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God. To come to the pleasure you have not, you must go by a way in which you enjoy not. ........................................................................................................................................ The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union. God refuses no one the gift of divine union; it is we who refuse God by our attachments. ........................................................................................................................................ Where there is no love, put love — and you will find love. In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone............................. from Niraj Agarwal, Ph.D.