Avila Quotes & Sayings

Let us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy apostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus Christ were the most afflicted. — Teresa Of Avila

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen? — Saint Teresa Of Avila

Christ moves along the pots and pans. — Teresa Of Avila

I cannot think why we should be astonished at all the evils which exist in the Church, when those who ought to be models on which all may pattern their virtues are annulling the work wrought in the religious Orders by the spirit of the saints of old. — Teresa Of Avila

Ah, how true it is that we love ourselves too much and proceed with too much human prudence, that we may not lose an atom of our consideration! Oh, what a great mistake that is! The Saints did not act thus. — Teresa Of Avila

I'd give up my career to chase moments with the right woman. — Claire Contreras

Mental prayer is, as I see it, simply a friendly intercourse and frequent solitary conversation with Him who, as we know, loves us. — Teresa Of Avila

Prayer and comfortable living are incompatible. — Teresa Of Avila

There was the torture of sermons, and that not a slight one, for I was very fond of them. — Teresa Of Avila

His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us, for He can rightly tell us that we don't know what we're asking for (cf. Mt. 20:22). The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer ? and don't forget this, because it's very important ? should be that he work and prepare himself with determination and every possible effort to bring his will into conformity with God's will. — Teresa Of Avila

Let nothing disturb you, / Nothing dismay you; / All things are passing: / God never changes. — Teresa Of Avila

Much more is accomplished by a single word of the Our Father said, now and then, from our heart, than by the whole prayer repeated many times in haste and without attention. — Teresa Of Avila

Since in the centre of the soul there is a mansion reserved for God Himself ... — Teresa Of Avila

The devil frequently fills our thoughts with great schemes, so that instead of putting our hands to what work we can do to serve our Lord, we may rest satisfied with wishing to perform impossibilities. — Teresa Of Avila

Love turns work into rest. — Teresa Of Avila

Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence. — Teresa Of Avila

It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts. — Teresa Of Avila

The most complex challenge for an actor is the ability to give dimension to the story from the time that it happened, not from the present. — Benjamin Avila

May nothing wind you up, nothing affright you; everything comes and goes. God, still, just there; through patience all will be achieved. If you have God, you lack nothing: God alone will do. — Teresa Of Avila

This body of ours has one fault: the more you indulge it, the more things it discovers to be essential to it. It is extraordinary how it likes being indulged ... — Teresa Of Avila

May God protect me from gloomy saints. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

Each partner, in fact, shares in the honor and dishonor of the other. — Teresa Of Avila

Prayer is an act of love; words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

Untilled ground, however rich, will bring forth thistles and thorns; so also the mind of man. — Teresa Of Avila

Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true. — Teresa Of Avila

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices. — Teresa Of Avila

The words are very distinctly formed; but by the bodily ear they are not heard. They are, however, much more clearly understood than they would be if they were heard by the ear. It is impossible not to understand them, whatever resistance we may offer ... there is no escape, for in spite of ourselves we must listen ... — Teresa Of Avila

I like getting carried away by what is happening and then decide each scene based on the actors, the set and the light. — Benjamin Avila

Never exaggerate, but express your feelings with moderation. — Teresa Of Avila

In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks. — Teresa Of Avila

If we plant a flower or a shrub and water it daily it will grow so tall that in time we shall need a spade and a hoe to uproot it. It is just so, I think, when we commit a fault, however small, each day, and do not cure ourselves of it. — Teresa Of Avila

We bloomed in Spring. Our bodies are the leaves of God. The apparent seasons of life and death our eyes can suffer; but our souls, dear, I will just say this forthright: they are God Himself, we will never perish until He does. — Teresa Of Avila

Don't let your sins turn into bad habits. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

It is no small pity, and should cause us no little shame, that, through our own fault, we do not understand ourselves, or know who we are. — Teresa Of Avila

I only wish I could write with both hands, so as not to forget one thing while I am saying another. — Teresa Of Avila

