List of points

Jesus came to the Cross, after having prepared himself for thirty three years, all his life!

—His disciples, if they really want to imitate him, have to convert their existence into a co-redemption of Love, with their own active and passive self-denial.

Mortification is the drawbridge that enables us to enter the castle of prayer.

It seems as if the “spirit” were growing smaller, shrinking to a little point… And the body seems to grow and become gigantic, until it gains control. —It was for you that Saint Paul wrote: “I buffet my own body, and make it my slave; or I, who have preached to others, may myself be rejected as worthless.”

This is what Our Lord wants, for we need it if we are to follow him closely. There is no other way. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in each soul — in yours. Be docile and present no obstacles to God, until he makes your poor flesh like that of Jesus on the Cross.

If the word love is often on your lips, without being backed by little sacrifices, it becomes tedious.

From every point of view, mortification has an extraordinary importance.

—Considering it humanly, anyone who does not know how to control himself will never be able to have a positive influence on others. He will be overwhelmed by his surroundings as soon as he finds they appeal to his personal tastes. He will be a man without energy, incapable of any great effort when required.

—Considering it before God, do you not think it appropriate for us to show, with these small acts, how much we love, obey and respect the One who gave everything for us?

A spirit of mortification, rather than being just an outward show of Love, arises as one of its consequences. If you fail in one of these little proofs, acknowledge that your love for the Love is wavering.

Have you not noticed that mortified souls, because of their simplicity, have a greater enjoyment of good things, even in this world?

Without mortification there is no happiness on earth.

When you make up your mind to be more mortified, your interior life will improve and you will be much more fruitful.

A day without mortification is a day lost, because if we have not denied ourselves, we have not lived the holocaust.

I prefer virtue to austerity, Yahweh said, using different words, to the chosen people, who set too much store by certain external formalities.

—That is why we must cultivate penance and mortification as a proof of our true love for God and for our neighbour.