God’s love for us is freely given and unearned, surpassing all we could ever hope for or imagine. He does not love us because we have merited it or are worthy of it. God loves us, rather, because he is true to his own nature. As Saint John puts it, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1Jn 4:16)
–Saint John Paul (1920-2005)
To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Love, in fact, is the spiritual life; and without it, all other exercises of the spirit are emptied of content.
–Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Wonderful and splendid is the place where the Lord lives. And therefore it is his will that we turn quickly at his gracious touch, rejoicing more in the fullness of his love than sorrowing over our frequent failures.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all .
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
Love is a movement, effusion and advancement of the heart toward the good. The soul cannot live without love. All depends on providing it with a worthy object. We can never love our neighbor too much. There is nothing small in the service of God.
–Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