That name
my conception of Him
extended to me
a hand that led to a place
where even His divine name could not exist.
Why? — Teresa Of Avila

that you may reap humility from your dryness, instead of the disquietude the devil strives to cause by it. I believe that where true humility exists, although God should never bestow consolations, yet He gives a peace and resignation which make the soul happier than are others with sensible devotion. — Teresa Of Avila

I am quite sure that if we could but once approach the Most Holy Sacrament with great faith and love, it would suffice to make us rich. How much more so if we approach it often! — Teresa Of Avila

It should be observed that perfect love of God consists not in those delights, tears and sentiments of devotion that we generally seek, but in a strong determination and keen desire to please God in all things, and to promote His glory. — Teresa Of Avila

It is a great folly to be willing to violate the friendship of God, rather than the law of human friendship. — Teresa Of Avila

Before prayer, endeavor to realize whose Presence you are approaching, and to whom you are about to speak. We can never fully understand how we ought to behave towards God, before whom the angels tremble. — Teresa Of Avila

Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which is the sign of the Cross, in token that they have given Him their freedom. — Teresa Of Avila

Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient. — Teresa Of Avila

Let us look at our own shortcomings and leave other people's alone; for those who live carefully ordered lives are apt to be shocked at everything and we might well learn very important lessons from the persons who shock us. Our — Teresa Of Avila

I was living an extremely burdensome life, because every time I prayed, I became more clearly aware of my faults. On the one hand, God was calling me. On the other, I was following the way of the world. Doing what God wanted made me happy; but I felt bound by the things of this world. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

The important thing is not to think much but to love much; and so do that which best stirs you to love. — Teresa Of Avila

We shall advance more by contemplating the Divinity than by keeping our eyes fixed on ourselves, — Teresa Of Avila

The best thing must be to flee from all to the All. — Teresa Of Avila

Give me, if you will, prayers;
Or let me know dryness,
An abudance of devotion,
Or if not, then barrenness.
In you alone, Sovereign Majesty,
I find my peace,
What do you want of me?
Yours I am, fo ryou I was born:
What do you want of me? — Teresa Of Avila

All things pass ... Patience attains all it strives for. — Teresa Of Avila

However much we do to avoid them, we shall never lack crosses in this life if we are in the ranks of the Crucified. — Teresa Of Avila

The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which His compassion looks out to the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless His people. — Teresa Avila

Any real ecstasy is a sign you are moving in the right direction. — Teresa Of Avila

Nothing is small if God accepts it. — Teresa Of Avila

His Majesty [the Lord] ... rewards great services with trials, and there can be no better reward, for out of trials springs love for God. — Teresa Of Avila

But, as I know that strength arising from obedience has a way of simplifying things which seem impossible, my will very gladly resolves to attempt this task although the prospect seems to cause my physical nature great distress; for the Lord has not given me strength enough to enable me to wrestle continually both with sickness and with occupations of many kinds without feeling a great physical strain. May He Who has helped me by doing other and more difficult things for me help also in this: in His mercy I put my trust. — Teresa Of Avila

What a miserable life is this! There is no happiness that is secure and nothing that does not change. — Teresa Of Avila

For the devil does not allow a single bad habit to disappear and the very weakness of our mortal nature destroys the virtues in us. — Teresa Of Avila

We cannot know whether we love God, although there may be strong reason for thinking so; but there can be no doubt about whether we love our neighbor or not. Be sure that, in proportion as you advance in fraternal charity, you are increasing your love of God, for His Majesty bears so tender an affection for us that I cannot doubt He will repay our love for others by augmenting, and in a thousand different ways, that which we bear for Him. — Teresa Of Avila

You must know that weather or not you are practicing mental prayer has nothing to do with keeping your lips closed. If, while I am speaking with God, I am fully conscious of doing so, and if this is more real to me than the words I am uttering, then I am combining mental and vocal prayer. I am amazed when people tell me that you are speaking with God by reciting the Paternoster even while you are thinking of worldly things. When you speak with a Lord so great, you should think of Who it is you are addressing and what you yourself are, if only that you may speak to Him with proper respect. How can you address a king with the reverence he deserves unless you are clearly conscious of his position and yours? — Teresa Of Avila

