Knock...

Painting used is 'St Cecilia' by John William Waterhouse, 1895

All Things to Beauty

The Endurance of Darkness

'The endurance of darkness is preparation for great light.'

St. John of the Cross 

 Painting: John Atkinson Grimshaw

Better Than a Fast

'Conquering the tongue is better than fasting on bread and water.'

St. John of the Cross 

Painting:  Albert Anker, 1897, in US public domain due to age

The Jewels You Do Not See

 

'Do not think that, because the particular virtues 

you have in mind don't shine in your neighbor, 

he will not be precious in God's sight for something
you are not thinking about.'  

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  Lauritis Andersen Ring

No Way to Catch in Words

'There is no way to catch in words the sublime things of God.'

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  George Hitchcock, Annunciation, 1887; in US public domain due to age

Why Wait?

'With what procrastination do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?'

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  Czachórski; Pensive

Whoever Flees from Prayer

'Whoever 
flees from prayer 
flees all
that is good.'

St. John of the Cross





 





James Tissot painting, cropped

One Secret Work

"God is more pleased by one work, however small,

done secretly, without desire that it be known, 

than a thousand done with desire that men know of them."  

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  Andrea Commodi, Young Woman in the Kitchen

Worth a Thousand Thanks

'One act of thanksgiving when things go wrong 

is worth a thousand thanks 

when things are agreeable to our inclination.'  

St John of the Cross

Painting: Alfred Edward Emslie, The Stormy Crossing

Evangelization 101

'Who has ever seen people persuaded to love God by harshness?'

St. John of the Cross

Painting of Elisabeth of Hungary 

A Thousand Graces

Pouring out a thousand graces,

He passed these groves in haste;

and having looked at them, 

with His image alone,

clothed them in beauty.

 St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, Stanza Five

Painting:  Thomas Cole, Falls of the Kaaterskill, in US public domain