Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all He desires is to be loved in return. The sole purpose of His love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love Him are made happy by their love of Him.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153
In suffering, love, and in loving, suffer!
–Blessed Maria Lopez of Jesus (1560-1640)
All is love’s, and in love, for love, and of love, in the holy Church.
— Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the soul.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Great deeds are forbidden me. I cannot preach the Gospel nor shed my blood – but what does it matter? Others toil instead of me, and I, a little child, keep close by the throne of God and I love for those who fight. Love proves itself in deeds. I will scatter flowers, perfuming the Divine Throne, and I will sweetly sing my hymn of love. These flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love.
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
