John of the Cross

In the happy night, In secret, when none saw me, Nor I beheld aught, Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart.

— John of the Cross

Oh, night that guided me, Oh, night more lovely than the dawn, Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved!

— John of the Cross

I remained, lost in oblivion; My face I reclined on the Beloved. All ceased and I abandoned myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.

— John of the Cross

In search of my Love And pass by the mighty and the frontiers. ~ 3

— John of the Cross

A thousand graces diffusing Clothed them with His beauty. ~ 5

— John of the Cross

Reveal Thy presence, Except in Thy presence and before Thy face. ~ 11

— John of the Cross

O crystal well! Which are outlined in my heart! ~ 12

— John of the Cross

My Beloved is the mountains, The supper which revives, and enkindles love. ~ 14 & 15

— John of the Cross

O killing north wind, cease! And the Beloved shall feed among the flowers. ~ 17

— John of the Cross

The bride has entered On the sweet arms of the Beloved. ~ 22

— John of the Cross

There He taught me the science full of sweetness. There I promised to be His bride. ~ 27

— John of the Cross

My soul is occupied, My sole occupation is love. ~ 28

— John of the Cross

If, then, on the common land I lost myself; and yet was found. ~ 29

— John of the Cross

When Thou didst regard me, To adore what in Thee they saw. ~ 32

— John of the Cross

Despise me not, Grace and beauty hast Thou given me. ~ 33

— John of the Cross

The little white dove On the green banks has found. ~ 34

— John of the Cross

In solitude she lived, In solitude also wounded with love. ~ 35

— John of the Cross

Let us rejoice, O my Beloved! Let us enter into the heart of the thicket. ~ 36

— John of the Cross

We shall go at once And taste of the new wine of the pomegranate. ~ 37

— John of the Cross

There thou wilt show me That which Thou gavest me the other day. ~ 38

— John of the Cross

The breathing of the air, With the flame that consumes, and gives no pains. ~ 39

— John of the Cross

My sole occupation is love. All my occupation now is the practice of the love of God, all the powers of soul and body, memory, understanding, and will, interior and exterior senses, the desires of spirit and of sense, all work in and by love. All I do is done in love; all I suffer, I suffer in the sweetness of love.

— John of the Cross

There is nothing better or more necessary than love.

— John of the Cross

I have said this to explain the stanza that follows, in which the soul replies to those who call in question its holy tranquillity, who will have it wholly occupied with outward duties, that its light may shine before the world: these persons have no conception of the fibres and the unseen root whence the sap is drawn, and which nourish the fruit.

— John of the Cross

He who loves is not ashamed before men of what he does for God, neither does he hide it through shame though the whole world should condemn it.

— John of the Cross

When a soul has advanced so far on the spiritual road as to be lost to all the natural methods of communing with God; when it seeks Him no longer by meditation, images, impressions, nor by any other created ways, or representations of sense, but only by rising above them all, in the joyful communion with Him by faith and love, then it may be said to have found God of a truth, because it has truly lost itself as to all that is not God, and also as to its own self.

— John of the Cross

Blessed are they who, setting aside their own pleasure and inclination, consider things according to reason and justice before doing them.

— John of the Cross

Deny your desires and you will find what your heart longs for. For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God?

— John of the Cross

One human thought alone is worth more than the entire world, hence God alone is worthy of it.

— John of the Cross

The very pure spirit does not bother about the regard of others or human respect, but communes inwardly with God, alone and in solitude as to all forms, and with delightful tranquility, for the knowledge of God is received in divine silence.

— John of the Cross

If you wish to attain holy recollection, you will do so not by receiving but by denying.

— John of the Cross

Souls will be unable to reach perfection who do not strive to be content with having nothing, in such fashion that their natural and spiritual desire is satisfied with emptiness; for this is necessary in order to reach the highest tranquility and peace of spirit. Hence the love of God in the pure and simple soul is almost continually in act.

— John of the Cross

Although you perform many works, if you do not deny your will and submit yourself, losing all solicitude about yourself and your affairs, you will not make progress.

— John of the Cross

If you desire to discover peace and consolation for your soul and to serve God truly, do not find your satisfaction in what you have left behind, because in that which now concerns you you may be as impeded as you were before, or even more. But leave as well all these other things and attend to one thing alone that brings all these with it (namely, holy solitude, together with prayer and spiritual and divine reading), and persevere there in forgetfulness of all things.

— John of the Cross

Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.

— John of the Cross

Not all the faculties and senses have to be employed in things, but only those that are required; as for the others, leave them unoccupied for God.

— John of the Cross

The soul that desires God to surrender himself to it entirely must surrender itself entirely to him without keeping anything for itself.

— John of the Cross

Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it; reflect that all must come to an end.

— John of the Cross

Whoever flees prayer flees all that is good.

— John of the Cross

Live as though only God and yourself were in this world, so that your heart may not be detained by anything human.

— John of the Cross