For the devil never slumbers. And the nearer we are to perfection, the more careful we must be, since his temptations are then much more cunning because there are no others that he dare send us; — Teresa Of Avila

Never compare one person with another: comparisons are odious. — Teresa Of Avila

Never do anything which you could not do in the sight of all. — Teresa Of Avila

Whenever conscience commands anything, there is only one thing to fear, and that is fear. — Teresa Of Avila

I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me. — Teresa Of Avila

Each of us has a soul, but we forget to value it. We don't remember that we are creatures made in the image of God. We don't understand the great secrets hidden inside of us. — Teresa Of Avila

Don't be curious of matters that don't concern you; never speak of them, and don't ask about them. — Teresa Of Avila

After you die, you wear what you are. — Teresa Of Avila

However softly we speak, God is near enough to hear us. — Teresa Of Avila

We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to look upon Him present within us. — Teresa Of Avila

I shouldn't even exist. Neither should they. What's the difference between destroying me and destroying them?" - Lexia Graham — Katheryn J. Avila

Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people's, if we are always criticizing trivial actions - which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

It is not so essential to think much as to love much. — Teresa Of Avila

God never changes; Patient endurance Attains to all things; Who God possesses In nothing is wanting; Alone God suffices. — Teresa Of Avila

To reach something good, it is useful to have gone astray. — Teresa Of Avila

How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer. — Teresa Of Avila

Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile or self-pitying responses that your sinful soul wants to spew out - as if these puny things could in any way defend you! Watch and see if any of these poisons come out of you when your spirit is pricked by an accusation. Only then can you see yourself as you are, and confess thy sin that is within you and forsake yourself again into the Lord's care. — Teresa Of Avila

Souls who do not practice prayer are like people whose limbs are paralyzed. — Teresa Of Avila

What value is there in faith without works? And what are they worth if they are not united to the merits of Jesus Christ, our only good? — Saint Teresa Of Avila

We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble. — Teresa Of Avila

To wish to act like angels while we are still in this world is nothing but folly. — Teresa Of Avila

Prayer is a friendly conversation with the One we know loves us. — Teresa Of Avila

The saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him. — Teresa Of Avila

May I not come before You with empty hands, since we are rewarded according to our deeds. — Teresa Of Avila

Life is a night spent in an uncomfortable inn. — Teresa Of Avila

Souls without prayer are like bodies, palsied and lame, having hands and feet they cannot use. — Teresa Of Avila

Humility does not disturb or disquiet or agitate, however great it may be; it comes with peace, delight, and calm ... The pain of genuine humility doesn't agitate or afflict the soul; rather, this humility expands it and enables it to serve God more. — Teresa Of Avila

I am the woman who glows in the dark, I'll stay awake forever if I have to. — Elena Avila

But the fact is, things always seem to come slowly when you are longing for them. — Teresa Of Avila

But always when I was without a book, my soul would at once become disturbed, and my thoughts wandered. As I read, I began to call them together again and, as it were, laid a bait for my soul — Teresa Of Avila

While the soul is in mortal sin, nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

In the tradition of Julian of Norwich and St. Teresa of Avila and all the other mystics, we can learn to render ourselves vulnerable to the "favors of God" - those indescribable experiences that mock our dualisms and so saturate our imagination with abundance that they transcend our ability to convey joy and wonder. In the tradition of St. John of the Cross, we can learn to survive and derive benefits from the soul's dark night. — Brian D. McLaren

Matters. Do you think, my daughters, that it is an easy matter to have to do business with the world, to live in the world, to engage in the affairs of the world, and, as I have said, to live as worldly men do, and yet inwardly to be strangers to the world, and enemies of the world, like persons who are in exile
to be, in short, not men but angels? — Teresa Of Avila

Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. — Teresa Of Avila

I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.' — Teresa Of Avila

A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept within narrow bounds. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

When the soul, through its own fault ... becomes rooted in a pool of pitch-black, evil smelling water, it produces nothing but misery and filth. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

Whenever we think of Christ, we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him. — Saint Teresa Of Avila

Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear that any evil or imperfect thing they do will be overlooked. — Teresa Of Avila